An Instrument of Peace

This post is dedicated to longtime reader Bonnie, who recently asked me to publish the entire Simple Prayer for Peace by St. Francis in Italian.

“One of the ways I study Italian is by learning prayers,” she shared, which reminded me of how much I enjoy that method of learning as well.

I have always loved this simple prayer of St. Francis, and I find it especially beautiful in Italian.

Preghiera Semplice di San Francesco d’Assisi

Oh Signore, fa di me uno strumento della tua pace.

dove è odio, fa ch’io porti amore,
dove è offesa, ch’io porti il perdono,
dove è discordia, ch’io porti la fede,
dove è l’errore, ch’io porti la Verità,
dove è la disperazione, ch’io porti la speranza.

Dove è tristezza, ch’io porti la gioia,
dove sono le tenebre, ch’io porti la luce.

Oh! Maestro, fa che io non cerchi tanto:
Ad essere compreso, quanto a comprendere.
Ad essere amato, quanto ad amare
Poichè:

Se è: Dando, che si riceve:
Perdonando che si è perdonati;
Morendo che si risuscita a Vita Eterna.

Amen.

Reference

The Prayer of St. Francis or the Simple Prayer for Peace

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;

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;

it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

Reference

 

 

Translations may vary.