The prayer most people call the St. Francis prayer begins “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” It is loved around the world, although historians trace its first printing to France in 1912 rather than to Francis himself. It captures his spirit so well that it has carried his name ever since.
Below is the Peace Prayer in full, a prayer in Francis’s own words from the Canticle of the Creatures, short prayers, a novena before his feast on 4 October, and his story.
Prayers to St. Francis of Assisi
The Peace Prayer
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.
From the Canticle of the Creatures, in Francis’s own words
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, who brings the day, and through whom You give us light. Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars. Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, so useful, humble, precious and pure. Praise and bless my Lord, and give Him thanks, and serve Him with great humility. Amen.
Short Prayers
- St. Francis, pray for peace in my heart and my home.
- Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace today.
- St. Francis, friend of the poor, pray for us.
Novena to St. Francis of Assisi
A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer for one intention. Each day, pray the main prayer above, name your intention, then pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be. Many people pray it from 25 September to 3 October so that it ends on the eve of his feast on 4 October, the day many parishes bless animals.
Who Was St. Francis of Assisi?
Francis was born in Assisi, Italy, around 1181, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. After a youth spent chasing glory, he heard Christ ask him to rebuild His Church, gave away everything, and began living in radical poverty among the poor and lepers. The brothers who joined him became the Franciscan order.
He preached peace, loved all creatures as brothers and sisters, visited the Sultan of Egypt during the Crusades, and in 1224 received the stigmata. He died on 3 October 1226 and was canonised two years later. His followers have cared for the Christian holy places in Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, for centuries.
Scripture
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 6:14 (NIV)
Questions People Ask
Did St. Francis write the Peace Prayer?
Probably not. It first appeared in a French magazine in 1912, but it is so close to his spirit that it has been called the St. Francis prayer ever since. The Canticle of the Creatures is his own.
When is St. Francis’s feast day?
4 October.
Is St. Francis the patron saint of animals?
Yes, and of ecology. See our prayers for pets for the St. Francis prayer for animals.
Can I send a prayer to St. Francis of Assisi through Holy Land Prayer?
We do not send prayers to a shrine of St. Francis of Assisi. His tomb is in the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. What we do is carry prayers to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem: you can write a prayer asking for this saint’s intercession in the form at the top of this page, and we will place it inside one of the chapels, where a priest prays it in English.
Who Writes These Prayers
The Holy Land Prayer team writes the prayers on this page. Traditional prayers are given in the form used in Catholic devotion. Scripture is quoted from the New International Version.
Last reviewed 28 September 2026 by the Holy Land Prayer team.
A Franciscan Connection to Jerusalem
The Franciscans have cared for the holy places of the Holy Land for centuries, and friars still serve at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre today. If you would like a prayer carried there, for peace, for creation or for anything on your heart, write it in the form at the top of this page. We print it, place it in one of the chapels and light a candle on your behalf, a priest prays it in English, and photographs of both are emailed to you. See how it works.
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