Saint Francis

Saint Francis
Copyright 2013 Addie Hirschten
Oil on Canvas
18" x 36"

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.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, 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.

-Prayer of Saint Francis

This painting depicts Saint Francis taming the wolf surrounded by birds.  I myself have been meditating lately on the first line of his prayer "make me an instrument of thy peace."   How can I better take action to create peace for those around me?  The most challenging part has been to create peace within my own thoughts...

To calm my fearful doubts and surrender to reality.
To be thankful for everything.
To absolve every transgression.
It is perfect just the way it is.