One of the remnants of a time when I was a staff nurse at the hospital is a printout of The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. It was taped inside my locker. When I would open my locker to put my purse away and dig out my stethoscope, pens, surgical scissors, and other items, I would see the humble words of St. Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your 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;

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.

Today, some 30 years later, as I reflect on the influence of Catholic saints on my nursing practice, I was reminded of this simple, yet powerful prayer. St. Francis who encouraged Christians to bring the love and joy of the Holy Spirit into a world filled with sadness and despair (Galatians 5:22).

I wish I could say my nursing career was a reflection of the St. Francis prayer. Instead, I can honestly say, I have tried. At times, I have brought joy into sadness and hope where there was a lack of faith. Maybe that is a more attainable goal for us non-Saints. Instead of using the prayer as an assessment tool. Choose one phrase or word and bring that to one person in need of the Spirit’s touch.

• Bring hope to a suffering patient in despair.
• Pardon a colleague who has caused you harm.
• With a caring word shine the light of Christ into the darkness of depression.
• Share a heart of joy with everyone, especially those who grieve.