Discover the real story of the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Some prayers are so famous and widespread that even those who don’t follow any religion know the words by heart. So it is with the “Our Father”, perhaps the best known prayer of all. But there is another, which is often repeated, which begins: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace”.

It’s the call Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, a small text full of good ideas. It suggests that love be brought where there is hatred, and that joy be brought where there is sadness. It’s easy to understand and like. It really makes you want to repeat those words around.

Sir! Make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hate, may I bring love.
Where there is offensive words, shall I bring forgiveness.
Where there is discord, may I bring unity.
Where there are doubts, may I take faith.
Where there is error, may I take the truth.
Where there is despair, I may bring hope.
Where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Where there is darkness, let me bring light.
O Master, make me seek more:
console, than to be consoled;
to understand, that to be understood;
to love, to be loved.
It is in giving that we receive.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
And it is by dying that one lives for eternal life.

What few people know, however, is that this prayer has nothing to do with San Francisco de Assisi. The French historian Christian Renoux researched the origins of the text, and found that the first record is from 1912. It was published in a French magazine called La Clochette, without subscription, and with the title “Beautiful Prayer to Make During Mass”. Nowadays it is also called “Prayer for Peace”

The message of peace and hope gained strength during the First World War, when in 1916 it was published in “L’Osservatore Romano”, the semi-official newspaper of the Holy See. According to the research of historian Christian Renoux, the prayer was associated with the patron saint of animals because it was sometimes printed next to the image of Saint Francis.

Whatever the real authorship of the prayer is – until now unknown –, the beautiful message of the text resists and proves to be increasingly important today.