Peace Prayer
colored pencil
2022
The Peace Prayer often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi was the inspiration for this series of drawings, which explore the idea of peace as not just the absence of war, but an attitude of the individual heart which, if nurtured, can spread to communities, nations, and the world. Each drawing, through metaphorical images of flora and fauna, illustrates a virtue or concept that needs to be cultivated to achieve this peace.
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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.
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. |
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| Let Peace Begin With Me |
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Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
—Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller
For thousands of years, in many different cultures, white doves have been a symbol of peace. The peace lily acquired its name because of its resemblance to the white flag of truce. White poppies were adopted after World War I as a pledge that war must not happen again. Spreading peace throughout the world requires action such as the lion laying down with the lamb (represented here by the dandelion flower and lambs ear plants). We must join with those we may perceive as enemies and work together to achieve justice and to extinguish fear and hatred. |
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No Greater Love Than This |
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No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.
—John 15:13
Jesus of Nazareth defined radical, complete, and sacrificial love by His death on the cross. The pomegranate that has been cut open symbolizes Christian love, which is open to the needs of all people. It is surrounded by a crown of thorns representing His sacrifice. Together, they form an image reminiscent of His Sacred Heart, the icon of His infinite love. In legend, the European goldfinch was said to have been moved by pity to remove a thorn from Jesus' head and thus relieve a small part of His suffering. This reminds us that even if we are not called to heroic sacrifice, we can still do small things with great love. English ivy, a clinging plant, indicates devotion to friendship. The six petals of the Peruvian lily are said to represent patience, empathy, respect, humor, understanding, and commitment. |
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| We Are All In The Same Boat |
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If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.
—1 Corinthians 12:26
The compass rose, which indicates direction on a map, is a symbol of journeying together. Its Latin roots are com (together) and passus (step). Arctic terns migrate together farther than any other creature on earth; 12,000 miles from Arctic to Antarctic and back again. Blue phlox flowers, the color of the sea the terns fly above, represent united hearts and souls. The Celtic braid encircling the terns signifies the interdependence and interconnection of all things. The moonflowers stand in for the moon, a symbol of patience, which we need to practice with each other on our journey together. |
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| Dispel The Darkness |
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Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.
—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sunflowers stand in for the sun, the fundamental source of light. Bees in ancient Egypt were called the tears of the sun god Ra. They also represent working in harmony to achieve a common goal. The heads and chests of the yellow-headed blackbirds emerge gloriously from the shadows of their bodies. |
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| Forgive One Another |
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If you are suffering from a bad man's injustice, forgive him–lest there should be two bad men.
—St. Augustine
Afrikaans women who were imprisoned in British concentration camps during the second Anglo-Boer War chose the Cape sparrow as a symbol of hope and, after the war, forgiveness. One sparrow offers another an olive branch. The olive branch as a symbol of peace and forgiveness dates back to at least 5th century BC Greece where it was believed that olive branches—an attribute of Eirene, their Goddess of Peace—represented plenty and drove away evil spirits. The framework is based on Mpatapo, an Adinkra symbol from Ghana, which represents the bond or knot that binds separate parties in a dispute to a peaceful, harmonious reconciliation. In the Victorian language of flowers, white tulips and blue hyacinths are given to offer or request forgiveness. |
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| Faith Expressed Through Love |
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The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
—Galatians 5:6
The brilliant red color of the cardinal represents both love and the vitality of faith. The Latin route, cardo, means vital, crucial and heart. Pilgrims journeying for their faith wore scallop shells around their neck as a utensil for drinking water. Acorns signify the promise of God, encouraging believers to focus on God's goodness and to let go of doubt.
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Dawn Comes Rejoicing |
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At dusk weeping comes for the night; but at dawn there is rejoicing.
—Psalm 30:5
The Rhode Island Red rooster greets the first light of the new day and all the hope it brings. Candles, represented by the candle plant, provide a glimmer of hope in the darkness. The cloudless sulphur butterfly reminds us of joyous rebirth in the Spring. Likewise, the plumeria flowers signify Spring and new beginnings.
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| Work For Justice |
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If you want peace, work for justice.
—Pope St. Paul VI
The persistent woodpeckers illustrate the diligence and energy necessary to achieve justice for the oppressed. Their hammering motion represents the relentless message of justice. The lotus flower is symbolic of perseverance. A medieval king once affixed yellow Scotch broom flowers to his helmet to aid his troops in following him into battle. Thereafter, the flower served as a call to action.
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| Share |
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Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
—Romans 12:13
Ancient legends describe the pelican as feeding her young with blood drawn from her own breast. Accordingly, the pelican became a sign of selfless generosity. The crocus and the plum are traditional symbols of charity. American starwort signifies hospitality to the stranger. In some pre-Columbian Central American cultures, pineapples were hung outside of homes to let guests know that they were welcome and to provide a pleasant aroma in the air for those who came by.
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©2022 Mary Lee Eggart
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without the express written permission of the artist.
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