Presentation Sisters Union North East Ireland Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today, 8th March 2021 is International Women’s Day (IWD2021). A day in which to step forward with courage and inspiration to live fully the charism that each of us have been given for our world … and to step back a pace, giving acknowledgement, space and thanks to the ‘true litany’ of great women that we know, live and work with. Those women who have our backs, ‘on Earth as in Heaven’.
The following is an extract from a prayer written by Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB that appeared in the Huffington Post (Huffpost) in July 2012, as a prayer for the times. It is also truly a prayer for these times too, and for all time.
A Prayer For These Times:
Dear God, creator of women in your own image,
born of a woman in the midst of a world half women,
carried by women to mission fields around the globe,
made known by women to all the children of the earth,give to the women of our time
the strength to persevere,
the courage to speak out,
the faith to believe in you beyond
all systems and institutions
so that your face on earth may be seen in all its beauty,
so that men and women become whole,
so that the church may be converted to your will
in everything and in all ways.We call on the holy women
[…]
who went before us,
channels of Your Word
in testaments old and new,
to intercede for us
so that we might be given the grace
to become what they have been
for the honour and glory of God.Mary, mother of Jesus,
who heard the call of God and answered,Mary, mother of Jesus,
who drew strength from the woman Elizabeth,Mary, mother of Jesus,
who underwent hardship bearing Christ,Mary, mother of Jesus, who ministered at Cana,
Mary, mother of Jesus, inspired at Pentecost,
Mary, mother of Jesus, who turned the Spirit of God
into the body and blood of Christ, pray for us.Amen.
Venerable Nano Nagle – Pray for Us!
See also: A woman’s heart | Presentation Sisters Union North East Ireland (presentationsistersne.ie)
Note:
Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, has dedicated herself to advocating for universal recognition of the critical questions impacting the global community. A Benedictine Sister of Erie, Pennsylvania, Sister Joan is an international lecturer and award-winning author, among many other things.