Nightingale Prayer — The Flame of Florence Nightingale's Legacy
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“Today, our world needs healing and to be rekindled with Love.
Once, Florence Nightingale lit her beacon of lamplight to comfort the wounded. Her light has blazed a path of service across a Century to us -- through her example and through the countless nurses and healers who have followed in her footsteps. “Today, we celebrate the flame of Florence Nightingale's legacy. Let that same light be rekindled to burn brightly in our hearts. Let us take up our own ‘lanterns of caring,’ each in our own ways — to more brightly walk our own paths of service to the world — to more clearly share our own ‘noble purpose’ with each other. “May human caring become the lantern for the 21st century. May we better learn to care for ourselves, for each other and for all Creation. “Through our caring, may we be the keepers of that flame. That our spirits may burn brightly to kindle the hearts of our children and great-grandchildren — as they, too, follow in these footsteps.” Deva-Marie Beck, PhD, RN © 1996 |
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You may freely use this Prayer — in its entirety — for nursing ceremonies and events, especially with your plans to celebrate the 2020 Bicentenary of Nightingale's birth. When you do, we'd love to hear from you and please credit the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health, this webpage and attribute the author, Dr. Deva-Marie Beck. Thanks! |
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At The United Nations Tribute to Florence Nightingale at 'Scutari' Barracks
Inspired by her mystic, universal and Christian roots—and from her own nursing career and commitment to becoming a global citizen—Deva-Marie Beck crafted the above Prayer to share as the closing words of her Keynote Address at the ‘International Tribute to Florence Nightingale at Scutari’ during the 1996 United Nations Conference on Human Settlements — ‘Habitat II’ — in Istanbul, Turkey.
At the left, a photo captures this 'Tribute' convened at the same 'Scutari' Barracks (now called Selimiye) where Nightingale actually served during the Crimean War.
During this Prayer, a candle-lighting ceremony for this 'International Tribute' was commemorated by students from the University of Istanbul Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and the Turkish Red Crescent School of Nursing. Wearing historic costumes— including one honoring Nightingale—each came forward from the dark to light their candles on Nightingale’s flame.
This 'Flame of Florence Nightingale's Legacy' Prayer has since been highlighted at numerous ceremonies honoring nurses, including at three Nightingale Services celebrated at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. in 2001, 2004 and then, notably, for the 2010 International Year of the Nurse /Florence Nightingale Centennial.
It has also been featured on the front-pages of several textbooks and peer-reviewed journals honoring Nightingale’s legacy.
During this Prayer, a candle-lighting ceremony for this 'International Tribute' was commemorated by students from the University of Istanbul Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and the Turkish Red Crescent School of Nursing. Wearing historic costumes— including one honoring Nightingale—each came forward from the dark to light their candles on Nightingale’s flame.
This 'Flame of Florence Nightingale's Legacy' Prayer has since been highlighted at numerous ceremonies honoring nurses, including at three Nightingale Services celebrated at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. in 2001, 2004 and then, notably, for the 2010 International Year of the Nurse /Florence Nightingale Centennial.
It has also been featured on the front-pages of several textbooks and peer-reviewed journals honoring Nightingale’s legacy.
Photo Credits: Candle in Public Domain from Pexel.com / Blue Star from i2Clipart.com / Candlelighting: from NIGH's Archives.