66
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
67
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
68
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
69
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
70
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
71
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
72
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
Prayer Practice: Meditation
Meditation is one of the most universal spiritual practices, and some form of it is used in almost every religion worldwide. It has been proven to stabilize your mood, ease pain, and even make women smarter. While some forms of meditation are more strict, even the simplest forms of meditation can help you become more connected to yourself and your spirituality. Taking a moment to contemplate in silence, pray, or let your mind go blank in a quiet space or using objects that hold personal significance can help you reach a deeper understanding of yourself or assist you through difficulties. Meditation is a very versatile tactic that can be combined