RESPECT FOR WOMEN: MAY’S PRAYER INTENTION

During this Year of Mercy, Pope Francis is creating monthly videos that focus our prayer and reflection for that month.  May’s reflection focus is Respect for Women.  The accompanying May Prayer Intention is, “That in every country of the world, women may be honored and respected and that their essential contribution to society may be highly esteemed.”

In his video, Pope Francis acknowledges that, as individuals and as nations, we have done little for the women who are in very difficult situations, mentioning specifically, those who are “despised, marginalized, and even reduced to slavery.”  He says that we are not doing enough unless it is evident to all that we “condemn sexual violence against women” and make progress in removing the “barriers that prevent their (women’s) full integration into social, political, and economic life.”

Let us join Pope Francis during the Month of May in reflecting on the contributions of women in so many ways, big and small.  Let us treasure women, complement them and clear pathways for them to continue blessing the world and humanity with their numerous gifts.

Click here to view the Pope’s Respect for Women video.