Saint Francis Prayer for Compassion

Saint Francis of Assisi (Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone; 1181/1182 - October 3, 1226)   He was a Catholic deacon and preacher who took the gospel literally by following all Jesus said and did.
He also was the founder of the Order of Friars Minor, more commonly known as the Franciscans; Saint Francis followed all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit and without a mite of self-importance.

He is known as the patron saint of animals, the environment and one of the two patrons of Italy (with Catherine of Siena), and it is customary for churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day of 4 October.

Saint Francis was a man torn between a life devoted entirely to prayer and a life of active preaching of the Good News. He decided in favor of the latter, but always returned to solitude when he could. He wanted to be a missionary in Syria or in Africa, but was prevented by shipwreck and illness in both cases. He did try to convert the sultan of Egypt during the Fifth Crusade.
During the last years of his relatively short life (he died at 44) he was half blind and seriously ill. Two years before his death, he received the stigmata, the real and painful wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side.
On his deathbed, he said over and over again the last addition to his Canticle of the Sun, "Be praised, O Lord, for our Sister Death." He sang Psalm 141, and at the end asked his superior to have his clothes removed when the last hour came and for permission to expire lying naked on the earth, in imitation of his Lord.

Lord, make me an instrument of your 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.

Amen.

Italian

Il San Francesco preghiera per compassione
O Signore, fa' di me uno strumento della tua Pace:
Dove è odio, fa' ch'io porti l'Amore.
Dove è offesa, ch'io porti il Perdono.
Dove è dubbio, ch'io porti la Fede.
Dove è disperazione, ch'io porti la Speranza.
Dove è tristezza, ch'io porti la Gioia.
Dove sono le tenebre, ch'io porti la Luce.
O Maestro, fa' ch'io non cerchi tanto:
Essere consolato, quanto consolare.
Essere compreso, quanto comprendere.
Essere amato,quanto amare.
Poiché sì è
Dando, che si riceve;
Perdonando che si è perdonati;
Morendo, che si risuscita a Vita Eterna.

French

Seigneur, faites de moi un instrument de votre paix.
Là où il y a de la haine, que je mette l'amour.
Là où il y a l'offense, que je mette le pardon.
Là où il y a le doute, que je mette la foi.
Là où il y a le désespoir, que je mette l'espérance.
Là où il y a les ténèbres, que je mette votre lumière.
Là où il y a la tristesse, que je mette la joie.

Ô Maître, que je ne cherche pas tant à être consolé qu'à consoler,
à être compris qu'à comprendre,
à être aimé qu'à aimer,
car c'est en donnant qu'on reçoit,
c'est en s'oubliant qu'on trouve, c'est en pardonnant qu'on est pardonné,
c'est en mourant qu'on ressuscite à l'éternelle vie.

See Also

Koans: An Ancient Practice

Spanish

Señor, haz de mí un instrumento de tu paz:
donde haya odio, que yo lleve el amor;
donde haya ofensa, que yo lleve el perdón;
donde haya duda, que yo lleve la fe;
donde haya desesperación, que yo lleve la esperanza;
donde haya tristeza, que yo lleve la alegría;
donde haya tiniebla, que yo lleve la luz.
Oh, maestro, haz que yo nunca busque
ser consolado, sino consolar;
ser comprendido, sino comprender;
ser amado, sino yo amar.
Porque es dando como se recibe;
es perdonando, como se es perdonado;
y muriendo se resucita a la vida eterna.
Amén.

Portuguese

Senhor, Fazei de mim um instrumento de vossa Paz.
Onde houver Ódio, que eu leve o Amor,
Onde houver Ofensa, que eu leve o Perdão.
Onde houver Dúvida, que eu leve a Fé.
Onde houver Desespero, que eu leve a Esperança.
Onde houver Tristeza, que eu leve a Alegria.
Onde houver Trevas, que eu leve a Luz!

Ó Mestre, fazei que eu procure mais:
consolar, que ser consolado;
compreender, que ser compreendido;
amar, que ser amado.
Pois é dando, que se recebe.
Perdoando, que se é perdoado e
é morrendo, que se vive para a vida eterna!