Prayer of Saint Francis

Prayer of Saint Francis

Attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi

SSAA with Piano (opt. Solo Bb Trumpet)

SCORE SAMPLE

DMG3003-Pno

$8.50

Click HERE (piano version) to securely order a digital score.  For Hardcopies, please email the composer at composer@dmgardnermusic.com

SSAA with Solo Bb Trpt and Chamber Strings

SCORE SAMPLE

DMG3003

$16.00

Click HERE (chamber string version) to securely order a digital score.  For Hardcopies, please email the composer at composer@dmgardnermusic.com

“Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace”

Prayer of Saint Francis features poetry attributed to 13th Century Monk, St Francis of Assisi, Italy. The poem was originally discovered in the early 1900s printed on a small card featuring a picture of St. Francis. However, no claim was ever made that St Francis himself composed the prayer. Some believe it was written in France, during World War I, perhaps by a Catholic Priest. The first known appearance of the “Peace Prayer of St. Francis” was in 1912 AD when it was published in the French magazine La Clochette. Though attributed to Saint Francis many centuries after his death, Saint Francis’ great devotion to God is beautifully echoed in this poem, as much a work of art, as a humble prayer.

This powerful setting of the Prayer of St Francis reflects a deeply intimate relationship between St Francis and the Lord, illustrating the internal conflict of God’s Will versus man’s. On his knees in prayer, hands folded, eyes closed, face turned away from the heavens… he asks so humbly to give what he cannot himself completely offer… The unconditional, perfect love of Christ.

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;
and 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.

Amen.

Prayer of Saint Francis was originally written for children’s chorus, but could easily accommodate women’s or boy’s choir.

Premiere: NEW in 2007!

Difficulty: Moderate

PRINT INSTRUCTIONS:
Orchestral Version:
Pages 2-8
LEGAL (8.5 x 14); LANDSCAPE

Pages 9-32
LETTER (8.5 x 11); PORTRAIT

Piano Version:
Pages 2-16
LETTER (8.5 x 11); PORTRAIT

Approx. 4 minutes in length

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