Now that I have a dog, I've been thinking a lot about St. Francis of Assisi. He loved animals, and treated them as brothers and sisters. And protected them. Then I reminded his Prayer, or the famous prayer that is to him attributed. I used to love it when I was a kid. Actually, it was the only prayer with which I identified myself somehow, even knowing it by heart. I think it's really beautiful, albeit very simple and straightforward.
Even not being a believer, or a mildly religious person nowadays, here it is for you as well to appreciate it in its very own understated beauty...
The 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, and
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."
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, and
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."
(Credit - the beautiful illustration above was found on a very interesting blog, from writer Nancy Imperiale, based in Florida. Like her, I also tried to find out the source for that, but could not find it. Thanks to Nancy for having discovered it, and to the unknown artist for such a delicate piece!)
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I don't believe either...well, that is, I believe in something but any special religion/direction of religion! But anyway, I think it was a very beautiful prayer. Thanks! and I love the images....and I believe in St. Bernards...the dog is cute;O)
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ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence! I love magical things, symbols and beautiful legends too. As for St. Francis of Assisi, do you know his church has a sister church(temple)relationship with Kozan-ji Temple(高山寺）in Kyoto? Kozanji is a Buddhist temple, also World Heritage, and its founder is Myoe(明恵）. They lived almost in the same age and Myoe is said to hava been able to communicate with animals too. I'm his fan and once wrote a little about him in Japanese. I found out they had a lot in common. Thank you so much for the beautiful prayer and the picture! They are really soothing!
Andrea, I'm glad you passed this on. Perhaps, since I can't find the original artist's name yet, we need to keep passing it on until we do. Or maybe we'll never know....
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice words about my blog. Can't wait to check out your Hello Kitty posts. I LERV Hello Kitty. LOL.
Peace,
Nancy
Dear Sapphire: thnk you or sharing this info! No, I did not know about Myoe-sama, that's very cool! I think the Franciscans may have a lot in common with some Buddhist sects, no? When I was in Krakow, I learnt that lots of Franciscans monks died as well in Auschwitz and were severely persecuted by the Nazis too. Sotty for not being online much, as I have not been feeling very well again. Just coming back today! Thank you for the information and talk to you later! Hugs,
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Hi Nancy! Thank you for the lovely comment! And hope you will enjoy the Hello Kitty stuff, he he! It is a pity we cannot find more about that illustrator, no? A mystery indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks again and have a lovely week!
a.