NIGHTINGALE PRAYER 
THE FLAME OF FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE'S LEGACY

Crafted, in 1996—for the United Nations Habitat II Summit in Istanbul, Turkey — where Nightingale's famous work began — this Prayer remains keenly relevant to our time and for our challenges. This Prayer is excellent for your plans to celebrate the 2020 Bicentenary of Nightingale's birth.

 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  

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 NIGH, this webpage and attribute the author, Dr. Deva-Marie Beck. Thanks!

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