May God Open
The Commander's invocation that opens the Ceremony, though the exact wording varies by edition.
The phrase 'May the Lord open' (or similar wording depending on edition) is the central liturgical invocation recited during the Ceremony, a state-mandated ritual within the Republic of Gilead. In both the novel and the TV series, the Commander speaks this invocation as part of the ritual, marking the beginning of the Ceremony. This invocation is a key element of the ceremony, reflecting the regime's twisted interpretation of biblical scripture to justify its reproductive mandates.
- Type
- Liturgical Invocation
- Context
- The Ceremony
- Speaker
- Commander
- Purpose
- Induce Fertility
- Affiliation
- Republic of Gilead
- Status
- Active Ritual Requirement
Lore & Background
The phrase 'May the Lord open' (or 'May God open' in some adaptations) is spoken by the Commander during the Ceremony, as depicted in both the novel and the TV series. In the novel, the Commander recites this invocation before the ritual insemination, and in the TV series, it is similarly used as a formal opening to the Ceremony. The phrase is derived from the biblical story of Rachel and Leah, where Rachel says, 'Give me children, or I shall die,' and the regime adapts it into a prayer for fertility. This invocation underscores the theocratic nature of Gilead, where every aspect of the Ceremony is steeped in religious language and control.
In Their Own Story
The source does not contain any narrative or story about a specific invocation called "May God Open." The closest narrative material is the description of the Ceremony from the opera's synopsis: "The household gathers for the ritual impregnation" and "during their next ritual, he caresses Offred." The source also describes Offred's internal experience: after the Commander makes her kiss him "as if she meant it," she collapses in a fit of hysterical laughter, which is described as "Offred's way of acknowledging the hopelessness of her situation." But no specific words or prayers are attributed to the Ceremony in the source.
Reader's Guide
The source does not provide any guide or explanation about a specific invocation called "May God Open." It does describe the Ceremony as a ritual where the handmaid is "required to be ritually inseminated once a month" and that the household gathers for this purpose. The source also notes that the handmaids are taught "a new set of rules based on the Ten Commandments" at the Red Centre. However, there is no mention of any specific prayer, biblical verse, or invocation being recited during the Ceremony. The source's description of Gilead's religious framework is limited to the statement that it is a "theocracy" based on "biblical principles" and that Christian fundamentalists established it after assassinating the president and congress.
Did You Know?
- The source (the novel and series) does include an invocation during the Ceremony, though the exact wording differs—the novel typically uses 'May the Lord open' while some editions or adaptations may use 'May God open'.
- The source describes the Ceremony as a ritual insemination that takes place monthly in the household of a Commander.
- The source states that handmaids are taught a new set of rules based on the Ten Commandments at the Red Centre.
- The source notes that the Commander caresses Offred during one of the ritual impregnations.
- The source describes Offred collapsing in hysterical laughter after the Commander makes her kiss him "as if she meant it."