Prayers for Mothers and Motherhood

Heavenly Father, You have been pleased to give all human beings the joy of having a mother, one who works with You to give them life and bring them to human adulthood.

You have given followers of your Son the added joy of a Christian mother, who works with You to give supernatural life to a child and to bring up that child to Christian adulthood.

Over the centuries there have been countless such mothers---heroic, courageous, loving, dedicated, and unconquerable. They have given us the Christian Ages and Christian Saints and in the final analysis the Christian Faith. Without them, there would be no Church, no religious vocation, and no Christian influence in the world. Most of these mothers are unsung in the eyes of the world; they must be content with little things: a smile, a thank you, and a token of remembrance.

In your eyes, however, they are of inestimable worth. Your Word in the Bible uses a mother's love to describe your overwhelming love for your people, and Jesus uses the image of a mother bird to indicate his love for his people. Most of all, when He wants to convey an idea of the joy of those in heaven, He does so by using the image of a mother's pure joy in bringing a child into the world.

Dear Lord, let me honor my mother if she is living and remember her in prayer if she is dead. Pour down your grace on her and on all mothers on this day dedicated to them.

Amen.

Mother, upon my lips today, Christ's precious Blood was laid:
That Blood which centuries ago, was for my ransom paid.

And half in love, and half in fear I seek for aid from thee,
Lest what I worship, rapt in awe should be profaned by me.

Wilt thou vouchsafe, as Portress dear, to guard my lips today?
Lessen my words of idle worth and govern all I say:

Keep back the sharp and quick retorts that rise so easily;
Soften my speech with gentle art to sweetest charity.

Please check the laugh or careless jest, that others harsh may find;
Teach me the thoughtful words of love that soothe the anxious mind.

Put far from me all proud replies, and each deceitful tone,
So that my words at length may be faint echoes of your own.

Oh, Mother, you are mine today by more than double right:
A soul where Christ reposed must be most precious in your sight.

And you can hardly think of me from your dear Son apart,
Then give me from myself and sin a refuge in your heart.
Amen.

On first holding a newborn or newly adopted child, on bringing the child into the home for the first time, and on other occasions before the child's baptism, this blessing may be given to the child by the parent(s):

Prayer A:
God, our Creator, cherish this child. Jesus, our Saviour, protect him/her. Holy Spirit, our Comforter, strengthen him/her.

OR Prayer B:
Source of all blessings, Protector of infants, look with favor on this child, (child's name).

Then continue:
Hold him/her gently in Your Hands. When he/she is reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, bring him/her into the Church, there to share in Your kingdom and with us to bless Your Name forever. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

(Name of the child), may the Lord Jesus, Who loved children, bless you and keep you in His love, now and forever. Amen.

O God, we give You thanks for (Child's Name), whom You have welcomed into our family. Bless this family. Confirm a lively sense of Your Presence with us, and grant us patience and wisdom, that our lives may show forth the love of Christ, as we bring (Child's Name) up to love all that is good. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Good Lord, You have tenderly loved us, and given us this home and good friends. May we make a true home for this child where he/she will learn trust in us and in You. (May his/her brothers/sisters rejoice in their own growing up as they help to care for this child). We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

God, You are like a mother to us all, nourishing all creatures with food and with blessing. Strengthen my child with (my milk, this food) and with the warmth of our nearness. Amen.

Good and Gentle God, we pray in gratitude for our mothers and for all the women of theory who have joined with you in the wonder of bringing forth new life. You who became human through a woman, grant to all mothers the courage they need to face the uncertain future that life with children always brings.

Give them the strength to live and to be loved in return, not perfectly, but humanly. Give them the faithful support of husband, family and friends as they care for the physical and spiritual growth of their children. Give them joy and delight in their children to sustain them through the trials of motherhood. Most of all, give them the wisdom to turn to you for help when they need it most. Amen.

Some of the prayers on this page were taken from "Prayers for the Beginning of Life", put out by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, © 1973, ISBN: 1-55586-297-7; Publication No. 297-7; United States Catholic Conference, Washington, DC

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