Saint Francis — Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace

Calling all creatures his brothers and sisters,
and sensing the breath of God in flowers, birds, and even the starlight,
Saint Francis was a saint who lived the Gospel in the simplest and yet deepest way through a life of poverty, humility, and peace.

“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.”

His life still leads many people today
to reflect once again on the meaning of peace, love, and letting go.
What kind of life did Saint Francis live,
and why is he still loved by so many people today?

 

Saint Francis of Assisi

A saint of poverty, peace, and love for all creation

One day, there was a man who laid everything down and stood before God.
His name was Francis, the little brother of Assisi.
He was born the son of a wealthy merchant, yet turned away from worldly wealth and glory and chose instead to live alongside the poor.
Finding the beauty of God in birds, wildflowers, and the sun itself, he became a saint who revealed the Gospel through a life of peace, joy, and love.

“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.”

Saint Francis was born in Assisi, Italy, around 1181 or 1182, and chose a life of poverty and peace.
He became the starting point of the Franciscan tradition and is deeply remembered as one who loved all creatures as part of God’s creation. His feast day is 4 October, and to this day he is venerated by Catholics throughout the world as a saint of peace, humility, and joy.

 

• Born: around 1181, Assisi, Italy
• Founder of the Franciscan Order, patron of nature and peace
• Best-known prayer: “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace”
• Feast day: 4 October
• Name day: those who bear the baptismal name Francis also keep their name day on this date

아시시의 올리브 나무로 조각한 성 프란치스코 상

Why is Saint Francis still loved today?

Saint Francis is still deeply loved by so many people because his life was not remote or impossibly lofty, but rather disarmingly simple and true. He possessed very little, yet he was freer than most. He did not rely on power, yet he carried deep peace within him. The way he stood with the poor, regarded all creatures as brothers and sisters, and lived the Gospel not merely in words but in life itself still moves people’s hearts, even across the centuries.

So Saint Francis does not remain simply a saint of the Middle Ages. He still comes before people today as one who quietly asks, “How should we live?” Perhaps that is why countless pilgrims continue to make their way to Assisi: to pause for a moment before that very question.

 

Remembering my mother, now a star

Whenever I think of my mother, now a star,
I also remember Saint Francis singing of “Sister Star” and “Brother Sun”,
and of the heart with which he called all creatures his brothers and sisters.

Like him,
I too want quietly to learn
a way of life in which prayer and love abide.

Today again, thinking of Saint Francis,
a little man of peace,
I too whisper softly:

“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.”

 

On a pilgrimage path towards my mother, now a star – Little Star

 

 

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