Interviewed a column subject on Madison Avenue today. On the way back, felt compelled to walk into the St. Patrick’s Cathedral gift shop and buy a laminated St. Francis of Assisi card with his prayer printed on it.
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.
Again and again I am getting signs that I am supposed to be paying attention to this particular message. Even in some of the prayers I’ve been writing in my journal lately, these themes seem to be coming through. So beautiful and universal and perfect for our times.