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Lord, make me a channel of Thy peace;
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.Lord, grant that I may seek rather
to comfort, than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.For it is by self-forgetting, that one finds.
It is by forgiving, that one is forgiven.
It is by dying, that one awakens to Eternal Life.Amen.
Carry This Prayer With You
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History of the St. Francis Prayer
Despite its name, the St. Francis prayer was not written by St. Francis of Assisi. It first appeared in a French spiritual magazine in 1912 titled “Belle prière à faire pendant la messe” (A beautiful prayer to say during Mass). During World War I and II, it gained global popularity as a prayer for peace and selfless service.
Why it is a Vital “Prayer of St. Francis for Recovery”
In the 12-step tradition, this prayer is specifically highlighted in Step 11 (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions). It serves as a practical guide for moving from “self-will run riot” to a life of spiritual service.
Key themes for recovery:
- A Channel, Not the Source: It reminds those in recovery that they are “channels” for a higher power, rather than trying to control everything themselves.
- Self-Forgetting: The line “it is by self-forgetting, that one finds” is a direct antidote to the “bondage of self” mentioned in Step 3.
- Emotional Balance: The prayer lists common triggers in early recovery—hatred, discord, and despair—and provides their spiritual opposites—love, harmony, and hope.