Prayers of Devotion to Saint Gerard Majella
Patron of Mothers
1. For Motherhood
Good St.
Gerard, powerful intercessor before the throne of God, wonder-worker of our day,
I call upon you and seek your aid. You know that our marriage has not as yet
been blessed with a child and how much my husband and I desire this gift.
Please present our fervent pleas to the Creator of life from whom all parenthood
proceeds and beseech Him to bless us with a child whom we may raise as His child
and heir of heaven. Amen.
2. For a Mother with Child
Almighty and everlasting God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you prepared the body and soul of the Virgin Mary to be a worthy dwelling place of your divine Son. You sanctified St. John the Baptizer, while still in his mother’s womb. Listen now to my prayer. Through the intercession of St. Gerard, watch over my child and me; protect us at the time of delivery. May my child receive the saving graces of Baptism, lead a Christian life, and, together with all the members of our family, attain everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen.
3. For a Sick Child
St. Gerard, who, like the Savior, loved children so tenderly and by your prayers freed many from disease and even death, listen to us who are pleading for our sick child. We thank God for the great gift of our son / daughter and ask Him to restore our child to health if such be His holy will. This favor, we beg of you through your love for all children and mothers. Amen.
4. In Thanks for a Safe Delivery
Good St. Gerard, patron of mothers, assist me in thanking God for the great gift of motherhood. During the months of my waiting, I learned to call upon you and placed the safety of my child and myself under your powerful protection. The great lesson of your trust in God sustained me; your slogan, “God will provide,” became my hope and consolation. I thank God for a healthy and normal baby and my own good health. Help me to prize the great treasure of motherhood and obtain for me the grace to raise my child as a child of God.
In gratitude, I will continue to call upon you and will tell other mothers about their special patron and friend. Amen.
5. For Special Blessings
Almighty and loving Father, I thank You for giving St. Gerard to us as a most appealing model and powerful friend. By his example, he showed us how to love and trust You. You have showered many blessings on those who call upon him. For Your greater glory and my welfare, please grant me the favors which I ask in his name. (Mention your requests)
And you, my powerful patron, intercede for me before the throne of God. Draw near to that throne and do not leave it until you have been heard. O good saint, to you I address my fervent prayers; graciously accept them and let me experience in some way the effects of your powerful intercession. Amen.
6. In Time of Trial
St. Gerard, whose heart went out to the unfortunate, who relieved so many poor, healed so many sick, comforted so many afflicted, I am worried and troubled as I kneel at your feet. In vain do I seek this world’s help and consolation. Graciously pray for me, St. Gerard, that, being freed from this trial or strengthened to bear it for the love of God, I may praise and thank God and serve Him with greater love and fervor. Amen.
7. For a Good Confession
St. Gerard, patron of a good confession, who gave courage to souls whom fear and shame had overcome, who gave sorrow to their hearts, resolution to their wills, truth to their faltering lips, help me to make a good confession. Enable me to know my sins, to be truly sorry for them, and to be firmly resolved, with God’s grace, never to sin again. Help me to confess my sins humbly and sincerely, to confess them to our Lord himself. Stand by me in this confession, gentle saint. Amen.
8. For Respect of Life
St. Gerard Majella, women the world over have adopted you as their patron in the joys and fears of childbearing. Today, we invoke your intercession for the pro-life movement. Pray that all will look upon human life as a gift from God, not as an unwanted burden to be destroyed. Assist the efforts of those on earth who are enlisted in the crusade of promoting the dignity and the value of all human life, particularly the unborn. This we ask through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
7. Prayer for Safe Delivery
O Great St. Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of thy meek and humble Savior, and devoted Child of the Mother of God: enkindle within my heart one spark of that Heavenly fire of charity which glowed in you and made you a seraph of love.
O glorious St. Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, you did bear, like your Divine Master, without murmur or complaint, the calumnies of wicked men, you have been raised up by God as the Patron and Protector of expectant mothers.
Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth, and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the pure waters of baptism, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Repeat Nine Times:
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.
8. Prayer to Saint
Gerard Majella
O great St. Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of your meek and humble Savior, and devoted Child of the Mother of God; enkindle within my heat one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in you and made you a seraph of love.
O glorious Saint Gerard, because when falsely accused of crime, you bore, like your Divine Master, without murmur or complaint the calumnies of wicked men, you have been raised up by God as the Patron and Protector of expectant mothers.
Preserve me from danger and from the excessive pains accompanying childbirth and shield the child which I now carry, that it may see the light of day and receive the lustral waters of baptism, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Devotional Prayer to the Holy Name of Jesus
O glorious name of Jesus, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, enemies are vanquished, the sick are freed from illness, the suffering are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, instruction to those who preach, strength to those who toil, and sustenance to those who are weary.
O Jesus, your name means, “Savior.” Be me Savior, dear Lord. Through this glorious name, mercifully grant all the petitions which I make in this prayer. Amen.