Prayer for the Day of the Unborn

 

In 2004, Pres. Arroyo issued Proclamation # 586 declaring every March 25 as "Day of the Unborn" in the Philippines. It is urged that churches will have a special recognition of pregnant mothers and special prayers and blessings to them on this day.

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RITE OF BLESSING FOR THE DAY OF THE UNBORN

Psalm 145:13-21

The Lord is faithful in all His words

and holy in all His works.

The Lord lifts up all who are falling

and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look hopefully to You,

and You give them their food in due season;

You open Your Hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is just in all His ways

and holy in all His works.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,

to all who call upon Him in truth.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him,

He hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord keeps all who love Him,

but the wicked He will destroy. 

May my mouth speak the praise of the Lord,

and may all flesh bless His Holy Name forever and ever. 

Prayer for Unborn Children

God, our Creator, by Your love the world is filled with life,

through Your generosity one generation gives life to another,

and so are Your wonders told and Your praises sung.

We look to You in our love and in our need:

may it be Your will that we bear (adopt) a child to share our home and faith.

Loving God, be close to us as we pray to love and do Your will.

You are our God, nourishing us forever and ever. Amen.

Dear St. Gerard Majella, Saint Raymond Nonnatus,

patrons for pregnant women

and St. Catherine of Sienna,

patron against miscarriages,

please intercede for us.

Prayer and Blessing of Pregnant Mothers

All make the sign of the cross. The leader begins:

Let us bless the Lord Jesus,

who in the womb of the Virgin Mary became one of us.

Blessed be God forever.

All respond:

Blessed be God forever.

The leader may use these or similar words to introduce the blessing:

Join now in listening to the Scripture and in blessing this mother-to-be

that she may cherish the child in her womb

and await birth with great hope and faith.

Then Scripture is read:

Listen to the words of the Holy Gospel according to Luke 1:39-45:

During those days, Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,

the infant in my womb leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

The Gospel of the Lord.

All respond:

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

After a time of silence, all join in prayers of intercession. The Hail Mary, the Memorare, or other prayers asking for the protection of Mary may be appropriate. After the Lord's Prayer, the leader may invite all to extend their hands toward the mothers or to place their hands on them in blessing. Use either Prayer A or Prayer B next.

Prayer A:

Gracious Father, Your Word, spoken in love,

created the human family

and Your Son, conceived in love,

restored it to Your friendship.

Hear the prayers of (mother's name),

who awaits the birth of her child.

Calm her fears when she is anxious.

Watch over and support her

and bring her child into this world

safely and in good health,

so that as members of Your family

she may praise You and glorify You through Your Son,

Our Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever.

Amen.

Prayer B:

God has brought gladness and light to the world

through the Virgin Mary's delivery of her child.

May Christ fill your heart with His holy joy

and keep you and your baby safe from harm.

We ask this in His Name, who is Lord, forever and ever.

Amen.

All make the sign of the cross. The leader concludes:

May God, Who chose to make known

and to send the blessings of eternal salvation

through the motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

bless us and keep us in His care, now and forever.

Amen.

Holy Water is then sprinkled to the pregnant mothers followed by clapping of hands by the churchgoers.