The Planetary Meditation for Peace

- Image Extracted from http://www.stmichaelandallangels.ca

The first Appearance of The Peace Prayer – occurred in France in 1912 – in a small Spiritual Magazine called La Clochette – or The Little Bell – which was published* in Paris by a group founded in 1901 by a French priest.

The Prayer bore the Title of “A Beautiful Prayer to Say During the Mass”.
It was published anonymously.

The French Prayer was sent to Pope Benedict XV and was printed in 1915.
Soon it was followed by publication in Italian – in the Oservatore Romano.

In around 1920, the Prayer was printed by a French Franciscan Priest and on the reverse side of the Prayer Card was placed an Image of St. Francis.
The card bore the Title Priere pour la Paix, “PRAYER FOR PEACE”.
But interestingly, it was not attributed to Saint Francis himself.

Between the two World Wars – the Prayer was circulated throughout Europe and finally it was translated into English.

The first Translation in English (that we know of) appeared in 1936 in a book, Living Courageously – by Kirby Page.

Page attributed the text to St. Francis of Assisi.

During the Second World War and immediately after, The Prayer for Peace
began being circulated widely as The Prayer of St. Francis and over the
years the Prayer gained worldwide Popularity with people of All Faiths.

- Extracted & Modified from: http//www.american
catholic.org/e-News/FriarJack/fj093009.asp#top
Kirby Page (1890-1957) Disciples of Christ Minister

* by a Catholic Association in Paris - known as "The Holy Mass League", (La Ligue de la Sainte-Messe)

The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, Make me an Instrument of thy 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

Let us not be Consoled so much 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.