The Cat Ladies’ Prayer to Saint Julian of Norwich

Although things seem to be going well for our candidate, we cat ladies shouldn’t count our chickens before they hatch.  Since we need all the help we can get, I have written a prayer to Saint Julian, patron saint of cats and of the anxious. Julian was an anchoress who lived in a cell attached to a church in Norwich, England seven centuries ago. According to legend, she kept a cat for company.

Prayer to Saint Julian of Norwich

Blessed Julian, childless cat lady, hear our prayer.

Long before Virginia Woolf, you talked a bishop into building you a room of your own where you could write undisturbed. You were a feminist before the word even existed. “But for I am a woman should I therefore live that I should not tell you the goodness of God?” you said. Guide and protect the woman who we hope will become president of this country, and the women and men who work on her behalf.

Blessed Julian, childless cat lady, hear our prayer.

Patron saint of the anxious, you stayed calm in the midst of the Black Death, famine, and the Hundred Years’ War. Your words, “all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well,” have become a mantra for many in this fretful age. Help us to stay centered in the midst of political turmoil. May we not be distracted from our goal by anger and resentment towards those who oppose, mock, and malign us.

Blessed Julian, childless cat lady, hear our prayer.

Although you spent a lot of time in prayer and contemplation, you did other things as well. You were the first woman to write a book in the English language, and through the window of your anchorage you dispensed wisdom and comfort to those who came seeking advice. Help us to balance our need for stillness and reflection, for quiet hours in the company of books and cats, with the kinds of action that will ensure the survival of our democracy.

Blessed Julian, childless cat lady, hear our prayer.

Inspire donors and volunteers to generously give money and time. Protect those who canvass door-to-door. Guide the hands that write postcards and letters urging recipients to register and vote. Shield rally attendees from crazy people with guns. And when November 5th comes around, safeguard both voters and poll workers.

Blessed Julian, childless cat lady, hear our prayer.

Keep our cats healthy and reasonably well-behaved, and preserve us from political catastrophes.

Amen.