Saint Francis of Assisi

The Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

"O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is discord, harmony.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sorrow, joy.

Oh 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."

This beautiful prayer, although often attributed to St Francis, does not appear in any known writings of St Francis.

The prayer was apparently written in France during World War I, perhaps by a Catholic Priest, Father Bouquerel.

It is commonly known as the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis because it was often seen printed on a small card that had a picture of Saint Francis on one side and this prayer on the other side. However, the card did not make any claim that the prayer was written by Saint Francis.

The first known appearance of this inspiring prayer was in 1912 AD when it was published in the French magazine La Clochette.

Original French Text of the Peace Prayer of St. Francis

Belle prière à faire pendant la Messe

Seigneur, faites de moi un instrument de votre paix.
Là où il y a de la haine, que je mette l'amour.
Là où il y a l'offense, que je mette le pardon.
Là où il y a la discorde, que je mette l'union.
Là où il y a l'erreur, que je mette la vérité.
Là où il y a le doute, que je mette la foi.
Là où il y a le désespoir, que je mette l'espérance.
Là où il y a les ténèbres, que je mette votre lumière.
Là où il y a la tristesse, que je mette la joie.
Ô Maître, que je ne cherche pas tant à être consolé qu'à consoler, à être compris qu'à comprendre, à être aimé qu'à aimer, car c'est en donnant qu'on reçoit, c'est en s'oubliant qu'on trouve, c'est en pardonnant qu'on est pardonné, c'est en mourant qu'on ressuscite à l'éternelle vie.

                               Source: La Clochette, n 12, déc. 1912, p. 285.

In Spanish:

ORACIÓN DE SAN FRANCISCO DE ASÍS

Señor Hazme un instrumento de tu paz.
Donde haya odio siembre yo tu amor.
Donde haya injuria perdón.
Donde haya duda fe,
Donde haya deseperación esperanza;
Donde haya oscuridad déjame traer luz
y Dónde haya tristeza alegría.

Oh divino Maestro, Concédeme que no busque
Ser conolado sino consolar;
Ser comprendido sino comprender;
Ser amado sino amar.
Es dando que recibimos;
Es perdonanado que somos perdonados
y Es muriendo que nacemos a la vida eterna.

Amén.

For more information regarding the origin of the prayer, see the following web sites:

The Origin of the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

The Story behind the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

For additional information about the life of St Francis:

Catholic Encyclopedia Biography of Saint Francis

Franciscan Archive

US National Shrine of Saint Francis

Available books:
              Amazon.com books related to the prayer of St Francis