Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

Today we celebrate the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, a Catholic saint who was born more than 800 years ago.  He loved animals.  He was in solidarity with the poor.  He was a mystic.  He preached the stewardship of God's creation and of nature before it was popular to preach such a message.  He peace prayer still sounds fresh and new today -

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;

and 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.

Amen.

Sunset of the Natchez Trace - 

the beauty of God's creation