The Saint Francis Prayer
The Saint Francis Prayer
The Saint Francis Prayer
The St Francis Prayer is a beautifully written prayer for people from all walks of faith. This is a great prayer for all people, especially those in recovery because it shows us how to live a life of service and be happy, joyous and free.
The Saint Francis Prayer is often referred to as the 11th Step Prayer in AA. In some meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, the prayer is said followed by a period of mediation. The words in the prayer have such depth and weight that we should take some time to reflect on them to fully absorb the meaning. The prayer of Saint Francis is a guide to everyday living based on Spiritual principals.
Who is Saint Francis of Assisi?
The Story of Saint Francis of Assisi is one that most of us in recovery can relate to. Saint Francis was born in Italy in 1181. He was most known for his drinking and partying and living a life of luxury and indulgence. He ended up getting into a fight and was held captive for a ransom. He came from a wealthy family and waited almost a year in jail for his father to come up with the ransom. It was this time being jailed that he began to hear the voice of Christ and develop a relationship with God.
Saint Francis started his life as most of us do in recovery, he led a life of sin. He was a troubled teenager, he was under the influence a majority of the time and was known for breaking all the rules.
In 1202 war broke between Assisi and Perugia, the men of Assisi came under attack and with little to no combat experience Saint Francis was captured by enemy soldiers and due to his father’s wealth was held captive for ransom.
After he finished his time in jail he took an oath to live a life of poverty and help restore people to their faith in God. Now being in his early 20’s he spent the rest of his days helping rebuild the Christian church. Saint Francis had great Charisma and drew in thousands of followers that listened to him as he preached to restore Christian Values to the Church.
Saint Francis held himself to very high spiritual values and was on a mission of Christ-like perfection. At the time of his death, October 3, 1226 he was 44 years.
He touches the lives of thousands of people and helped bring the word of God to all those struggling around him. The story of Saint Francis is nothing short of inspirational and a true testament of how the power of God can restore anyone in any situation to lead a valuable life of service. The Saint Francis Prayer is a perfect example of a surrendered life.
God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the Called.
Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace!
That where there is hatred, I may bring love.
That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness.
That where there is discord, I may bring harmony.
That where there is error, I may bring truth.
That where there is doubt, I may bring faith.
That where there is despair, I may bring hope.
That where there are shadows, I may bring light.
That where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted.
To understand, than to be understood.
To love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.
—Saint Francis of Assisi—