Although this prayer is attributed to Saint Francis it was more likely written by an unknown author. Mother Teresa would pray this prayer daily. In the first line of this prayer we are asked to spread peace which St. Francis saw as his earthly ministry as well. In his 9th Admonition, St. Francis says: ”The Lord says in the Gospel, “Love your enemies,” etc. He truly loves his enemy who does not grieve because of the wrong done to himself, but who is afflicted for love of God because of the sin on his [brother’s] soul and who shows his love by his works.

Mother Teresa’s spiritual experience of solitude of a complete absence of the consolation of God has been referred to as the dark night, which explains her great capacity for mercy. Mother Teresa has said “I have come to love the darkness – for I believe now that it is a part, a very, very small part of Jesus’ darkness and pain on earth.” [You have taught me to accept it [as] a spiritual side of ‘your work’ as you wrote -] “Today really I felt a deep joy – that Jesus can’t go anymore through the agony – but that He wants to go through it in me – More than ever I surrender myself to Him – Yes – more than ever I will be at His disposal.” Are we like Mother Teresa are we willing to say “Yes” to do all that we are asked to do?

Mother Teresa is someone we can all relate to. It does not matter if we are rich or poor, devastated by violence because we know she has shown us that the evil or misery that we all hold in our hearts can be forgiven by just reaching out to Jesus. She always showed mercy and forgiveness to others. Mother Teresa said, “We need lots of love to forgive and we need lots of humility to forget, because it is not complete forgiveness, unless we forget also. … Very often we say we have forgiven but we cannot forget. And as long as we cannot forget, we really have not forgiven fully.” We have so much to learn from Mother Teresa, a saint in our time. Someone who daily put into action the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, You came into the world to remind us of truth, beauty and goodness. Awaken us to the truth, beauty and goodness that you have placed within us, so that we can share them with the people we meet each day. She always showed mercy and forgiveness to others. We have so much to learn from Mother Teresa, a saint in our time. Someone who daily put into action the Fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, You came into the world to remind us of truth, beauty and goodness. Awaken us to the truth, beauty and goodness that you have placed within us, so that we can share them with the people we meet each day. Amen