Prayer of St. Francis - as in the 12 and 12

[Dallas]

This was Bill W.'s version of the Prayer of St. Francis.
It's in the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, on
Step Eleven, page 99


Prayer of St. Francis

“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, grand 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.
Amenâ€

[blueangel]

Great prayer Dallas, I'm printing it off as I type. Thank you for sharing it

[Al S.]

The St Francis prayer has been my life safer when my self will
tries to re-enter my life and my thoughts and actions start sliding
towards being all about me. An excellent example of what being
giving is truly all about.

My first introduction to the 12 x 12 and the prayer was in my first step
series being chaired by a beautiful peace loving man with over 35 years
sobriety. I was newly sober, caught up with self and looking for a way out
of my hopelessness. The way he guided us through the steps was amazing.
He truly cared about the suffering alcoholic and demonstrated it through
his actions more than words.

When he first read the prayer to the small group of us the room fell
completely silent. He expressed each word with such emotion, such feeling,
he truly strived to practice the prayer in his life and his presentation of
the words was an experience I will never forget.

The Prayer of St Francis has been a part of my morning prayer and meditation
since that time, 14 years, and I will be forever grateful for they way in which Bill H.
presented it to us. A beautiful, caring, loving man who has since passed. He will
always be in my heart.

Al S.

[Spiritman]

A great prayer. I recently shared this prayer (different version) with a friend who was processing grief. Anyway, I enjoyed seeing this on the 12 Step pages... for some reason recovery, prayer, serenity, peace and much more is building in my being. I feel empowered, nourished, loved and I am driven to share recovery with others at this time--different than I usually do.

I'm sober!
My spirit is stimulated to the max right now.

Peace,
The Spiritman