Prayer of St. Francis

I did post this March 19, 2020 at One Step, Then Another, but it is special. Kathy and I celebrate our anniversary today and this was a reading at our wedding. Initially, the priest was reluctant. I think he saw the disappointment and let us use it.

When I heard the organ, I stood, literally shaking I was so nervous. I turned, looked at Kathy and her Dad, and stopped shaking. What was meant to be was meant to be.

Regardless of one’s relationship with others, intimate or distant, these are words to guide how we accept the Other, as Emmanuel Levinas said. This way lifts the Other to a human subject in an I-Thou relationship, rather than as an object and it.

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.
And 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-
And it’s in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And it’s in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
We took this at the Grand Canyon several years ago.

About ivonprefontaine

In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms. I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders. I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs. I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry. I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry. I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.

47 responses »

  1. Happy Anniversary!! Still a remarkable and thoughtful passage.

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  2. George Bachul

    Great passage. Not sure why the priest would be reluctant. Happy Anniversary young fella.

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    • Thank you George. I think it was long before the idea of having people choose their readings was common. He was a younger priest at the time, as well. It might have been the first time.

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  3. Amen, and congratulations!

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  4. Congrats. Great as we celebrate the encyclical on the environment

    On Sat, 23 May 2020 at 7:08 am, Teacher as Transformer wrote:

    > ivonprefontaine posted: “I did post this March 19, 2020 at One Step, Then > Another, but it is special. Kathy and I celebrate our anniversary today and > this was a reading at our wedding. Initially, the priest was reluctant. I > think he saw the disappointment and let us use it. Wh” >

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  5. That prayer should serve as a guide to everyone. May you and Kathy share many more years together. Happy Anniversary!

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  6. Happy Anniversary Ivan and Kathy,
    Your wedding prayer set an intention that you seem to have lived into through your journey together in life.You look very happy at the Grand Canyon. May you continue to hear the Guidance in whatever forms it comes. The St. Francis Prayer was a great foundation. I hope the priest has expanded his understanding since he married you. Perhaps, because he married you. Blessings on your love and your life, Alia

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  7. Wow!!! You people are beautiful together.

    Happy Anniversay!!
    May you share many more years together.. And your love stays forever. 😊😊

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  8. Happy Anniversary to you both! That is such a beautiful prayer. It means so much to me as well. I have it hanging in my foyer, near a copy of the Desiderata. Wishing you many blessings on this special day and henceforth.

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  9. Happy Anniversary!!! And, thank you for this prayer 🙏🏽

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  10. Happy Anniversary, Ivon & Kathy! Stay safe, happy and healthy! ヽ( ・∀・)ノ

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  11. I still love you and our journey together, Ivon! I am looking forward to many more years at your side. Happy Anniversary!

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  12. Happy anniversary! 💖

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  13. A beautiful choice for a wedding. Happy Anniversary!

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  14. Beautiful prayer💖Happy Anniversary❤️❤️🌷

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  15. May ‘Creator God’ bless you and you’re with many, many more my good friend!

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  16. We used to say this prayer in our school assembly every day. Lovely prayer, indeed!

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  17. Hi
    Happy Anniversary, It’s really beautiful
    https://acevisiontreks.com/

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  18. Aww, Happy Anniversary! That verse, though. I think you might really love this: https://youtu.be/CnzhhTu1e5Y
    Blessings to you both. 🙏❤️

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  19. Such a special memory you shared with us, Ivon. Happy anniversary!

    Reply
  20. Pingback: Happy New Year – 2023 with Hope | Teacher as Transformer

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