Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where
there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is
injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as
to console; to be understood as to understand; to be
loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in
dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Psalm 30
I will exalt you, O Lord,
because you have lifted me up *
because you have lifted me up *
and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
O Lord my God, I cried out to you, *
and you restored me to health.
You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; *
you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
Sing to the Lord, you servants of his; *
give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.
For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *
his favor for a lifetime.
Weeping may spend the night, *
but joy comes in the morning.
While I felt secure, I said,
“I shall never be disturbed. *
“I shall never be disturbed. *
You, Lord, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains.”
Then you hid your face, *
and I was filled with fear.
I cried to you, O Lord; *
I pleaded with the Lord, saying,
“What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? *
will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; *
O Lord, be my helper.”
You have turned my wailing into dancing; *
you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.
Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.
Image: “statue of st francis of assisi” by sammydavisdog is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
