The Prayer of St. Francis ("Make me an instrument of your peace") is a widely loved Christian text often set to music, though its exact origins remain unclear. First appearing in print in 1912 France, it gained global popularity through its inclusion in prayer books and interfaith movements.
The Prayer of St. Francis, though attributed to 13th-century saint, became popularized as a hymn in the 20th century with over 150 musical settings across genres.
Written in 1967 by Sebastian Temple, this hymn adapts the 13th-century Peace Prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. Its universal message of peace led to its adoption by interfaith communities worldwide. The melody blends folk simplicity with devotional warmth, characteristic of post-Vatican II Catholic music.
