Prayer of St. Francis (Make Me a Channel of Your Peace)

On Saturday I had the privilege of playing for a funeral mass of a dear friends mother. One of the songs in the service was Prayer of St. Francis – and after hearing more about the beautiful life of this woman this song meant even more to me. During the remembrance my friend spoke of the gratitude, love, kind spirit and loving mother she was to her children, extended family and the church parish of which she was a founding member. When I spoke with members of the family it was expressed that she passed in peace, and seeing the family and friends at the visitation and service – there was peace.
This lady was a channel of peace. Her life showed that – from meeting her and from the beautiful words spoken – she channeled God’s peace to all. But even through her passing she was still channeling God’s peace to others. Through her life and death she was able to help everyone see and feel the peace of God. The verses of this song help us remember that through anything we can be the peace of God to all we come in contact with.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, only light.
And where there’s sadness ever joy.

Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving our ourselves that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

Prayer of St. Francis (Make Me a Channel of Your Peace)
© 1967 OCP Publications
Words and Music by: Sebastian Temple