What did St. Francis of Assisi mean when he said: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace"?

Question

Peace an Love

Answer 1

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.


The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

St. Francis was born at Assisi in 1182. After a care free youth, he turned his back on inherited wealth and committed himself to God. Like many early saints, he lived a very simple life of poverty, and in so doing, gained a reputation of being the friend of animals. He established the rule of St Francis, which exists today as the Order of St. Francis, or the Franciscans. He died in 1226, aged 44.

The prayer has many of the biblical truths of what it means to be a Christian - to seek to give, and in so doing, receive blessings; that the Lord's Prayer asks God to forgive us as we forgive, and that the goal of eternal life can only result from us putting to death our old sinful lives.

Answer 2

Picture Yo Yo Ma, playing his cello. Beautiful sounds and music come out of that instrument. But without the cello and bow, nothing happens.

God is the Master Cellist. St. Francis' Prayers wants each of us to make beautiful music for God, in His hands.

Answer 3

This humble request of Francis was to be able to reduce hatred and misery among people and to bring the love of Christ to all.

Answer 4

he asked the Lord to use him to bring peace to the world. an instrument isn't just something to make music, it can be any tool you use for a certain purpose.

Answer 5

God wants us to love one another, and we need to start with our own actions. God can use us for His Kingdom proposes when we are willing to honor His mission.