I took internship and medical residency at two different Catholic hospitals before the cardiology fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital.
Whenever I was on call and working late at night, I used to hear this prayer of St. Francis by one of Sisters over speakers before
midnight and sometimes in the evening prayer after supper. It was, of course, meant to console all the patients and their souls.
I often would stop what I was doing to listen to the words and meditate momentarily appreciating the tender voice of the nun.
It certainly used to help my wounded heart healed whenever I hear it and still does whenever I say it.
He is certainly one of the most popular, loved saints, who literally lived the life of Jesus Christ and rehabilitated and rejuvenated
and renewed the corrupted Catholic Church.
The current pope must've liked him and named himself after him when he became a pope.
Years ago I read his biography and everything else I could find about him.

Francis was born in 1182, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. His early years were frivolous, but an experience of sickness and another of military service were instrumental in leading him to reflect on the purpose of life. One day, in the church of San Damiano, he seemed to hear Christ saying to him, “Francis, repair my falling house.” He took the words literally, and sold a bale of silk from his father’s warehouse to pay for repairs to the church of San Damiano. His father was outraged, and there was a public confrontation at which his father disinherited and disowned him, and he in turn renounced his father’s wealth–one account says that he not only handed his father his purse, but also took off his expensive clothes, laid them at his father’s feet, and walked away naked. He declared himself “wedded to Lady Poverty”, renounced all material possessions, and devoted himself to serving the poor. In his day the most dreaded of all diseases was something known as leprosy. (It is probably not the same as either the modern or the Biblical disease of that name.) Lepers were kept at a distance and regarded with fear and disgust. Francis cared for them, fed them, bathed their sores, and kissed them. Since he could not pay for repairs to the Church of San Damiano, he undertook to repair it by his own labors. He moved in with the priest, and begged stones lying useless in fields, shaping them for use in repairing the church. He got his meals, not by asking for money so that he might live at the expense of others, but by scrounging crusts and discarded vegetable from trash-bins, and by working as a day laborer, insisting on being paid in bread, milk, eggs, or vegetables rather than in money. Soon a few companions joined him.

“Let me tell you of a youth whose aristocratic father disowned him because of his love for a beautiful lady. She had been married before, to Christ, and was so faithful a spouse to Him that, while Mary only stood at the foot of the Cross, she leaped up to be with Him on the Cross. These two of whom I speak are Francis and the Lady Poverty. As they walked along together, the sight of their mutual love drew men’s hearts after them. Bernard saw them and ran after them, kicking off his shoes to run faster to so great a peace. Giles and Sylvester saw them, kicked off their shoes and ran to join them…. “

After three years, in 1210, the Pope authorized the forming of the Order of Friars Minor, commonly called the Franciscans. (“Friar” means “brother,” as in “fraternity”, and “minor” means “lesser” or “younger.” I take the meaning to be that a Franciscan, meeting another Christian, is to think, “I am your brother in Christ, and your younger brother at that, bound to defer to you and to give you precedence over myself.”

Francis and his companions took literally the words of Christ when he sent his disciples out to preach (Matthew 10:7-10):

Preach as you go, saying, “The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” … You have received the Gospel without payment, give it to others as freely. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, no spare garment, nor sandals, nor staff.
They would have no money, and no property, individually or collectively. Their task was to preach, “using words if necessary,” but declaring by word and action the love of God in Christ. Francis was partial to a touch of the dramatic (see his parting from his father, for example), and it was probably he who set up the first Christmas manger scene, to bring home the Good News of God made man for our salvation, home to men’s hearts and imaginations as well as to their intellects.
In 1219, Francis went to the Holy Land to preach to the moslems. He was given a pass through the enemy lines, and spoke to the Sultan, Melek-al-Kamil. Francis proclaimed the Gospel to the Sultan, who replied that he had his own beliefs, and that moslems were as firmly convinced of the truth of Islam as Francis was of the truth of Christianity. Francis proposed that a fire be built, and that he and a moslem volunteer would walk side by side into the fire to show whose faith was stronger. The Sultan said he was not sure that a moslem volunteer could be found. Francis then offered to walk into the fire alone. The Sultan who was deeply impressed but remained unconverted. Francis proposed an armistice between the two warring sides, and drew up terms for one; the Sultan agreed, but, to Francis’s deep disappointment, the Christian leaders would not. Francis returned to Italy, but a permanent result was that the Franciscans were given custody of the Christian shrines then in moslem hands.

Back in Italy and neighboring countries, the Order was suffering from its own success. Then, as now, many persons were deeply attracted by Francis and his air of joy, abandonment, and freedom. What is overlooked is that these were made possible only by his willingness to accept total poverty, not picturesque poverty but real dirt, rags, cold, and hunger, and lepers with real pus oozing from their sores and a real danger of infection. Many idealistic young men were joining the Order in a burst of enthusiasm and then finding themselves not so sure that such extremes of poverty were really necessary. When there were only a few friars, they were all known to Francis personally, and the force of his personality kept the original ideals of the Order alive in them. Now that the Order was larger, this was no longer enough. In 1220 Francis resigned as minister-general of the Order, and in 1221 he agreed to a new and modified rule, which he did not approve, but could not resist. He died on 4 October 1226. The Franciscan split into the Conventual Franciscans, who held a limited amount of property in common, and the Spiritual Franciscans, who disavowed all property. They taught that Christ and the twelve apostles had held no property, singly or jointly. This view offended those who held property, and was declared to be heretical (proof text, John 18:10; Jesus said to Peter, “Put up thy sword….”). In 1318, several Spiritual Franciscans were burned at the stake in Marseilles.
(from Internet)

성 프랜시스의 '평화의 기도'
<늘푸른나무/영성과 명상/2010년 6월 15일>

성 프란시스의 평화의 기도

나를 당신의 도구로 써주소서

미움이 있는 곳에 사랑을

다툼이 있는 곳에 용서를

분열이 있는 곳에 일치를

의혹이 있는 곳에 신앙을

오류가 있는 곳에 진리를

절망이 있는 곳에 희망을

어두움에 빛을

슬픔이 있는 곳에 기쁨을 가져오는 자 되게 하소서

위로 받기보다는 위로하고

이해 받기보다는 이해하며

사랑 받기보다는 사랑하게 해주소서

우리는 줌으로써 받고

용서함으로써 용서 받으며

자기를 버리고 죽음으로써 영생을 얻기 때문입니다.

*성 프랜시스의 유명한 기도 “주여 나를 평화의 도구로. . .” 를 이달의 기도로 선정해 보았습니다. '전쟁 불감증'을 걱정하였는데 그것이 사실은 '전쟁 공포증'이라는게 확인되었습니다. 어느때 보다도 평화가 소중한 때입니다. 그러나 평화는 그저 오는 것이 아닙니다. 프랜시스의 기도는 그 길이 우리 한사람 한사람의 변화에 있다는 것을 되새기게 합니다.
(from Internet)

Prayer of Saint Francis
The so-called Prayer of Saint Francis, also known as the Peace Prayer or Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace, is a widely known Christian prayer. Often wrongly attributed to the 13th-century saint Francis of Assisi, the prayer in its present form cannot be traced back further than 1912, when it was printed in Paris in French, in a small spiritual magazine called La Clochette (The Little Bell), published by La Ligue de la Sainte-Messe (The League of the Holy Mass). The author's name was not given, although it may have been the founder of La Ligue, Fr. Esther Bouquerel.[1]

A professor at the University of Orleans in France, Dr. Christian Renoux, published a study of the prayer and its history in French in 2001.[2]

Around 1920, a French Franciscan priest printed the prayer on the back of an image of St. Francis, without attribution.[1] The prayer has been known in the United States since 1927, when its first known English translation (possibly still under copyright today) appeared in the Quaker magazine Friends' Intelligencer under the mistaken title "A prayer of St. Francis of Assissi".[3] Senator Albert W. Hawkes and the saint's namesake Cardinal Francis Spellman distributed millions of copies of the prayer during and just after World War II.[2]:92–95

The prayer has similarities to this saying of Blessed Giles of Assisi, one of the companions of St. Francis:(from Internet)

Mother Teresa of Kolkata (Calcutta, India) made it part of the morning prayers of the Roman Catholic religious institute she established, the Missionaries of Charity. She attributed importance to it when receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo in 1979 and asked that it be recited. It is the school anthem of many Christian schools in Kolkata even today.[7]
South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, declared that it was "an integral part" of his devotions.
In October 1995, President Bill Clinton quoted it in his welcoming speech to Pope John Paul II on his arrival in New York to address the United Nations.
Margaret Thatcher, after winning the 1979 United Kingdom general election, paraphrased the prayer on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, surrounded by a throng of reporters, having "kissed hands" with Queen Elizabeth II and become Prime Minister.[8][9]
Nancy Pelosi used it when she became Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007,[10][11] as did her successor John Boehner when he resigned in 2015.[5]
The prayer is referenced in the Alcoholics Anonymous book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and is also known as the "Step Eleven Prayer" to AA members.
The prayer was used in a slightly abbreviated form in the 1972 film about St. Francis, Brother Sun, Sister Moon.(Internet)

The Story Behind the Peace Prayer of St. Francis

The Peace Prayer of St. Francis is a famous prayer which first appeared around the year 1915 A.D., and which embodies the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi's simplicity and poverty.

According to Father Kajetan Esser, OFM, the author of the critical edition of St. Francis's Writings, the Peace Prayer of St. Francis is most certainly not one of the writings of St. Francis. This prayer, according to Father Schulz, Das sogennante Franziskusgebet. Forshungen zur evangelishen Gebetslitteratur (III), in Jahrbuch fur Liturgik und Hymnologie, 13 (1968), pp. 39-53, first appeared during the First World War. It was found written on the observe of a holy card of St. Francis, which was found in a Normal Almanac. The prayer bore no name; but in the English speaking world, on account of this holy card, it came to be called the Peace Prayer of St. Francis.

More information about this prayer can be found in Friar J. Poulenc, OFM, L'inspiration moderne de la priere ≪ Seigneru faites de moi un instrument de votre paix ≫, Archivum Franciscanum Historicum, vol. 68 (1975) pp. 450-453.

The Peace Prayer of St. Francis
by an anonymous Norman c. 1915 A.D. Peace Prayer

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.(from Internet)

 

김성심 선배님,
안녕하셨습니까?
오래간만에 참으로 반갑습니다.
개인의 평화가 세계평화로 이어진다는 말씀, 진실의 말씀입니다.
저자신 역시 저자신의 평화를 찾기위해서 쎈프란씨스의 평화기도를 찾게되었고
그리다보니 쎈테레사를 비롯해 수많은 훌륭한 사람들이 이평화의 기도에 의존해서 살았슴을 알게되는군요.
God bless you every day as always.
고맙습니다. 이렇게 나와주시고 항상 그러하듯이 좋은 진실의 한마디 또 해주시고.

 이한중 선생님 내외분께서 항상 주님의 평화가 함께 하시기를 기원합니다.

쉬지 않는 세월의 흐름에 따라 저의 건강에도 빨간 불이 켜졌습니다.
부르시는 날까지 하느님께서 주신 몸, 의사선생님 지시에 잘 따르려고 합니다.
일차 surgical treatment를 받았고 아직 두 사이클의 chemotherapy에 대비하고 있습니다.

허락하시는 餘生을 더 주님께 다가가는 기회가 되어 감사드립니다.

그간 같은 길을 걸으며 평생을 살아온 여러 선후배선생님과 함께 하여 행복하였습니다.

고령에 있는 사람이 더 자주 소식 들여야 할 것을.

운영자님께도 너무도 오랜만에 안부 여쭙니다. 

존경하는 선배님,
후배들에게 모든면에서 귀감을 보여주시는 자랑스런 선배님,
주님에게 의뢰하는 것이외에는 드리고 싶은 격려의 말씀 찾기에 이 후배 힘들어합니다.
오직 선배님의 완치와 좋은 건강 회복을 위해 항상 선배님 생각하고
기도하겠습니다.
매일 필요하신 용기와 싸워나가실 기력을 위해 그분에게 기도하겠습니다.
불편하심에도 불구하고 이렇게 나와주셔 소식 후배들에게 전해주시고
저와 저의 사람에겐 예전같이 축복도 주시니 오직 감사, 감사 드립니다.
운영자는 제가 알기로는 여행중이나 제게 선배님의 greeting을 알쳐줄 기회가 있을것입니다.
이 선배님을 비롯해 우리 동문들의 공간에 계속 출석해주실 것을 기대하겠습니다.

김성심 선배님!

오랫만에 이곳에서 선배님 소식들어 반가웠는데 좋지 않은 소식까지
저희 후배들에게 나누어 주셔서 한편 몸둘바를 모르겠고  다른 한편
감사를 드립니다.

인명은 재천이라고 하지 않습니까. 틀림없이 성공적으로 치료하시어
지병을 훌훌 털어 버리시기를 간절히 기원 하겠습니다.   규정드림

 

이한중 선생님,
황규정 선생님,

그간 이상이 없다고 생각하고 생활할 때에도 제주에서의 客地 생활이 원활하지는 못하여 홈에 오래 못 들어왔었습니다.

원글의 제목과 동떨어지게 댓글에 엉뚱한 저의 소식을 써서 후배선생님들께 죄송합미다.

사람 살아나가는 것이 즐거움, 고통, 슬픔이 모두 한데 섞여 있어서 어디까지 말하고,  말을 삼가야 할지 때로 분별이 안 되는군요.

 

talking frankly, blood clot이 조금 보이는 자각 증상으로 바로 서둘러 5일만에 지난 해 12월 21일 제주한라병원 urologist 만나서 당일에 CT 등 검사로
transitional cell carcinoma라는 Dx를 받았습니다.

상경하여 삼성서울병원 Urologist에게 찾아가서 모든 검사를 마친 뒤 가장 빠른 일정으로 2016 01 12 좌측 요관과 신장을 적출하는 수술을 받았습니다. urinary bladder도 일부 띠어내고요.

Pathology에서 나누는 분류는 모르겠는데 Oncologist의 tumor classification은 T4로 chemotherapy 를 한 코-스 받았습니다.
3week interval을 두고 두번 더 해야 한다고 합니다.
lymphnode metastasis 그리고 remote metastasis ( bone scan, lung CT에서)는 없지만,
적출물에서 periureteral and perinephric adipose tissue에 tumor invasion이 있다고 보고되었습니다.
50대 이후에 잘 온다는 thecoma (benign)이라는 작은 란소혹도 있어서 띠었고요.

나이들어 여러 감각에 둔했던지 저 자신이 별로 자각증상이 없었고 약 1-2개월 lower abdominal pain은 좀 느꼈지요.

말을 꺼내다가 만듯하여 소상히 저의 얘기를 펼쳐놓았습니다.
저희 친구들 모두 이것저것 수술도 받고 겪고 있는 것을 뒤늦게 저도 겪는 것입니다. 예후가 안 좋은 것에 속합니다마는.

 

닥치는 대로 진행되는 것에 기꺼이 임하고 있습니다.
무모하게 IS 에게 잡혀가서 참수 당하는 가엾은 사람들을 생각하며 저의 경우는 여러 의료진이 저를 살리겠다고 애써주실 것이니 감사했을 뿐입니다.
앞으로도 어떤 더한 일을 만나더리도 잘 견디어낼 것입니다.
종교적으로는 십자가에서 미취도 없이 못 박히시고 매달려 운명하신 예수님을 많이 생각했습니다.

저 본인은 용기를 잃지 않고 이땅위에서 저의 몸은 하느님의 것, 저의 것이 아니니 스스로 소중히 제 몸을 위해 의사선생님 지시대로 충실히 치료 받으려 합니다, 그분께서 저를 부르시는 날까지.

약자가 되니 집안 식구, 그리고 주위분들에게 많은 사랑을 받고 있어 행복합니다.
이곳 홈에서도 얘기가 나오는 계기가 되어 모든 것을 있는 그대로 여쭈었습니다. privacy를 공개하여 죄송합니다. 그러나 모두 의학을 하시는 분이어서.
한편 호들갑스럽게 주위분에게 걱정 끼쳐드리는 것 같습니다.

동문 선생님들께서 꼭 규칙적으로 건감검진 받으시기를 부탁드립니다.
저도 제주대학에서 지난 4월 건강보험공단에서 하라는 신검에서 이상 없다고 하였었지요.

이한중 선생님,
황규정 선생님,

감사합니다.
잘 치유되도록 할게요.

 

선배님,

자세한 case report, 후배들에게 충고, 감사드립니다.
고생 많으셨습니다. 선배님의 기독교인으로서의 태도, brave attitude, 깊으신 faith, 오직 부럽습니다.
석주와 저 자신 오직 선배님의 분투와 완치를 기원하고 기도 드리겠습니다.

이한중 선생님,
걱정하시지 마시고 두 분 건강하시기를 바랍니다.

저는 잘 하려고 하고 있습니다.
그리고 말씀드렸듯이 아니라도 황혼이 깊어갈수록 하느님께 갈 준비를 잘 해야겠다고 긴장했었던 차에
바짝 그 좋은 기회가 생겨서 감사하고 있습니다.
아직 회복 안되어 복통도 있고 기운도 없어 어렵기는 하지만 매일을 즐겁게 지내고 있습니다.
바빠서 애쓰고 사는 다섯 아이들에게도 효도를 염치없이 담뿍 받고 있습니다.

미국과 캐나다 거주 두 딸 내외는 서울에 오는 김에 건강검진을 받고 있습니다.
외국생활이 여기 국내에서만큼 잘 몸을 돌보게 안되나봐요.

건강에 유념하시기 바랍니다.
기도 해주시는 것 가장 힘이 되고 용기를 찾게 됩니다.
감사 드립니다. 저도 기도 드리겠습니다. 여러 후배선생님 가정을 위하여.