Introduction
“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” is a Christian hymn written in the 20th century by the British musician and composer, Sebastian Temple. The hymn is based on the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, which is a prayer for peace.
The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, also known as the Peace Prayer, is a prayer that asks for peace, love, forgiveness, and understanding. The prayer is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, who was a Catholic friar and preacher in the 13th century.
The prayer goes as follows:
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.
The Hymn
The hymn “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” is based on the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. The hymn is a plea to God to use the singer as an instrument of peace, love, and understanding in the world. The hymn is often sung at funerals and other Christian services as a reminder of the importance of peace and forgiveness.
The Lyrics
The lyrics of “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” are as follows:
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.
Oh Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul.
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.
Oh Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved, as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all men that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
Conclusion
“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” is a beautiful hymn that is based on the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. The hymn is a reminder of the importance of peace, love, forgiveness, and understanding in the world. The hymn is often sung at Christian services as a reminder of the importance of these values.
