PRAYER FOR AN EXPECTANT MOTHER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
O God our Father,
through the Blessed Virgin Mary
you have glorified motherhood
in the virgin birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
and You have raised up,
as an example to wives and mothers,
Your servant, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Grant me, I pray You,
the grace to imitate her
by accepting as Your charge
and as an heir to heaven
the child that is to be born of me.
Bless, dear Lord,
this coming event with safety
both to my child and to myself.
I also pray that the noble life of Mother Seton
may always be a model to mothers.
The prayer so often on her lips will always be mine.
With all my heart I repeat it:
“May the most high,
the most just
and the most holy Will of God be praised,
adored and loved.” Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee;
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now
and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Guardian Angel, watch over those
whose names you can read in my heart.
Guard over them with every care
and make their way easy
and their labours fruitful.
Dry their tears if they weep;
sanctify their joys;
raise their courage if they weaken;
restore their hope if they lose heart,
their health if they be ill,
truth if they err,
repentance if they fail. Amen.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
(Adapted from a prayer to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)