Literary Calligraphy “Prayer of St. Francis” Art Print by Susan Loy

Description

Tiny olive leaves and fruit weave about this beloved prayer to peace and joy; the text surrounds a noble sprig of olive, meaning peace. The text is the first stanza of the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy 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; and where there is a sadness, joy...” St. Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan order in 1208, an order devoted to living a life of joy in strict poverty and service to the poor. The cultivated olive, Olea europaea, has been grown for more than 5,000 years. It seems that the reason the olive became associated with peace comes from the belief that one could insure a peaceful life for oneself by planting an olive grove in one’s youth in order to secure a prosperous old age. It is a small evergreen tree; its fruit is called a drupe, which changes in color from olive green to dark purple. Signed and numbered print produced from Susan Loy’s original watercolor includes bio and information sheet inserted with acid-free mat board into a clear plastic envelope. Print Image Size: 4-5/8” x 4-5/8” Print Paper Size: 8” x 8”