Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers. Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

Introduction

      How could anyone begin to explain the countless indescribable blessings, joys, and rewards interwoven in the tapestry of motherhood? Along with these remarkable moments in a mother’s life, of course, are also woven the sacrifices and sorrows; even in these, God’s grace abounds to mothers just for the asking. Our Lord certainly favors mothers. After all, He actually enters into a partnership with them to create human life. What an incredible mystery and miracle!

      Adoptive mothers, stepmothers, and godmothers, as partners in this mystery, can also benefit from beseeching our Lord for His assistance. Their prayers help ensure that their influence on the children in their lives will be holy, and they will find joy and peace in their particular and important roles.

      Whatever mothering role she plays, the power of a mother’s prayer cannot be underestimated. And our good Lord also knows you would welcome more time for prayer and quiet times to listen to His promptings in your soul. But a busy household can be very far from quiet, and time itself can seem to be a luxury. It would actually be wrong for a mother to drop everything to kneel down to pray. Especially as her baby is crying for her attention, a sick child is in need of her care, or her family is waiting for dinner. A mother’s time is truly not her own.

      So how does a mother remain faithful to prayer and yet keep up with her work around the clock in the home? The key to inner peace for a mother is to find a balance between a prayer life and her duties and care of her family. A faithful mother soon learns that in order to survive, her life should become a prayer.

      Prayer has three forms of expression: vocal, meditative, and contemplative. All forms come from the heart. All bring us closer to God.

      Vocal prayer is a common form of prayer, used often and founded on the union of body and soul. It can be used alone or in a group.

      Meditative prayer is actually a pursuit, seeking to understand Christian life and principles in order to follow and adhere to them. Our thoughts, emotions, and imagination are engaged as we learn about our faith from Sacred Scripture, the lives of the saints, and spiritual reading.

      Contemplation is, according to St. Teresa of Ávila, “Nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Contemplation is a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus.” A mother finds the need to lift her mind and heart to our Lord often throughout her day for strength, grace and guidance. He is always waiting for her heart ready to listen to her pleas.

      The Lord will speak to the silence of a mother’s heart when she retreats to that place in her heart to love, worship, listen to, and gaze upon Him who gives us life. Mothers are truly contemplatives in the heart of the family and in the world.

      Allow this prayer book to assist you in keeping your heart always lifted up toward Heaven, communicating with the Divine, even as your hands are occupied with household and motherly tasks. May God bless you and your beautiful family!

       Chapter One

       Precious Blessings

       “For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me my petition which I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.”

       — 1 Sam. 1:27, 28

       The Beautiful Gift of Motherhood

      Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the beautiful gift of motherhood, one of the greatest gifts ever. At times, I feel unworthy of this awesome task of raising Christian children. Other times, I may be so busy with their care, I even forget the great privilege that motherhood really is. Please enlighten my mind and senses and help me to renew my resolve in being the mother I am destined to be.

      The moral and spiritual strength of a woman is joined to her awareness that God entrusts to her, in a special way, the human being.

       — Pope John Paul II

       A Glimpse Into the Future

      If a woman could ever get a glimpse at

      What her world would be

      When she becomes a mother,

      She would be presented with the reality

      That her innermost desires and life plans

      would be altered or put on hold

      because she would be inundated with the care of others.

      If she was also allowed to glimpse the unending joy

      she would receive as a mother,

      There would be no pause to consider,

      No hesitation, as she embraced the whole package,

      Knowing in her heart that her children will become her life’s desires.

      The child is the beauty of God present in the world, the greatest gift to the family.

       — Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

      Bless me, Lord. Be with me, Lord.

      I need You, Lord.

       Mother’s Daily Prayer for Her Children

      O Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, Patroness of all mothers, I commend my beloved children to the Most Sacred Heart of your Son, Jesus and to your Immaculate Heart. Please assist our family and keep us always in your care. Please protect us from the snares of the devil and keep us on the road that leads to Life. Help me to realize my sublime mission as mother and help me to be faithful to my duties for the good of my family and the good of the entire family of God.

      Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

      Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

      Holy Guardian Angel of our family, pray for us.

      St. Michael, pray for us.

      St. Joseph, husband of Mary, pray for us.

      St. Anne, Mother of Mary, pray for us.

      St. Monica, pray for us.

      St. Gerard Majella, pray for us.

      Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us.

       With Every Step I Praise You

      As I am carrying my baby and rocking her to sleep,

      You know, Lord, that I am unable

      To kneel down at this moment to pray.

      Please listen to the prayer of love in my heart for You.

      Let each of my steps throughout this day