God our creator, who fashioned Eve after you own Image, who blessed her and declared her good, Hear my prayer.
Bless all women who labor to bring forth new life, who nurture the young. Grant joy through their travail.
Bless all women who strive to become whole in new ways, who tread unstepped paths, grant fulfillment through their efforts.
Bless all women who create art, music, and literature, who open our eyes and lift our thoughts, grant new insight through their inspiration.
God our Savior, who forgave the woman taken in adultery, who condemned not, but restored her to wholeness, hear my prayer.
Forgive women who act out the violence in their lives, who strike back at the pain, grant them tranquility.
Forgive all women who are confined in prison cells, whose only crime may be poverty or desperation, grant them justice with mercy.
Forgive all women who debase their bodies, who seek pleasure or security at the price of their souls, grant them new lives of dignity.
God our comforter, who gave solace to Ruth and Naomi in their widowhood, who pitied Mary at the cross and sustained her, hear my prayer.
Comfort all women who are lonely, who are forgotten or afraid, grant them knowledge of your presence.
Comfort all women who are alone, again, through separation, divorce, desertion, or death grant them new purpose and hope.
Comfort all women who are used or abused, whose rights are violated or denied, grant them peace.
0 God bless forgive and comfort me, for I am all women. Amen.
(From: Rosemary Catalano Mitchell &Gail Anderson Ricciuti, Birthlings and Blessings New York, Crossroad, 1992, p. 21)
