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| Saint Francis by Daniel Bonnell |
Today is the feast of Saint Francis and this morning's Pause for Prayer is a gloss on a prayer attributed to him. Daniel Bonnell's art (used with permission) gives us Francis with a dove of peace and a visual quote from Francis' Canticle of the Sun praising Brother Sun and Sister Moon.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace...
Where there is hatred, let me sow love...
When politics tempt me to demonize the other side,when my envy delights in workplace intrigue,
when my thoughts walk the edge of anger's path,
when I'm tempted to validate a violent solution,
when I think I'm excused from the golden rule:
teach me to sow love, Lord,
and to love as you've loved me...
Where there is injury, pardon...
When my words cut sharp as a knife,
when my idle gossip tears others apart,
when my careless deeds wound deeply,
when I plan and scheme to diminish a colleague:
teach me to pardon and heal, Lord,
as you've healed and pardoned me...
Where there is despair, hope...
Teach me, Lord,
to hope when I'm unsure of so many things,
to trust when I want so much to give up,
to believe when I'm confused and lost in doubt:
teach me to share your truth and my hope
with those who seem to have neither...
Where there is darkness, light...
Teach me, Lord, to trust in your light when all is dark,
to walk by your light when the shadows beckon,
to stand firm in your light when darkness threatens
and to share the warmth of your light
with any and all who seek it...
Where there is sadness, joy...
Lighten my heart with the gifts of your Spirit,
draw me out from childish self-pity,
touch my heart's ache with the peace of your presence,
lift my heart's burdens and free me to share
the gift of your joy, the joy of your grace...
When my words cut sharp as a knife,
when my idle gossip tears others apart,
when my careless deeds wound deeply,
when I plan and scheme to diminish a colleague:
teach me to pardon and heal, Lord,
as you've healed and pardoned me...
Where there is despair, hope...
Teach me, Lord,
to hope when I'm unsure of so many things,
to trust when I want so much to give up,
to believe when I'm confused and lost in doubt:
teach me to share your truth and my hope
with those who seem to have neither...
Where there is darkness, light...
Teach me, Lord, to trust in your light when all is dark,
to walk by your light when the shadows beckon,
to stand firm in your light when darkness threatens
and to share the warmth of your light
with any and all who seek it...
Where there is sadness, joy...
Lighten my heart with the gifts of your Spirit,
draw me out from childish self-pity,
touch my heart's ache with the peace of your presence,
lift my heart's burdens and free me to share
the gift of your joy, the joy of your grace...
O Divine Master...
Teach me find my peace
in reconciling with others;
help me console my neighbor
even when deep in my own pain;
help me come to know your love
by learning to love those I know;
Teach me find my peace
in reconciling with others;
help me console my neighbor
even when deep in my own pain;
help me come to know your love
by learning to love those I know;
and in serving others' needs
help me learn what I need most...
Teach me to give from my heart
as your heart gives to me;
teach me to pardon my neighbor
as you pardon me;
and deepen my faith
that in dying to self
I rise to new life,
life forever
with you...
Amen.
help me learn what I need most...
Teach me to give from my heart
as your heart gives to me;
teach me to pardon my neighbor
as you pardon me;
and deepen my faith
that in dying to self
I rise to new life,
life forever
with you...
Amen.
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And if you're pining for the more familiar version, here it is!
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