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Prayer of the Guest Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rabbi Dr. Julius Mark on 1 December 1941

Guest Chaplain: Dr. Julius Mark, rabbi of Vine Street Temple, Nashville, Tennessee
Sponsor: n/a
Date of Prayer: 1 December 1941


Contribute a translationSource (English)
In a time when the dark forces
of tyranny and oppression
compass us about,
we pray, O God,
that Thou mayest so fortify our spirits
that we may find wisdom, courage, and decision
in the heroic utterance of St. Francis of Assisi,[1] From the Wikipedia article, “Prayer of Saint Francis: The anonymous text that is usually called the Prayer of Saint Francis (or Peace Prayer, or Simple Prayer for Peace, or Make us an Instrument of Your Peace) is a widely known Christian prayer for peace. Often associated with the Italian Saint Francis of Assisi (c. 1182 – 1226), but entirely absent from his writings, the prayer in its present form has not been traced back further than 1912. Its first known occurrence was in French, in a small spiritual magazine called La Clochette (The Little Bell), published by a Catholic organization in Paris named La Ligue de la Sainte-Messe (The League of the Holy Mass). The author’s name was not given, although it may have been the founder of La Ligue, Father Esther Bouquerel (1855–1923). The prayer was heavily publicized during both World War Ⅰ and World War Ⅱ. It has been frequently set to music by notable songwriters and quoted by prominent leaders, and its broadly inclusive language has found appeal with many faiths encouraging service to others. 
one of Thy most inspired sons:
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy 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.
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 practicing good will toward others
that Thy peace comes to us.
Remove from our hearts, O Father,
every vestige of bitterness, ill will,
and uncharitableness.
Purge our souls of the dross that tarnishes and corrodes,
but fill our spirits with the love that ennobles
and the faith that exalts and inspires.
With Thy light leading us
“amid the encircling gloom,”[2] a line from the hymn “Lead, Kindly Light, Amid the encircling gloom” (1833) by the English Catholic theologian, John Henry Newman (1801-1890). 
victory of the spirit—
so ardently and painfully sought
by Thy children throughout the centuries—
will become our blessed portion.
Fervently we invoke Thy benediction
upon the President, the Vice President,
Cabinet, legislators, judiciary,
and people of the United States.
Guard them, O God,
from calamity and injury.
Suffer not their adversaries
to triumph over them,
but let the glories of a just,
righteous,
and God-fearing people
increase from age to age.
We invoke Thy blessing
not because we are better than other men,
but because we would be worthy of receiving it
by living honorably, courageously, and usefully.
May the words of our lips,
the meditations of our hearts,
and the works of our hands
be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord,
our strength and our Redeemer.
Amen.

This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the twelfth month of the first session of the 77th US House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 87 part 9 (1 December 1941), pp. 9252-9253.

Source(s)

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain – Julius Mark (House of Representatives, 1 December 1941), p. 9252

Prayer of the Guest Chaplain – Julius Mark (House of Representatives, 1 December 1941), p. 9253

 

Notes

Notes
1From the Wikipedia article, “Prayer of Saint Francis: The anonymous text that is usually called the Prayer of Saint Francis (or Peace Prayer, or Simple Prayer for Peace, or Make us an Instrument of Your Peace) is a widely known Christian prayer for peace. Often associated with the Italian Saint Francis of Assisi (c. 1182 – 1226), but entirely absent from his writings, the prayer in its present form has not been traced back further than 1912. Its first known occurrence was in French, in a small spiritual magazine called La Clochette (The Little Bell), published by a Catholic organization in Paris named La Ligue de la Sainte-Messe (The League of the Holy Mass). The author’s name was not given, although it may have been the founder of La Ligue, Father Esther Bouquerel (1855–1923). The prayer was heavily publicized during both World War Ⅰ and World War Ⅱ. It has been frequently set to music by notable songwriters and quoted by prominent leaders, and its broadly inclusive language has found appeal with many faiths encouraging service to others.
2a line from the hymn “Lead, Kindly Light, Amid the encircling gloom” (1833) by the English Catholic theologian, John Henry Newman (1801-1890).

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