The Prayer of Sain Francis

I love the prayer of Saint Francis - it's a concise guide for  peaceful life. I first learned of and memorized this prayer after reading Eknath Easwaran's guide to passage meditation. In this book - Meditation (now titled Passage Meditation) Easwaran outlines his preferred method of meditation - namely to memorize a prayer or inspirational passage of timeless wisdom. He recommends beginning with the Prayer of Saint Francis not only for it's beauty but for its transformational powers. Easwaran states that we become what we meditate upon and what better to become then an instrument of peace? The act of passage meditation itself is to slowly, internally recite the prayer with each words falling inwards into a still pool of consciousness. And that's where the transformation occurs.
Here's the prayer -

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 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.

Even reading softly to ourselves, or simply glancing at it and allowing the words to find us has power and magic. It's a wonderful prayer to keep near by - especially when in need of comfort. Through the years I have used passages and prayers from the Buddha, Jewish Sages and Sufi masters - yet I always return to this simple, beautiful little prayer. It's changed by life and its power will do the same for you as well.

Peace,
Eric