Prayer of Saint Francis

In most published versions of the prayer, the text is abridged, paraphrased or copyrighted. Below is the complete original text from its earliest known publication (1912, in French, copyright expired), alongside a line-by-line English translation: Possible inspirations for the prayer The second half of the prayer bears a strong resemblance to this famous saying of Giles of Assisi (c. 1190 – 1262), one of Francis's closest companions: This text appears in the last chapters of the famous Little Flowers of St. Francis, a text that was undergoing numerous translations at the time the modern prayer was composed. At face value Giles's verses appear to be heavily inspired by an earlier text themselves, both in structure and content, namely The Beatitudes of Jesus in Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-26. The first half of the prayer also bears some similarities to Veni Sancte Spiritus in both structure and content. Franciscan viewpoints The Franciscan Order does not include the prayer in its official "Prayers of St. Francis", and a church historian has noted that the phrasing of the first half of the text ("let me...") is atypically self-oriented for Francis: However, the prayer has been recommended by members of the Order, while not attributing it to Saint Francis. ==Musical settings==

Sebastian Temple (1967) {{listen The most-prominent hymn version of the prayer is "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace", or simply "Prayer of St. Francis", adapted and set to a chant-like melody in 1967 by South African songwriter Sebastian Temple (born Johann Sebastian von Tempelhoff; 1928–1997), who had become a Third Order Franciscan. The hymn is an anthem of the Royal British Legion and is usually sung at its annual Festival of Remembrance. In 1997, it was part of the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, and was performed by the Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor on the Princess Diana tribute album. The hymn was also sung for the religious wedding ceremony of Prince Albert II of Monaco to South African Charlene Wittstock in 2011. Others Additional settings of the prayer by notable musicians include those by: • Arthur Bliss • Maire Brennan • The Burns Sisters • F. R. C. Clarke • René Clausen • Bing Crosby – recorded 4 November 1954 for the cause of Junípero Serra. • Donovan • Dream Theater • Petr Eben • John Foley • Marc Jordan • Singh Kaur • Snatam Kaur • Matt Maher • Mary McDonald • Sarah McLachlan • A Ragamuffin Band • John Rutter • Patti Smith • John Michael Talbot ==History==

Christian Renoux, a history professor at the University of Orléans, published in French in 2001 a book-length study of the prayer and its origins, clearing up much of the confusion that had accumulated previously. The Franciscan journal Frate Francesco and the Vatican newspaper ''L'Osservatore Romano'' published articles in Italian summarizing the book's findings, and Renoux published an online abstract in English at The Franciscan Archive. On 28 January 1916, the newspaper La Croix reprinted, in French, the article from ''L'Osservatore Romano, with exactly the same heading and explanation. La Rochethulon wrote to La Croix to clarify that it was not a prayer of Souvenir Normand; but he failed to mention La Clochette'', the first publication in which it had appeared. The saint's namesake American archbishop and military vicar Francis Spellman distributed millions of copies of the "Prayer of St. Francis" during World War II, and the next year it was read into the Congressional Record by Senator Albert W. Hawkes. As a friar later summarized the relationship between the prayer and St. Francis: "One can safely say that although he is not the author, it resembles him and would not have displeased him." ==Other notable invocations==

The Prayer of St. Francis has often been cited with national or international significance, in the spirit of service to others. By religious leaders In 1986, Pope John Paul II recited the prayer as a means of bidding farewell to the global religious leaders he hosted for the first "World Day of Prayer for Peace", in Assisi at the Basilica of St. Francis. Indeed, the prayer "over the years has gained a worldwide popularity with people of all faiths". South Africa's Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu, winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent leadership against apartheid, declared that the prayer was "an integral part" of his devotions. In 1995, US President Bill Clinton quoted it in his welcoming remarks to John Paul II, starting the papal visit to address the United Nations in New York City. as did her successor John Boehner when he resigned in 2015. Pelosi invoked it again at the opening of the evening House session following the 6 January 2021, riot and storming of the Capitol. At the 2012 Democratic Convention, Jena Nardella invoked the prayer during the closing Benediction. President-elect Joe Biden quoted the prayer during his speech following his victory in the Electoral College on 14 December 2020. By others The prayer is referenced in the Alcoholics Anonymous book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (1953), and is often known to AA members as the "Step Eleven Prayer". An abbreviated version of the prayer was sung in Franco Zeffirelli's 1972 film about St. Francis, Brother Sun, Sister Moon. A modified version of the prayer appears in the song "Prayer" in the musical Come From Away. Beanie Feldstein sings the prayer in the 2017 movie Lady Bird, set at a Catholic girls' school. A shortened version appears in the HBO show Deadwood, episode 11, season one, and in the Showtime series The Affair, episode 8, season one. And also appears in the CBC TV series Anne with an E, episode 3, season three. Sinéad O'Connor recorded a version for the 1997 Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute album. According to singer and guitarist Trey Anastasio from the American rock band Phish, recital of the Saint Francis prayer is an integral part of his pre-concert ritual. ==References==