A Prayer for Inauguration Day

I tried to write a prayer for today–not so much for our leaders, but for our country as a whole. But I found myself writing different words (plagiarizing?) from the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. So I thought I’d just share the original. It really conveys everything I hope for our country in the days, weeks and years to come.

I hope St. Francis will permit me the creative license to make this a collective prayer and substitute “we” for “I” and “us” for “me.”

Lord make Us an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let us 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 we 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’s 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

Imagine what the world would look like if we became people who live out these words. May we find ways to do so and encourage others to join us in the journey.


Rev. Anne Russ is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), currently based in New York City. Doubting Believer provides tools and encouragement for the rollercoaster ride of your faith journey. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and YouTube. You can also follow on TikTok. Get emails to keep up with all that is happening.

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