Kathleen Beckman - When Women Pray : Eleven Catholic Women on the Power of Prayer

Acclaim for When Women Pray

A great book! In When Women Pray , Kathleen Beckman offers an edifying collection of wisdom from the prayer lives of many Catholic women. Their stories are inspiring and bear witness to the reality that when the feminine heart is at prayer, the world is a more lovely and beautiful place.

Never underestimate the power of women at prayer! Were it not for the many prayerful women in my life the Virgin Mary, my earthly mother, five Filipino prayer warriors, and my best friend I wouldnt be the man I am today. This book blessed my life, and it will be a tremendous blessing for all who read it.

Fr. Donald Calloway, M.I.C.
Author, Champions of the Rosary

Kathleen Beckman has put together a beautiful collection of personal stories and teachings on prayer. When Women Pray is a forum for a compelling group of lay Catholic women leaders. To read this is to sit down with an articulate gathering of sincere disciples pouring out the fruit of their conversations with the Lord. Together, they disclose a wisdom that is at once learned and practical, insightful and accessible, at times lighthearted but always reverent. One finds here, expressed in words, the profound solidarity that women of prayer share together, a tender strength that the Church needs today more than ever. Highly recommended!

Dr. Anthony Lilles
Author, Fire from Above: Christian
Contemplation and Mystical Wisdom ;
Avila Institute of Spiritual Formation

Women were created, as St. John Paul II identifies, with a space inside for another. Through the chapters contained in this book, these women leaders give birth and share with others various aspects of prayer that they have carried within. It is not only important that womens voices be heard in todays world of pragmatic interests; it is vital for our human striving toward fulfillment in the Divine. A thoughtful, inspiring book!

Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, O.P.
Vocation Director, Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

In this book, eleven women of prayer articulate how they pray, what prayer means to them, and the fruits associated with an active prayer life. When Women Pray is inspiring, full of substance, and frankly, difficult to put down. The reader will be enriched by the contributions of the individual writers and will indeed learn practical ways to authentically live his or her spiritual life. I highly recommend this work.

Msgr. Stephen S. Doktorczyk, J.C.D.
Official at the Holy See; Author, Persistent Disobedience to Church
Authority: History, Analysis and Application of Canon 1371, 2

When Women Pray is a beautiful and timely book. Readers will find reflections that shed light on the myriad ways that God communes with feminine hearts. The feminine vocation is mirrored in the Trinitys invitation to the Virgin Mary: The Father asked, Daughter, will you become the Mother of my only-begotten Son? The Son asked, Will you become my Mother and the mother of mankind? The Holy Spirit asked, Beloved, will you become my Spouse? Daughter, mother, and spouse are a womans calling to profound spiritual life in Him. This book affirms that God desires to penetrate our hearts deeply and inspires us to pray always, so, with Mary, we will bear greater fruit for eternal life.

Mother Dolores Marie, P.C.P.A.
Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, Hanceville, Alabama;
Contributing Author, Manual for Eucharistic Adoration

I always say that when faith-filled prayerful women get together watch out! With Gods amazing grace, these women have the power to change the world! Author Kathleen Beckman skillfully compiles the intimate stories of eleven faithful women guaranteed to inspire you to keep your lamp lit, penetrating the darkness of the world and aiding others to find their way to heaven. I love this book!

Donna-Marie Cooper OBoyle
EWTN TV host, speaker, and award-winning
author of more than twenty books, including
The Kiss of Jesus and Feeding Your Familys Soul

Other books by Kathleen Beckman
from Sophia Institute Press:

Praying for Priests

A Mission for the New Evangelization

Gods Healing Mercy

Finding Your Path to Forgiveness, Peace, and Joy

When

Women

PRAY

Eleven Catholic Women
on the Power of Prayer

E DITED BY K ATHLEEN B ECKMAN, L . H . S .

SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS
Manchester, New Hampshire

To my parents, Richard and Gloria,
first teachers of the Faith

Contents

, by Sister Regina Marie Gorman, O.C.D.

Introduction:

, by Kathleen Beckman

, by Johnnette Benkovic

, by Dr. Pia de Solenni

, by Mary Healy, S.T.D.

, by Lisa M. Hendey

, by Joan Lewis

, by Kathryn Jean Lopez

, by Marilyn Quirk

, by Vicki Thorn

, by Kelly Wahlquist

A, , by Kathleen Beckman

B. , by Kathleen Beckman

Foreword

Somewhere in the secret chambers of a womans heart there is a gentle, persistent longing for holiness. We use various words to describe this longing: a desire for depth, for wholeness; a hunger for something more meaningful than our daily routine, something greater than ourselves. Sometimes we become aware of this longing during those precious moments of peace and leisure. At other times the yearning makes itself known during barren days of angst or during crushing periods of darkness.

Why such a persistent longing in a womans heart? How does she satisfy the longing during all the fluctuating seasons of the soul?

The answers to these two questions are intrinsically linked. If you understand the answer to the first question, you have already solved the problem of the second question.

The persistent longing was actually embedded in our DNA the moment we were conceived. We were made in Love, by Love, and for Love. God, who is total, infinite, unchanging Love, thought of you, and His Heart was flooded with love for you. He created you that He might carry you in His love, that you might be in intimate relationship with Him, talk with Him, allow Him to love you, to touch you, to speak with you. You didnt do anything to deserve this love. You cant do anything to lose His love. It is yours. Forever. No matter what. That is why we are never completely fulfilled except when we are close to God. That is why we experience the longing, that He might fill it as only He can.

How do we weather the seasons of the soul? As best we can. We are frail human beings. That is all we ever will be. Our frailty poses no obstacle whatsoever to God.

The Lord cannot take His eyes off us; it is impossible for Him to tear His Heart away from us. We are never alone. But so often we can feel alone and can become absorbed in our little world. That is because we can forget the unimaginable power and blessing that belongs to us: we are able to communicate with God.

In the Old Testament we discover women who prayed, women whose influence continues throughout the centuries even to today: Esther and the power of one womans intercession; Judiths audacious faith and unstoppable resolve; Deborahs far-reaching influence as the only woman judge. In the New Testament we come upon that unknown child whose simple trust in the Word of the Lord brought about her unconditional Fiat, and the world was changed forever. These women spoke with God, they listened to Him and responded in faith.

Our Lord does not need special people or extraordinary circumstances. Look at the people He chose: a Hebrew girl, a carpenter, a few fishermen, Magdalene, a group of women who accompanied Him. Holiness is integrated within the routine and commonplace, within the scheduled and unscheduled happenings during each days unfolding. In that unfolding, our individual paths are often fraught with suffering and pain, that is true, but they are also emblazoned with the fire of love that overcomes and prevails.