Prayer of St Francis / Make me a Channel of Your Peace

This hymn about peace-making is based on a peace-prayer attributed (apparently incorrectly) to St Francis of Assisi.   

It was written by South African born lay Franciscan Johann Sebastian von Tempelhoff, who is usually known as Sebastian Temple (1928-1997).  The song was written in 1967, and was included on Temple's album "Happy the Man" which was commissioned by Franciscian Communications.   It is dedicated to Mrs Frances Tracy.

Like many of Temple's songs, although popular in some religious folk music circles it was not widely known.    However in 1997 it was performed  by the Westminster Boys' Choir at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, and this led to a massive surge in its popularity and public recognition, and a number of recordings and re-releases.   Many websites say that it is "the anthem" of the Royal British Legion (a veteran's welfare organisation) but I have not found any evidence to support this.

With irregular meter, the tune which Temple wrote for the song does not appear to have ever been named.  It has a cut-common time signature. In the key of Db, the first few notes are FF F F F G A F_.


symbolic dove over a well defined river channel - 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.  2  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.   Bridge:  O 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 3  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.


Downloads

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Examples

Solo singer, piano accompaniment:


Solo singer, band backing, professional recording:


Cathedral choir and congregation with organ (possibly the performance from Princess Diana's funeral):


Choir with piano:


Children's choir with piano:


Choir with praise band:



Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:
1 Make me a channel of your peace ...

2 Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life ....

(bridge)
O 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.

3 Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning .....

See more ....

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY 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

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.

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.

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