Consoled as to Console

I have never been a devout Catholic. This, although done on purpose, was not my choice. I wish someone had forced me through the rituals. While I do not believe everything the church stands for, prayers are extremely calming and I find the meditations as others have found them: as something that should be part of our daily lives.

I recently heard the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the Fatima Prayer in the Rosary. I don't ever remember hearing it fully before. It begins, "Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us. Mary, Our Loving Mother, pray for us." But on Monday the priest continued with the full litany. The rest can be found here (Link).

I never learned The Holy Rosary. I know bits and pieces but I wish I had been forced to learn it like my mother had. I am moving into a large empty house this week but am scared of being alone. I know I have to fight this, so I decided to learn the prayers of others. I found this prayer in my Grandmother's purse:

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
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.