The Prayer Of St Francis

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.
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’s in giving that we receive
And it’s in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it’s in dying that we are born…
To eternal life.

Taken from the Christian tradition

This is one of my favourite prayers and I first heard it sung so beautifully many years ago by Snatam Kaur.

It is taken from the Christian tradition but transcends all faiths.

Whilst named after St Francis it is absent from any of his known writings. In fact it is probably only about 100 years old and originated in France. It was probably later connected to St Francis because it reflects how he lived his life.

For me it represents everything we should strive to be as yoga practitioners yet cautions us as to what we should not be. It might not seem that one small action by one small person could matter but its like the snowball effect.

One small act of kindness and understanding gathering pace and spreading throughout the world.

Do as you would be done by. Show equanimity to all whatever the background or views. Be a guiding light, a beacon of hope.

Connect with the divine presence within us and within all living beings, that shining light which unites us all. Connect with others and treat them with care compassion and consideration.

Put others first and act unselfishly with positivity and sensitivity. Be open to what might be and where our lives might take us in service

Spend a few minutes a day just contemplating the question “What can I do, how can I help?” and most importantly listen to the answer