Monday, October 20, 2014

Peace Prayer of St. Francis/Belle prière à faire pendant la Messe



What?  You all miss think I have lost my mind! Am I sitting around watching Shirley Temple movies and think that is the cure for our nation's ills? No, although I think our whole world could use more goodness like hers. No, the main thing about me is this:  I have had an illness for over three weeks that has been very difficult for me to get over.    Have I left you strange and rambling comments?  Yes, I know, but maybe even MORE so than usual?  Let's blame it on the strong combination of drugs that the doctor prescribed for me...doctors really don't know that my small brain should only use a small amount of medicine!

When I am well, I can just about handle this cruel world.  When I am ill, it is a another matter...it seems that everyone is so mean and hateful, and I only notice the violence on TV shows and the horrible things on the news.  I noticed that one of my posts that I did about the monastery was written when I was ill....and  it is now my second rated post of all that I have written. Our Lady of Holy Spirit Monastery- Conyers, Georgia, USA  On that post, I have the St. Francis Assisi Prayer,  you do know that one, don't you?  The prayer has always been called that, but it is not believed St. Francis actually wrote it...it was first published in a Catholic magazine called "The Little Bell" in 1912.  It is possible that it was written by a French priest by the name of Father Bouquerel during the first World War but no one knows for sure.  The prayer was published with a photo of St. Francis of Assisi on the back, and perhaps that is how the saint became connected to it.

 I know just enough French that when I see it in this language, I can recognize the prayer...

 
Belle prière à faire pendant la Messe
Seigneur, faites de moi un instrument de votre paix.
Là où il y a de la haine, que je mette l'amour.
Là où il y a l'offense, que je mette le pardon.
Là où il y a la discorde, que je mette l'union.
Là où il y a l'erreur, que je mette la vérité.
Là où il y a le doute, que je mette la foi.
Là où il y a le désespoir, que je mette l'espérance.
Là où il y a les ténèbres, que je mette votre lumière.
Là où il y a la tristesse, que je mette la joie.
Ô Maître, que je ne cherche pas tant à être consolé qu'à consoler, à être compris qu'à comprendre, à être aimé qu'à aimer, car c'est en donnant qu'on reçoit, c'est en s'oubliant qu'on trouve, c'est en pardonnant qu'on est pardonné, c'est en mourant qu'on ressuscite à l'éternelle vie.

Here it is in English:

A Beautiful Prayer To Say During The Mass...

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.
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When we were in London at our hotel, I pulled out the Gideon Bible from my bedside table.  Someone had written almost a full page on the first page of the Bible.  It was in French and was a statement of unbelief.  I read it, or as much as I could and then, asked my husband to translate it for me.   It most certainly was exactly what I said, a statement against everything in the Bible and Jesus.  I didn't do anything about it, I just thought I would have a little talk with God about it.  Now, the thing that came to me...it was written in PENCIL, so maybe whoever wrote it, thought maybe someone might come along to care enough to erase it. 

That would be me!

So, in case this ever happens to you...it is useless to buy souvenir pencils (the erasers do not work) and also, erasers in the shapes of London taxis and buses do NOT work either...one of the shopkeepers told me that he didn't carry pencils...but I kept looking and I found some anyway! He seemed very surprised...they were just loose, in a cup at the far back corner of the shop... (God, was that YOU?!)
Hey, the shopkeeper charged me anyway! 

Now, after I erased that entire page in pencil, I took my hand and brushed away the erasings to make sure that I had gotten it all... I had missed erasing just one word and it made me smile to see it there, just that one word on the page and I decided to leave it...



                                                            Jésus!



Needlework on kneeler at All Souls Church in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England.


                                 
Stained Glass Window-All Souls Church, Eastbourne.

28 comments:

  1. Now that is simply beautiful of you to take time to find an eraser and remove that from the Bible and leave the name of Jesus. I'm sorry you've been ill. Hopefully, you are better now.

    I wasn't able to find the Shirley Temple special on our local listings.

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    1. Oh well, it made it feel bad to think of someone reading that in the Bible, someone who might be depressed and that they would pull out that Bible for some hope and comfort, only to find that written in the front of the Bible. I'm glad I erased it, maybe it will give that imaginary person that I am thinking of some hope and know that I am praying for them and wishing them well. x
      If you go to the pbs.org website, you can put in your state and they will show listings for your area. If they don't have the Shirley Temple show now, they might in the near future! Keep an eye out for an advert, that is who I found out for it here!

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  2. Amusing story. I love stained glass windows and your picture is a beautiful one.

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    1. Is it amusing? I don't know, I might have tried to make it sound funny, but it was sad to me, really it was. Still, I was glad it was in pencil, odd they didn't write in pen.
      My husband took both those photos, the church is beautiful.

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  3. First off I am really sorry you have been so ill. I do hope you are fully recovered now. That is a wonderful story about the Gideon Bible. I am glad you were persistent enough to find erasers that worked...and God works in mysterious ways- THAT was the word you were supposed to leave there. xo Diana

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    1. Thanks, Diana, I do hope I am finally getting better!
      God does work in mysterious ways, he sent an angel to me by the name of Nana Diana with her photos of Sweetcheeks and her husband's burnt underwear! Thanks! xx

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  4. I'm disappointed to read that St Francis didn't really compose his Peace Prayer. It's always been a favourite of mine. Oh well, it's still very much in the spirit of St Francis and I guess that's all that matters!

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    1. St. Francis LIVED this prayer through his love and service and that is what it is supposed to be all about anyway.
      St.Francis wrote, the Canticle of the Sun, praising the beauty and holiness of nature as a reflection of God. I only wish I could write such a masterpiece!

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  5. Sorry to read that you have been feeling very much "under the weather" Kay. You need to put your "Spoonful of Sugar" card on the mantlepiece. It seemed to do the trick last time! Hope you will soon be "fighting fit" again. (Where do those sayings come from I wonder? Fighting fit I can more or less work out but under the weather hmmmm) I think I read somewhere that "they" are going to stop providing Bibles for hotel rooms - another tradition on its way out. xx

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    1. Oh yes! I will put it on my mantel piece now! And this year, I will be singing along, remembering "The Last Night of the Proms"!!!
      Speaking of under the weather....I hope you didn't get too much WIND today, I read on the BBC that you had some rough weather. Hope you are okay.
      I hope they keep the Bibles in hotel rooms, I always look for them.

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  6. I love those stained glass windows!! I hope you feel better soon :-)

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    1. Thanks! And thanks for becoming a new follower. You have made my day!

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  7. A wonderful story, thank you for sharing it! Indeed these things do happen for a reason.

    May you be restored to full health quickly!

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    1. I hesitated to tell you this story but when I found out that the Peace prayer was really written in French, then...you might see how I put these two stories together...
      Merci!

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  8. I love the Peace prayer, it is a favorite of mine. Hope you are better soon.

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    1. I first read this prayer in a book that I bought from school at the Book Fair in 6th grade. It was from "Karen" by Marie Killilea. Do you know it? I must have read it dozens of times, I knew it by heart. Marie Killilea was a devout Catholic and an excellent writer. I really need to do a post about that book, I loved it so. xx

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  9. Good for you,why must some people share their thoughts in such a hateful way.
    Glad your better.

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    1. Oddly enough, I was more saddened than I was offended. Oh well, no one else will have to read it! HA!
      Thanks for your well wishes, gladly accepted.

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  10. Be well, Kay! I always wondered whether St. Francis really wrote that prayer....I'm still not sure........But the words of it express what I think was the spirit of Francis. I am glad you erased the words in the Bible except for the name of Jesus! Well done. It might have harmed someone else who read it....Again, Be well! Heal quickly.

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    1. Yes, see my reply to Debra above! And you think just the way that I do...I hated the thought of someone reading that, someone all alone and in need and they would open that Bible...I might not be able to do much in this life but finding an eraser, that I can do!!

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  11. Is it
    God is nowhere
    or
    God is now here ?

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    1. God is now here.

      I have always loved the church signs that I see....
      No God/No Peace
      Know God/Know Peace.

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  12. I, too, hope you're once again feeling 100%, Kay. As for ramblings....don't worry....I ramble all the time, so I think it's normal. :)

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    1. Thanks, Lee. Let's say that my ramblings are normal. Yes, let's tell ourselves that! :-)

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  13. Replies
    1. It is a beautiful prayer and regardless who wrote it, is one that everyone should memorize and take to heart.

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