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For All Women through the Ages

Spirit of the realm, God of many names, and one transforming and abundant love, we turn this month in our nation’s life to reflect on the stories, the heritage, and the struggles of women throughout the ages. We seek to learn from all those voices that have been left unheard. May we pause before the silences of the ages, find who has been left out, and craft new ways of inclusion for every week and every month. May this spiritual practice bring out the voices of all those struggling, all those left apart. May we let go of our assumptions and cold comforts [and] of what is the normal to live by, unless it be a standard that is rooted in compassion, in inclusivity, in diversity. May this month of reflection teach us to search for those stories that are different from our own. Mother of possibility, in the finding, may we come to know ourselves changed. Renewed where we are dry, hopeful where we are lost, and open where we are shut.

—Revered Jude Geiger

When You Need Help, Turn to Her

O, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel,

Fruit of the Vine, splendorous of Heaven,

Blessed Mother of the Son of God,

Immaculate Virgin,

assist me in this my necessity.

O Star of the Sea, help me

and show herein you are my mother.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth,

I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart

to succor me in my necessity.

There are none that can withstand your power,

O show me here you are my mother.

O Mary, conceived without sin,

pray for us who have recourse to Thee.

Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands.

Amen.

—Catholic Liturgy

My Wish for You

Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there. And I also hope that you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of women.

—Nora Ephron

A Prayer for Women’s Equality

By a woman and a tree the world first perished;

I wish, O Son of the living God,

eternal, ancient King,

for reconciliation between the sexes

that I might answer your calling.

I pray, O Son of the living God,

eternal, ancient King,

for—

I wish—

that—

Mother, Child,

Goose of the Wild,

Keep me from despair,

Hear my prayer.

I pray, O Child of the living God,

eternal, ancient Queen,

for compassion in men’s hearts

that they could view women as clean.

I strive, O Child of the living God,

eternal, ancient Queen,

For a new paradigm, not princess or b*tch,

that views women as strong and not mean.

I hope, O Child of the living God,

eternal, ancient Queen,

for society to know women have worth

after their children are weaned,

or at least after the age of eighteen.

I long, O Child of the living God,

eternal, ancient Queen,

for rest within the body that is me,

that I may be serene.

—Kate Rae Davis

Women Can Do Anything

Men never fail to dwell on maternity as a disqualification for the possession of many civil and political rights. Suggest the idea of women having a voice in making laws and administering the government in the halls of legislation, in Congress, or [in] the British Parliament, and men will declaim at once on the disabilities of maternity in a sneering contemptuous way, as if the office of motherhood was undignified and did not comport with the highest public offices in church and state. It is vain that we point them to Queen Victoria, who has carefully reared

a large family, while considering and signing [laws]…

—Elizabeth Cady Stanton

May We Walk Where the Grass Is Green

Oh our Mother the Earth,

Oh our Father the Sky,

Your children are we, and with tired backs

We bring you the gifts that you love.

Then weave for us a garment of brightness.

May the warp be the bright light of morning;

May the fringes be the falling rain;

May the borders be the standing rainbow.

Thus weave for us a garment of brightness,

that we may walk fittingly where birds sing;

That we may walk fittingly where grass is green.

Oh our Mother the Earth, oh our Father the Sky.

—Tewa Tribal Song

O Mother of the World

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known that

anyone who fled to your protection,

implored your help,

or sought your intercession,

was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence,

I fly unto you,

O Virgin of virgins,

my Mother.

To you do I come,

before you I stand,

sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate,

despise not my petitions,

but in your mercy,

hear and answer me.

Amen

—Memorare, Roman Catholic Prayer

May Peace Be with Us Always

Praise ye, Ngai… Peace be with us.

Say that the elders may have wisdom and speak with one voice.

Peace be with us.

Say that the country may have tranquility.

Peace be with us.

And the people may continue to increase.

Peace be with us.

Say that the people and the flock and the herds

May prosper and be free from illness.

Peace be with us.

Say that the fields may bear much fruit

And the land may continue to be fertile.

Peace be with us.

May peace reign over earth,

May the gourd cup agree with [the] vessel.

Peace be with us.

May their heads agree and every ill word be driven out

Into the wilderness, into the virgin forest.

Praise ye, Ngai… Peace be with us.

—Kikuyu, Kenyan Chant

Silent Prayer

Pray inwardly, even if you do not enjoy it.

It does good, though you feel nothing.

Yes, even though you think you are doing nothing.

Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance.

It is laying hold of His willingness.

This is our Lord’s will…

that our prayer and our trust be, alike, large.

For if we do not trust as much as we pray,

we fail in full worship to our Lord in our prayer;

and also we hinder and hurt ourselves.

The reason is that we do not know truly

that our Lord is the ground from which our prayer springeth;

nor do we know that it is given us by his grace and his love.

If we knew this, it would make us trust

to have of our Lord’s gifts all that we desire.

For I am sure that no man asketh mercy and grace with sincerity,

without mercy and grace being given to him first.

—Julian of Norwich, 1373

A Prayer to St. Joan of Arc, for Faith

In the face of your enemies, in the face of harassment, ridicule, and doubt, you held firm in your faith. Even in your abandonment, alone and without friends, you held firm in your faith. Even as you faced your own mortality, you held firm in your faith. I pray that I may be as bold in my beliefs as you, St. Joan. I ask that you ride alongside me in my own battles. Help me be mindful that what is worthwhile can be won when I persist. Help me hold firm in my faith. Help me believe in my ability to act well and wisely. Amen.

—Anonymous

Let Me Walk in Beauty

Oh, Great Spirit,

whose voice I hear in the winds

and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me.

I am small and weak.

I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes

ever behold the red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have made

and my ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise so that I may understand

the things you have taught my people.

Let me learn the lessons you have hidden

in every leaf and rock.

—Lakota Chant

May Everybody Be Happy!

Oh Almighty! May he protect all of us!

May he cause us to enjoy!

May we acquire strength together.

May our knowledge become brilliant!

May we not hate each other!

Oh Almighty! May there be a Peace! Peace!! Peace!!! Everywhere.

Oh Almighty! May everybody be happy!

May all be free from ailments!

May we see what is auspicious!

May no one be subject to miseries!

Oh Almighty! May there be a Peace! Peace! Peace! Everywhere.

—Indian Song, 1400 BC

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