Prayers in Easter: The Butler Did It

God and one woman 

            make a majority.                             ~ Josephine Butler*  [1828-1906]

       God of Women and Men and our Children, God of Earth and God of Heaven, God of all that is, Seen and Unseen,
         Your Servant Josephine led the way in her own time to courageously and relentlessly advocate on behalf of women as fully human persons. From campaigning for higher education, pushing legislation to increase the age of sexual consent, and to succeed in having laws repealed that diminished and exploited women, especially those engaging in prostitution, Mrs. Butler was a force beyond our comprehension for her time. Help us realize that we must continue her valiant efforts. Let us not avert our eyes to the very real, very prevalent issues of sexual violence in our own times ~ in the worst parts of the world, and in the nicest parts of our comfortable lives. Rape as a political weapon, human trafficking for greed and lust, domestic violence, child pornography and prostitution ~ all are symptoms of a dissolving social ethic that only benefits the few who have power, and all thrive when we, good people, look away. Help us, Lord, to do the work You have given us to do and actively see to it that all Your children are safe and loved.  amen. 

 *A feminist from an early age, Josephine Butler became more involved in serious social issues about women after being devastated by the death of her young daughter. Early on she was co-founder of the North of England Council for Promoting the Higher Education of Women and, although a dedicated and committed Christian married to a Church of England clergyman, she also became a resolute advocate for the welfare of prostitutes. She believed that the double standard of sexual morality led to the exploitation of women with no consequences for men. Josephine was tireless in her efforts to have the Contagious Disease Acts repealed. They were intended to thwart the spread of venereal diseases yet only women were being victimized by the requirements which often led to their imprisonment if infected, but men were not. In a public meeting she referred to some of the practices authorized by the Acts as "surgical rape" ~ a shocking remark that resulted in her desired outcome, the Acts were repealed in  England, Ireland, and British Raj India.  Josephine also successfully undertook to have the age of sexual consent raised from 13 to 16 to reduce child prostitution.
       At a time when women didn't have the vote, Mrs. Butler's efforts were compelling and considerable. Honored on the Church of England Calendar of Lesser Festivals, she is also portrayed in a window in the Anglican Cathedral of Liverpool with Queen Victoria and other notable women of the time. A College at the University of Durham is named for her and she has been remembered and honored in many other ways and places in England. It is past time for her to be known much farther afield as her influence continues to this day. 














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Prayers in Easter: The Doctor is In

       To show the love that we have for Him, we ought to serve and love every rational creature and extend our charity to good and bad -- as much to one who does us ill service and criticizes us as to one who serves us. For, His charity extends over just men and sinners. ~St. Catherine of Siena*   [1347-1380]


Our Risen Lord Christ, 
       We need Your help to live into Catherine's description of Your Great Commandment. Keep us conscious of the lives we touch and the impact we have whether intended or not. When we love and forgive with You in our hearts, it is the right place, and the right time, to remember the Salvation You give to us all.  amen.


*Catherine was a Third Order member of the Dominicans (a lay person, not a vowed member of the community but an adherent to its principles and rules), a Scholastic Philosopher, and Theologian. Named a Doctor of the Church (one who has shown significant importance in theology and doctrine) by Pope Paul VI in 1970 along with Teresa of Avila, the first two women so named to one of the Roman Church's highest honors. Only 33 at her death, Catherine's profound spiritual writings and tremendous political influence were highly exceptional for her times and she remains greatly respected today.

















Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Easter: On Your Mark...

Readings: Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 2 or 2:7-10, Ephesians 4:7-8,11-16, Mark 1:1-15 or Mark 16:15-20 

St. Mark

Jesus said to them: 

And for those who have sinned I was handed over to death, that they may return to the truth and sin no more, that they may inherit the spiritual and imperishable glory of righteousness that is in heaven.*




       Whether or not the above is an actual part of the Gospel of Mark** and whether or not Jesus said those exact words is irrelevant. As we begin the 2nd week in Easter, we need to find ways to remember all that Easter is about - not just now, but every day.  All we have to do is ask.

Risen Lord,
     As this new week begins, we need a little extra grace to keep You, and the reason You suffered, died, was buried, and resurrected, alive in our consciousness. As the ordinary of life rolls on it is easy to lose track of what being a Christian is all about. In this Easter season, as we celebrate Your glorious resurrection, help us reinforce our spiritual foundation so that even when we are distracted, we won't stray for too long.  Let us run a good race to restore, keep, and live into our faith.  Ready?  On your Mark, get set...   amen. 


*Part of one possible ending for the Gospel of Mark from an ancient authority. 

**The Gospel of Mark is thought to be the earliest of the four canonical Gospels despite its second place in the New Testament. It has the flavor of a Reader's Digest Condensed/No Frills Book as it chronicles the highlights of the life of Jesus without much of the detail of the others. Biblical scholars disagree on a variety of aspects of this Gospel, especially the ending, and the identity and biography of the attributed author, Mark. Whoever and whatever, the words tell the story of the One we choose to follow. The details in and about the Gospel of Mark make for interesting reading and engaging conversations.  

St. Mark is remembered on liturgical calendars of many Christian denominations on April 25.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People, Seeing is Believing... but... : 2nd Sunday of Easter

Second Sunday of Easter, April 27, 2014, Readings: Acts 2:14-41, Ps 16, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31

   Thomas, the one who wouldn't believe without tangible proof, gets much of the attention here. And yet we seem to forget that the rest of the disciples also dismissed the accounts of Jesus being alive. Thomas only said what they had been thinking before they themselves saw Jesus. How much convincing would you have needed? How much do you still need? 
    On this Low Sunday (after the build-up and then the "high" of Easter Day), are you ready to live into and proclaim the Good News? 

Let Us, God's People, Pray

Leader:   ~ Risen Jesus, our Lord and Messiah!  How often have we walked through the penitence of Lent, the celebrations and passion of Holy Week, and Your miraculous Resurrection, and taken it all for granted because it happens for us every year?  Let us now truly REJOICE, as if for the first time, with the knowledge that You have suffered, died, and Resurrected for each of US. Thomas saw and believed, let us simply believe. 
                    You pour Your Eternal Spirit upon us
Repsonse:   Your Presence fills us with gladness

~ Risen Jesus, our Lord and Messiah! The wars and conflicts continue from Your own earthly life. The great and powerful leaders are much the same. Grant us courage to renew our faith in the eternal rather than the temporal, while we work to challenge our leaders to provide a just, merciful, and equitable life for all of Your people. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                      You pour Your Eternal Spirit upon us

                      Your Presence fills us with gladness

~ Risen Jesus, our Lord and Messiah!  Give refuge to those who are very ill, frightened, or worried and to those who give them care. Soothe their hearts and hold them all in Your healing embrace. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                      You pour Your Eternal Spirit upon us

                      Your Presence fills us with gladness

~ Risen Jesus, our Lord and Messiah!  Our joy at Your resurrection is tempered with our grief at the loss of those we love.  We cling to our faith that they are with You in the miracle of their own resurrections into Your eternal promise.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                      You pour Your Eternal Spirit upon us

                      Your Presence fills us with gladness

~ Risen Jesus, our Lord and Messiah!  Refresh those who guide us in Your Church and renew their delight in preaching the Good News of the miracle of our salvation by You and the message of Your pure love for us all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                      You pour Your Eternal Spirit upon us

                      Your Presence fills us with gladness

The Celebrant adds: Jesus, our Living and Eternal Hope, all praise, and honor, and glory is Yours who was freed from death to free us from sin.  Help us follow Your path of life and know the fullness of joy in Your Presence.  We ask this through our Loving Creator, who with You and the Glorious Spirit reign, one God, forever and for eternity.  Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers for Easter: He's what? Oh, right, sure..., Easter Saturday

Readings: Acts 4:13-21, Psalm 118:14-18 or 118:19-24, Mark 16:9-15,20

But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table...  
                                               [Mark 16:11-13, 14a]

O Jesus,
      Some days I question everything. I can definitely understand why the disciples didn't believe the reports they heard that You had been seen alive. We're all a skeptical lot. Even though You told them, even though they loved and trusted You, still, it was beyond their experience and their realm of possibility. And now, today, more than 2000 years later I believe it when I read it - after all, these accounts have lasted for all this time. But I need help sometimes. While I can imagine You sitting at my table, when my heart hurts or my head isn't on straight, imagining doesn't always relieve me. Today, I'm fine, my faith is strong and so is my willingness to proclaim the Good News. Tomorrow or next week? Please, in those times, remind me to read again, to believe, and to proclaim that You are risen! Indeed! amen.


Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers for Easter: Gone Fishin', Easter Friday

Readings: Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 116:1-8 or 118:19-24, John 21:1-14

Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast."    [John 21:10-12]

 A glorious morning for fishermen. This time a week ago it was fear, horror, and devastating grief. And now, the One who was lost is miraculously preparing breakfast on the beach. What would you give for one more breakfast with....

Dearest Fisher of People,
        Fishing advice and breakfast after You've come back from the dead - what an amazing way to care for Your friends!  And, as just one of the guys You show us how easy it is to be with You whether casually on the beach, walking down the road, or just having dinner. A moment of ease before our real work begins anew. Thank You for reminding us that we can always rest and share breakfast or lunch or any moment with You, and be renewed for the work You have given us to do. Please, help us experience Your peace inwardly so that we may bring it to all we do and all those we meet.  amen.




Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers for Easter, Now Appearing... : Easter Thursday

Readings:  Acts 3:11-26, Psalm 8 or 114 or 118:19-24, Luke 24:36b-48

Has it only been one week since we remembered the Last Supper, the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter? We stripped the altar, left in silence and, some, waited in vigil and prayed with Jesus. Now we are hearing about You meeting with the disciples after Your resurrection. What was that first moment like?


Dear Jesus,
     Time goes so quickly I can barely keep track of it.  It doesn't seem possible that it has been a full week since we were reading about the Last Supper with all of its complexities. And, of course, the Resurrection is the most significant event for any Christian. But in reading about Your appearances to the disciples, I want to know what those moments were truly like in their time. It's hard for me to capture the essence of that immediacy of Your presence. I can imagine it, I can think about it, I can picture it, but I don't quite know how to experience it. Each day that passes takes my attention farther away from all that I felt just days ago in Holy Week. Of course I must pay attention to my every day life, but I also want to keep You as the focus in each day. Help me experience You. Keep me from being swept up in the insignificant.
       Dear Jesus, with You in my waking, in my walking, and in my sleeping, all that I am and all that I do will be a reflection of that experience.  Give my soul Your perfect health and guide my heart toward Your perfect love.  All this I ask through God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. amen.








Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.