Prayer Of St Francis Of Assisi
(Used In AA)
Prayer of St Francis
Ever wondered about the Saint who inspired the recording of “Prayer of St Francis” by popular singer, Sarah McLachlan? Or what is the story behind St Francis prayer found in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?
This guide shares about the Saint behind all these – St Francis Of Assisi – who he was and what the St Francis prayer AA is all about.
Who Is St Francis Of Assisi
St Francis was born in the town of Assisi in Italy in 1182, hence the title St Francis Of Assisi.
Although he came from a wealthy family, St Francis developed a burning desire as a young man to emulate Our Lord in his love of charity and voluntary poverty.
At the age of 20 he devoted himself to a life of prayer. Since, Francis embraced a life of poverty and dedicated himself to God.
After renouncing his wealth, St Francis founded one of the most famous religious orders, the Franciscans. The Franciscans lived an austere life of poverty in service to others following Jesus’s example, and preached the Gospel message all over Italy and other parts of Europe.
From Riches To Rags To Brotherhood
It was said that young Francis continued wandering to discover his purpose when he came upon a crumbling church in San Damiano. While praying there, he heard a message saying “rebuild my church!”.
Francis took this literally, and returned home where he took cloth from his father’s business and sold it to pay the priests of San Damiano to be able to fix the church building.
Not only would the priests not accept the money since it had been gained by stealing, Francis’ father had also found out and was furious, locking him in a closet and beating him.
His father then took him before the local bishop and demanded that Francis legally be removed from inheriting his family’s wealth because he was “obviously crazy”.
The town came out and made fun of him as well, throwing rocks and mud, and demanding that he repay the money.
Francis, however, saw this to be a moment that would change his life forever.
He took off all his expensive clothing and told his father that he was his father no longer and that from now on, he would obey only his Heavenly Father.
He went off singing of his freedom, and despite the snow, went to the woods. There, he was even beaten by robbers and had his underclothes taken from him. Still, he was overjoyed to be free and to decide to live his life as Jesus did, owning nothing.
He spent the first few years of his new life as a beggar, asking for bricks and stones which he carried to San Damiano and other churches in the area, rebuilding them by hand.
At a mass service one morning, Francis finally realized God had not literally meant to rebuild stone churches, but to reach Believers with his ideas.
He went about preaching, and slowly, people who had ridiculed him for his past began to notice the good he was doing. People began to be intrigued by the message that had compelled him to change so drastically.
People from all over the country, wealthy and not, and of all ages began to follow Francis and his lifestyle. He didn’t wish to officially found an order because he thought it was too regimented, and preferred to call it a brotherhood.
What It Meant To Be Truly Free
The only rule for the brotherhood was to own nothing and to “take up their crosses” daily.
They were always joyful, and often sang while working or walking.
They slept anywhere they could, usually outdoors, and aided any laborers or workers they might come upon.
Francis’ brothers would not accept any money, working only for the necessities they needed to get by each day. This was uncommon at that time as leading a religious life usually meant not working and hence, would not understand the needs of those who did work.
Francis was certain that owning more than necessary was the opposite of love, and that if fear and weapons are required to guard possessions, he wanted neither of those.
He also said that a man who owned nothing could not be stolen from, starved, or ruined socially because he already had done those things himself – so he was truly free.
St Francis Prayer AA
Note: For simplicity, the Saint Francis’s Prayer used in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) will be termed as “St Francis Prayer AA”
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) adopted Saint Francis’ prayer early on as an 11th Step Prayer. The prayer was widely circulated, starting in 1918, with a postcard-style print with the prayer on one side and an icon of the Saint on the other. It was heavily popularized during WW2, during which time, it was adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous.
Let us explore what and how the Saint Francis Assisi Prayer (also known as 11th Step Prayer) is used in AA.
Where Is The St Francis Prayer In AA?
AA eventually incorporated Saint Francis’s Prayer into the Big Book. Today, it is so much a part of the self-help group that its alternative title is the “11th Step Prayer”. And, when you make it to the 11th Step, it will become a big part of your journey.
St Francis Prayer AA
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.
Amen.
Meaning And Reflection
This prayer is based on love, acceptance, and acknowledgement of God.
The prayer is in part entreaty to God for help, in part acknowledgement that you are not complete without God and community, and in part a commitment to allow God and His help into your life.
1. Discovering the Plan God Has for Your Life
St Francis Prayer AA is about letting go, about asking God for guidance.
Forget the ego and the self in the search for God, for forgiveness, and for eternal life in heaven. This is well outlined in the prayer, which begins with a request to God for Him to make the speaker His instrument. It is about asking for help in the face of adversity.
2. Acknowledging Your Need For Guidance
The 11th step is traditionally about rediscovering spirituality and God through prayer and meditation. Here, you are expected to acknowledge God as a higher power and relax into giving him the figurative reigns to controlling your life.
It is about acknowledging that you don’t have all the answers and that you need guidance to be God’s servant.
In asking God to make you an instrument of HIs peace, you are asking Him to grant you the wisdom to act in His name, as He would want, and acknowledging that you do not have the capacity to do so on your own.
3. Letting Go of the Ego
Many of us need and strive to be loved, accepted, to be right. The Ego, as outlined by Freud, is a powerful driver in how we act. But, as we turn to God, there is little place for the Ego.
It is never right to let go of the full sense of self, but God asks us to acknowledge that we are all but a tiny part of the whole. It’s about acknowledging that the future you want to build for yourself lies not entirely within you, but also in your community, family, and friends (this is the brotherhood).
No one can do it alone. No one will ever be complete without family, love, and community.
The second half of the St Francis Prayer AA is a reminder that in finding others, we find ourselves. When we give, we receive, when we acknowledge, we are acknowledged, and when we love, we are loved.
Using St Francis Prayer AA To Reflect
The 11th step requires sitting down, using prayer as a form of meditation, and finding quiet to think, to reflect, and simply to be.
Hopefully, during this time, the St Francis Prayer AA will provide powerful inspiration to connect with and move into those ideas, to acknowledge that God is the one who knows what is best for you and how to get you there, and to continue your journey from being an inward focused addict towards an outward focused member of your community.
Who Wrote The 11th Step Prayer?
While the prayer is named after St Francis, we actually don’t know who wrote it. Instead, it’s been traced as far back as 1912, at a French spiritual magazine. Regardless if the prayer was written by St Francis or not, it doesn’t lessen its power and inspiration.
St Francis Of Assisi Prayer
St Francis loved all God’s creatures and followed God’s example of kindness, mercy, compassion, and love for all creation.
Aside the St Francis Prayer AA, the Saint reflected his earthly experiences and love of Our Lord and all God’s creatures in the other prayers he wrote.
Feast & Patron Of
Feast: Oct. 4th
Patron of: animals, merchants, ecology
St Francis Prayer For Animals
On October 4, people all over the world will be celebrating St Francis Day in honour of the Patron Saint of Animals.
Click here to more St Francis Prayer For Animals
St Francis Of Assisi Prayer For Healing
You are holy, Lord,
the only God,
and Your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong.
You are great.
You are the Most High.
You are Almighty.
You, Holy Father
are King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One,
Lord God, all Good.
You are Good,
all Good, supreme Good,
Lord God, living and true.
You are love.
You are wisdom.
You are humility.
You are endurance.
You are rest.
You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches,
and You suffice for us.
You are beauty.
You are gentleness.
You are our protector.
You are our guardian and defender.
You are our courage.
You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith,
our great consolation.
You are our eternal life,
Great and Wonderful Lord,
God Almighty,
Merciful Saviour.
Amen.
Respect For Life
Gentle St Francis
you were so devoted to the humanity of Christ.
Your heart burst with appreciation toward God
for taking on human life.
You saw beauty and goodness in all living things –
in birds that sing,
the fish that fill our waters,
and all that lives in nature.
Help us to imitate your reverence for life
wherever it may be.
Especially, humble Francis of Assisi,
help us to help others
to see the worth of each living,
unborn baby sheltered in its mother’s womb.
May all mankind have the grace
to understand that these tiny,
budding lives have the right to live,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Amen.
Prayer Of St Francis Of Assisi (Saint Behind AA) Summary
The story of St Francis Of Assisi is nothing short of inspirational and a true testament of how the power of God can restore anyone in any situation to lead a valuable life of service. He touches the lives of thousands of people and helped bring the word of God to all those struggling around him.
The prayer of St Francis offers hope, inspiration, and motivation. St Francis Prayer (AA) is a perfect example of a surrendered life and has helped many on recovery journey find context and meaning.
Anyone who contemplate and say the St Francis Of Assisi prayer will get to work through its significance and impact on their spirituality, life, and outlook.
The Saint Prayer Miracle was created to be a prayer circle for all believers who wish to pray for blessings and get daily devotionals from holy saints.
Saints didn’t live perfect lives, but they did learn how to lean on God, sow peace, and love others during their time on earth. We pray with the Saints as they desire to help us draw closer to God.
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