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St. Francis of Assisi

Many people during the Middle Ages were drawn to the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi who lived in Italy in the early 1200's. Francis was not a priest, but he lived a life of simple poverty and devoted his life to serving the poor.

More information about his life may be found at Home Page of St. Francis of Assisi

The prayer below is often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi because it expresses the core of his beliefs and sums up the spirit of his love and obedience to Christ. The actual author is unknown but it is believed to have been written around the turn of ths century.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow charity;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the 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 to ourselves that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Listen to Mack Wilberg's arrangement of
Lord Make Me an Instrument from "Awake My Soul"

To purchase this song, go to Deseret Book

Related Links:

The Middle Ages

The Black Plague

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