The Feast of Saint Francis 2009!

HAPPY FEAST OF THE SOLEMNITY OF THE SERAPHIC FATHER, SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI! (I'm not sure whether Solemnities for Saints can be observed on a Sunday, but I will go ahead with this anyway)

As many of my readers might have gathered, I tend to be a bit verbose. So, in honor of the Saint who embraced simplicity as a way of approaching God, I will keep this quite simple.

Although the below "Prayer of Saint Francis" was not actually written by him...(and also I'm not a fan of the tune to which it is set)...the words are very much in the spirit of Francis.

When I am feeling overwhelmed and worried, I often recite this prayer and it takes me out of myself. Somewhere I've read that worries come from someone taking her focus off of God and instead placing it on herself. This prayer always helps me realize that all my actions are in the hands of God, and I am able to relax because I am simply His instrument.

May each and every one of you allow yourselves to be the Lord's instrument on this day and every day!

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.