Wednesday, April 01, 2009

History of the Serenity Prayer

One of our most popular pieces is DVB's Serenity Prayer sterling mobius bracelet. Many people equate the Serenity Prayer with Twelve Step fellowships such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

But did you know that theologian Reinhold Niebuhr is credited for the popular prayer? Most sources agree that Pastor Niebuhr created the prayer for one of his sermons at his New England church in 1943.

According to popular record, a member of AA saw the prayer as a caption in a New York Herald Tribune obituary, and recognized the simplicity & clarity of the prayer, and how it could be applied to the basic tenets of recovery that Alcoholics Anonymous practices.

"With amazing speed," wrote Bill W., founder of AA, "the Serenity Prayer came into general use and took its place alongside our two other favorites, the Lord's Prayer and the Prayer of St. Francis ."

The Serenity Prayer has become one of the world's most recognizable mantras, as the simple words and ideas cross all of mankind's barriers.