“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, it is in dying . . . that we are born to eternal life.” Saint Francis of Assisi
The prayer is for a heart and lifestyle that should represent the desire of every Christian and if we would see the world around us with the eyes of Christ we would realize that we are surrounded with the opportunities.
I thank God He has placed me where there is so much hatred, injury, doubt, and despair. What a privilege it is to bring peace, love, pardon, and hope. Light shines brightest in dark places. Many of the children and inmates I see every day may never be in this life that we misguidedly consider “blessed”
But they can and should receive every thing mentioned in that prayer FROM US. And hopefully in the end eternal life with no more sorrow pain or grief walking in the presence and joy of the Lord forever.
Saint Francis also said “Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to them wherever they require it.” And “It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.”
St. Francis eloquently expresses my heart and desire for this ministry.
I can’t thank you enough for helping make this work a reality. Your gifts are needed even more as God keeps entrusting more to us and your prayers are the fuel that keeps the flame burning.