Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

It is a day to honor Mary, the mother of the Prince of Peace. In light of that, the Church has also declared this the World Day of Prayer for Peace.

As a Secular Franciscan, on this day I naturally think of the "Peace Prayer of St. Francis" (even if he did not write it!):

Lord make me an instrument of your peace

Where there is hatred,Let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is error, truth;

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.