St. Andrew novena

I just wanted to post a reminder that the St. Andrew novena starts today, the feast of St. Andrew.  The prayer to the right is prayed 15 times each day from November 30 through Christmas.  DH and I usually pray all 15 prayers right before bed during our normal prayer time.  I've found it to be a nice way to quiet my mind and really reflect on the birth of Christ as we prepare to celebrate Christmas.  Even though it's a short prayer, I find myself focusing on a different phrase each day (like "in piercing cold"), which helps me imagine what it would have been like to be there.  I thought the timing this year is perfect because it's also the beginning of Advent, so we'll be praying by candlelight (from the Advent wreath).

DH and I have prayed the St. Andrew novena for the past few years.  I know some IFers have conceived after praying it, and I still pray that it might happen for us and others who are still waiting, but even if we don't conceive, it has become one of my favorite prayers and a family tradition.  (Family=DH+me)  :)

Two years ago I made a chaplet with 15 beads so I wouldn't have to count while we prayed.  If you'd like to make one, it's pretty easy to do.  I have no prior jewelry making experience...just taught myself from an online tutorial.  And the supplies aren't too expensive.

Happy Advent!

Prayers about IF, miscarriage, and pregnancy

A friend of mind showed me this prayer book (more like a little booklet) that she had.  She thought I would appreciate the prayer about infertility.  When I paged through the book, I found several prayers that others might be interested in.  They might not appeal to everyone though.

-Prayer to Conceive
-Prayer after a Miscarriage
-Prayer at the Death of a Child
-Prayer to a Child in Heaven
-Miscarriage Prayer (Mother Angelica)

There were two about pregnancy that could also be for those anticipating adoption.  I didn't include them in this post, but if you click on the two titles, it will take you to a separate page with the full text of the prayers.
-Prayer for an Unborn Child
-Thanksgiving for Conceiving

This one has been floating around online. I don't know
who wrote it, but I gave it a pretty background. :)

Prayer to Conceive

Dear Mother Mary, you received from God the treasured blessing of divine motherhood.  In the name of the joys you knew when you pressed your beloved Baby to your breast, please hear and bless my petition!  You are the Mother of Mothers and you hold Motherhood very dear.  You know the great and real dignity of motherhood.  You know the great privilege of bringing into this world a new soul destined to praise God forever in heaven.  Dear Mother, I ask that through your intercession God would grant to me and my husband the grace to conceive a child.

Heavenly Father, for You all things are possible.  In Your Word You tell us: "Children too are a gift from the Lord, the fruit of the womb, His reward." -Psalm 127:3

O Father, I trust in You and in Your unconditional love for us.  I believe that You will hear my prayer, offered through the intercession of your Mother Mary.  I believe that you You will answer me according to Your Divine Will, for You have promised to give us the desires of our heart as we delight in You.  O Lord, increase in us always the presence and power of Your Divine Life.  Thank You for Your mercy, grace, peace, and provision.  In Jesus's name.  Amen.

Mother of mothers, pray for us!


Prayer after a Miscarriage

Dear Mother Mary, I come before you today with a heavy heart.  I have lost the beautiful child from within my womb, the child God gave me.  I do not want to accept this, yet I bring my sorrow to you, O Mother of Sorrows, because you understand.  I am filled with a deep sadness, O Mary, and I cry sometimes silently for this my beloved little one, now with you.  O Mary, I feel so alone, although my family and friends do their best to comfort me.  Still, I trust God, even when I don't understand.

O heavenly Father, You know what is best for us always.  Perhaps my child would have suffered greatly in life, or wasn't ready yet to come into the world.  I ask you, dear God, to please send Your mercy on all parents who are experiencing the loss and pain of a miscarriage and console them with the sure certainty that they will see their little treasure again.

I admit I feel some fear for the future, an apprehension that this could happen again.  Nevertheless, O Lord, I put my trust in You.  You are the God who heals me; You are the Good Shepherd who will neither leave me nor forsake me, so I am at peace.  Please kiss my little angel, and tell my child I yearn for the day we will be together again, with You, in the Kingdom of heaven.

O Lord, grant my husband and me the grace according to Your Will to conceive again.  Help us continue to make our home a welcoming place for all life.

Jesus, Comforter of all who mourn, we put our trust in You.  Amen.


Prayer at the Death of a Child

O most sorrowful Mother, my child is gone, and what can I say?  I feel so lonely, so sad; I miss my child so very much.  O dear Mother, I just want to run into your arms and your consoling embrace.  I need the comfort of your sorrowful heart.  I have lost my child, the light of my eyes, just as you lost your Son, Jesus, when He died on the cross for us.

O Mary, I don't understand why God has allowed this sorrow to come into my life.  However, I trust Him as my loving Father Who knows what is best for me.  O Mother Mary, help me put all my trust in Him.  Please take my child now under your mantle, and hold him/her close to your heart.  Please pray that God will give my family and me His grace and strength to carry on.  May I, like you, O Mother, be faithful to the end.  Amen.


Prayer to a Child in Heaven

My dear (name), you are no longer with us here on earth.  I miss you very much, and I long to see you.  Still, my faith tells me you are now with Jesus, Mother Mary, St. Joseph, and all the angels and saints.  It is hard for me understand why you were taken from my arms, but you can never be taken from my heart.  I love you and I will love you forever, until time is no more.

I find a certain peace in knowing I had a part in bringing you this great joy, the joy of heaven.  I also find strength in my hope to be someday reunited with you, never to be parted again.  Please pray for me, my dear child, that I may be faithful to my duties here below and thereby come to hold you again in my waiting arms in heaven.  Amen.

From Mothers' Manual by Bart Tesoriero

Miscarriage Prayer by Mother M. Angelica  (source)

My Lord, the baby is dead!

Why, my Lord—dare I ask why? It will not hear the whisper of the wind or see the beauty of its parents’ face—it will not see the beauty of Your creation or the flame of a sunrise. Why, my Lord?

“Why, My child do you ask ‘why’? Well, I will tell you why. You see, the child lives. Instead of the wind he hears the sound of angels singing before My throne. Instead of the beauty that passes he sees everlasting Beauty he sees My face. He was created and lived a short time so the image of his parents imprinted on his face may stand before Me as their personal intercessor. He knows secrets of heaven unknown to men on earth. He laughs with a special joy that only the innocent possess. My ways are not the ways of man. I create for My Kingdom and each creature fills a place in that Kingdom that could not be filled by another. He was created for My joy and his parents’ merits. He has never seen pain or sin. He has never felt hunger or pain. I breathed a soul into a seed, made it grow and called it forth.”

I am humbled before you, my Lord, for questioning Your wisdom, goodness, and love. I speak as a fool—forgive me. I acknowledge Your sovereign rights over life and death. I thank You for the life that began for so short a time to enjoy so long an Eternity.

IF womb blessing

You may have heard about the blessing of a child in the womb for pregnant women that the USCCB approved two years ago.  But did you know you can ask a priest for a womb blessing as an infertile woman?

Here's the story of what happened when I asked for a womb blessing.  I hope you are comfy because it's not exactly short.

Years ago a good friend of ours was ordained to the priesthood, and DH and I attended his ordination.  I had never been to an ordination before.  It was probably the most beautiful Mass I have ever witnessed.  It is just so moving to watch as someone gives his entire life to serving God and His Church.  I love our priests.  :)  In the years that followed I longed to attend another ordination, but it just never worked out.  Then two years ago in April I saw the announcement for our diocese's ordination so I put it on the calendar.  I was looking forward to it a lot.

The ordination was just as beautiful as I remember the last one, even though I didn't know this new priest personally.  If you've never been to an ordination, you are missing out.  They usually take place in May or June, so you can plan ahead for next year...way ahead.  :)

Since we didn't receive an invitation to the reception afterwards, we weren't planning on going to that...unless there was a general announcement at ordination inviting everyone.  And there was!  There were even printed driving directions for everyone.  I guess it was more of a diocesan event than a personal reception for the priest's friends and family.  (When my friend had his ordination reception years ago, we had received a formal invitation, but I can't remember if it was a joint reception with the other new priest ordained at the same time.  I suppose different dioceses do it differently.)

At the reception a line quickly formed so people could receive a blessing from the new priest.  Just like at a wedding where the newlyweds often don't get a chance to eat because they're busy greeting their guests, the priest didn't get much more than a bottle of water before the line formed.  This was expected of course, and they had a small kneeler set up in a corner where the priest was standing for this purpose.  I watched as people greeted the priest and kissed the palm of each of his hands.  How beautiful the hands of priests because they give us Jesus in the Eucharist.

When DH and I got to the front of the line, we could see that the priest had several different blessings spread out in front of him—one for individuals, one for couples, etc. Before we knelt down, I asked if he would bless my womb because of our infertility.  I thought he could just add a spontaneous sentence or two to the blessing he was already going to give us.  I had heard that you can ask any priest for a womb blessing if you're infertile—which is why I asked—and I assumed that meant the priest would just come up with some appropriate words on the spot.  He said he didn't have a womb blessing in front of him, but if we waited until everyone else had gone, then he would find one for us.  I was surprised and pleased that he would do that for us, given that there were a lot of people in line, and he probably wanted to spend time visiting with family and friends after finishing up the individual blessings.  He offered to give us the married couple blessing that he had on front of him, so we knelt down.  It was all in Latin, and I know only a handful of words, so I had no idea what he said.  It sounded nice though.  Everything sounds nice in Latin.  :)

We sat down on some nearby chairs to wait.  About an hour later the line was nearing its end, and most of the people had gone home.  Someone finally brought the new priest a plate of food.  A seminarian came over and started talking to the priest.  He stayed close to the priest and was doing something on his phone.  In between blessings, he would show the phone to the priest.  I thought maybe someone had sent a congratulatory message to the priest that he wanted to see...maybe on Facebook or something.  When the last person was blessed, I assumed the priest would sit down to eat, so we remained where we were.  I didn't really want to bother the priest since we could get a womb blessing from any priest...I just thought it would be extra special to receive it from a brand new priest.  Instead of sitting down to eat with his friends who had brought him the plate of food, the priest took the cell phone from the seminarian and walked directly over to where we were sitting.

He smiled and said they found a womb blessing for infertile couples.  (Apparently it was the seminarian on his phone who found it.)

I was shocked and really touched that he'd go through the effort of finding one for us!  I had no idea that one already existed.

He raised his hand and started to pray over us.  Again it was all in Latin.  I tried to listen for words I knew, which is not very many.  The only thing relevant I could think of was "fructus" from the Hail Mary:  "and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus" (et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus).  I think I heard the word fructus.  I do remember Abraham's name mentioned.  DH knows more Latin than me and thought part of it was about Israel.  For all I know, he could have recounted all the couples in the Old Testament that faced infertility in addition to the entire history of Israel's relationship with God.  It was a long blessing.  Really long.  It took five minutes maybe?  Maybe a bit shorter, but not much.  I was expecting a paragragh at most, so this was quite extensive.

I sincerely thanked the priest after he finished and asked on what website he found the blessing because I would love to see the English translation of it.  He said it was a PDF file, and he had the hard copy of the book elsewhere.  So I couldn't get a copy of it from him...  I knew some of you might want to see it as well, so my inquiry wasn't just for me.  :)  The priest then asked our names and promised to continue to pray for us.  I was so touched by his kindness that I could feel the tears coming.  I held them in until we left.  Since not very many (non-IF) people acknowledge the suffering that accompanies IF, it means a lot to me when someone does.

My plan was to ask a priest I knew if he would give me the text of the womb blessing.  I thought it wouldn't be too difficult of a request.  I was wrong.  I have asked multiple (I've lost track how many) priests if they can find the text of the blessing we received, and no one has had any success in finding it.  Apparently this blessing is not in the book of blessings that most priests have.  Unfortunately I can't contact the priest who gave us the blessing because he is taking time away from parish life to do some studying.

It recently dawned on me that it was the seminarian who found it, so maybe I should ask a seminarian.  I contacted a seminarian that I've met before, and I am waiting to hear back.

If any of you happen to have a copy of this blessing, please send it to me so I can post it here for everyone.  I am on a mission here!

The reason I did not post this earlier (say, two years ago when we received the blessing) is because I really wanted to include the text of the blessing here.  Even though I still don't have it, I have something else!  :)  There is a blessing for infertile couples that is approved for use in the Archdiocese of Sydney, Australia, and I acquired the text.  I put a link at the top of my blog with the entire text.  I also saved it as a PDF if you want to download it.

Here's a link to the IF blessing.

Ladies, I encourage you to ask your priest for a womb blessing!  It's not any kind of guarantee of course but we need all the blessing and prayers and spiritual help we can get!  You all know that IF is a such tough cross to carry, and this might make carrying that cross just a bit easier.

Novena to Sts. Joachim and Anne

The feast day of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus, is coming up on July 26th.  They experienced infertility and were childless for twenty years.  (Twenty!  That certainly puts my five years in perspective...)  Their community snubbed them because they thought barrenness was a punishment from God.  As if infertility isn't isolating enough already!  One day Joachim went to the temple with the desire to offer sacrifice but he was not allowed to because he had no children.  Filled with shame and grief, he went off to the wilderness for forty days to fast and pray (and complain to God about being childless) where an angel visited him and told him he would have a daughter.  Back at home, Anne was begging God for a child when an angel visited her too and gave her the same news.  She was forty years old when the Virgin Mary was born.

If you'd like to pray the novena below, it starts tomorrow and goes through the day before their feast day.  All those struggling with IF or miscarriage are in my prayers.

Good parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
grandparents of our Savior, Jesus Christ,

When life seems barren,
   help us to trust in God’s mercy.

When we are confused,
   help us to find the way to God.

When we are lost in the desert,
   lead us to those whom God has called us to love.

When our marriage seems lifeless,
   show us the eternal youth of the Lord.

When we are selfish,
   teach us to cling only to that which lasts.

When we are afraid,
   help us to trust in God.

When we are ashamed,
   remind us that we are God’s children.

When we sin,
   lead us to do God’s will.

You who know God’s will for husband and wife,
   help us to live chastely.

You who know God’s will for the family,
   keep all families close to you.

You who suffered without children,
   intercede for all infertile couples.

You who trusted in God’s will,
   help us to respect God’s gift of fertility.

You who gave birth to the Blessed Mother,
   inspire couples to be co-creators with God.

You who taught the Mother of God,
   teach us to nurture children in holy instruction.

You whose hearts trusted in God,
   hear our prayers for . . . (mention your requests here)

Pray with us for the ministry of Catholic family life.
Pray with us for the ministry of Natural Family Planning.
Pray with us for all who give their time, talent and treasure to this good work.

Hail Mary. . . Our Father. . . Glory Be to the Father. . .

God of our fathers, you gave Saints Anne and Joachim the privilege of being the parents of Mary, the mother of your incarnate Son. May their prayers help us to attain the salvation you have promised to your people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source:  USCCB website

St. Andrew novena

DH and I have prayed the St. Andrew novena for the past couple years.  I know some IFers have conceived after praying it, and I still pray that it might happen for us and others who are still waiting, but even if we don't conceive, it has become one of my favorite prayers and a new family tradition.  (Family=DH+me)  :)

It goes from November 30 (the feast of St. Andrew) to Christmas.  The prayer to the right is prayed 15 times each day.  We usually pray all 15 prayers right before bed during our normal prayer time.  I've found it to be a wonderful way to quiet my mind and really reflect on the birth of Christ as we prepare to celebrate Christmas.  Even though it's a short prayer, I find myself focusing on a different phrase each day (like "in piercing cold"), which helps me imagine what it would have been like to be there.  As we prayed it tonight, it felt like something was missing.  Then I realized that since Advent hasn't started yet, we didn't have the Advent wreath lit.  Just one day to go!  I love praying by candlelight.

Last year I made a chaplet so I wouldn't have to count while we prayed.   (Did I count that last one?  I wasn't paying attention.  Hmmm, better pray an extra one just in case I miscounted...)  I figured one less distraction during prayer would be good, and I wanted an excuse to pull out my rosary-making supplies.  I don't get to use them very often.  If you'd like to make one, it's pretty easy to do. (I have no prior jewelry making experience...just taught myself from an online tutorial.)  And the supplies aren't too expensive.

I know it's hard sometimes to remember to pray novenas.  If I didn't have DH prompting me at bedtime with, "It's time to pray," I would probably forget.  I found a free app that gives you the option to set a daily reminder to pray a (nine-day) novena.  It's called "eVotions -Bl. John Paul II."  The reminder is to pray a novena to JPII, but I'm going to use it for any novena.  Yay for modern technology.  :)

St. Jude novena

St. Jude is my patron saint this year, and his feast day is coming up on October 28.  I'm going to pray the novena below starting tomorrow and going through the 27th.  You are welcome to join me if you'd like or leave your intentions in the comments.  My intentions are for all those struggling with infertility or miscarriage and for DH to find a job.  I have a few special intentions also.

International Shrine of St. Jude in New Orleans

One of my favorites

I first came across this prayer in college.  I used to take it to Adoration with me.  I love the image of speaking to God as if I were sitting on His lap (if God had a lap).  It inspired part of my previous post, so I thought I would share it.

Visit to the Blessed Sacrament

My child, you need not know much in order to please Me; only love Me dearly.  Speak to Me as you would to your mother, if she had taken you in her arms.  Have you no one to recommend to Me?  Tell Me the names of your relatives, of your friends; after each name add what you wish Me to do for its bearer.  Ask a great deal; I love generous hearts that forget themselves for others.

Tell Me about the poor whom you wish to help, the sick whom you have seen suffer, the sinners whom you would convert, the persons who are alienated from you and whose affections you wish back.  For all recite a fervent prayer.  Remind Me that I have promised to grant every prayer that comes from the heart; and surely those prayers are heartfelt which we say for those we love.

Have you no favors to ask for yourself?  Recall all the needs of your soul, and tell them to Me.  Tell Me simply how proud you are, how self-indulgent, sensitive, selfish, cowardly, idle.  Ask Me to help you to improve.  Poor child, do not repine!  There are in heaven many saints who had the same faults as you; they prayed to Me, and, little by little, they were cured.  Do not hesitate to ask Me for the gifts of body and mind; for health, memory, success.  I can give everything, and I always grant requests for gifts that will make souls more holy.  What do you want today, My child?  Oh, if you knew how I long to do you good!

Have you no plans to interest you?  Tell Me all about them.  Do they concern your vocation?  What do you think of?  What would you like?  Are you planning some pleasure for one dear to you?  What do you wish to do?

And have you no thoughts of zeal for Me?  Do you not care to do a little good for the souls of those whom you love, and who perhaps forget Me?  Tell Me of those who interest you, what motive urges you, what means you wish to take to do them good.

Confide in Me your failures.  I will show you the cause.  Whom do you wish to see interested in your work?  I am the Master of all hearts, and I lead them gently where I please.  I will place about you those who are necessary to you, never fear!

Have you nothing to trouble you?  My child, tell Me all your little crosses.  Who has pained you?  Who has wounded your self-love?  Who has treated you contemptuously?  Tell Me all; and then say you forgive and forget; and I will give you My blessing.

Do you dread something painful?  Is there in your soul a vague fear which seems unreasonable, and yet torments You?  Trust fully in My Providence.  I am here; I see everything; I will not abandon you.

Are there about you friends who seem less kind than formerly, who neglect you through indifference or forgetfulness, without your having consciously done anything to wound them?  Pray for them and I will restore them to you, if their companionship be good for you.

Have you no joys to tell Me?  Why not confide in Me your pleasures?  Tell Me what happened since yesterday to console you, to make you happy, to give you joy.  Confide in Me and you shall find peace.

An unexpected visit has done you good; a fear was suddenly dispelled; you have met with unlooked-for success; you have received some mark of affection; some trial has left you stronger than you supposed.  All these things, My child, I obtained for you.  Why are you not grateful?  Why do you not say, “I thank You?”  Gratitude insures further benefits and the Benefactor loves to be reminded of His bounty.

Have you no promise to make Me?  You know I search in hearts.  Men are deceived, but not God; be frank.

Are you resolved to avoid that occasion of sin, to give up the object which leads you astray, to withdraw your friendship from that person who is irreligious and whose presence disturbs the peace of your soul?  Will you go at once and be kind to that companion who offended you?

Well, my child, go now and resume your daily work.  Be silent, modest, patient, charitable, prayerful; love the Blessed Virgin dearly and tomorrow bring Me a heart even more devoted and loving.  Tomorrow I will have new favors for you.  Only this one thing bear in mind, My dear child, that I have loved you with an eternal love.  Love Me in return.

~Author unknown

Novena to St. Gianna

Painting of St. Gianna at the
Shrine of Lady of Guadalupe
in La Crosse, WI

St. Gianna's feast day is coming up on April 28th.  She is a much-beloved patron saint of infertility.  The miracle which led to her canonization happened to a woman who was 16 weeks pregnant.  Her placenta tore, and the amniotic fluid drained out.  The doctors said the baby had no chance of survival.  Through the intercession of St. Gianna, the baby was born healthy.  The mother named the little girl Gianna.  (She turns 13 next month.)

I'm going to pray a novena to St. Gianna for all those waiting to hold children of their own in their arms.  I'll be praying for all the lovely ladies who have IF blogs (that I know of), a few IRL acquaintances and clients, everyone in the FB group, and anyone who reads my blog.  If you don't have a blog (or if you do) and you'd like me to pray for you by name, please leave your name and any information about yourself you'd like to share in the comments.  Or you can e-mail me; see the e-mail tab above.  While many of you are praying for me this month for Adopt-A-Blogger, I would like to pray for all of you.

The novena is below.  It starts on Friday, April 19 and ends on April 27.

(Interesting random fact of the day:  Did you know that the number nine is the number of imperfection (ten is perfect), so it's fitting that a novena lasts nine days because it is "man's imperfection turned in prayer to God?"  St. Jerome said, "The number nine in Holy Writ is indicative of suffering and grief."  source    I didn't know that before today.)

Novena To Obtain Graces Through Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

God, our Father, You have granted to Your church the gift of Gianna Beretta Molla. In her youth she lovingly sought You and drew other young people to You, involving them, through apostolic witness and Catholic Action, in the care of the sick and aged, to help and comfort them.

We thank You for the gift of this young woman, so deeply committed to You. Through her example grant us the grace to consecrate our lives to Your service, for the joy of our brothers and sisters.

Glory be …

Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, You called Saint Gianna to exercise the medical profession as a mission for the comfort of bodies and souls. In her suffering fellow men and in the little ones, deprived of all support, she saw You.

We thank You for having revealed Yourself to this servant as “one who serves” and who soothes the sufferings of men. Treasuring her example may we become generous Christians at the service of our brothers and sisters, especially those with whom You deign to share Your Cross.

Glory be…

God, Sanctifying Spirit, who love the Church as Your Bride, You poured into the heart of Saint Gianna a share of Your Love so that she could radiate it in her family, and thus cooperate with You in the wonderful plan of creation, and give life to new children who could know and love You.

We thank You for this model wife and, through her encouraging witness, we beg You to grant to our families the serene and Christian presence of mothers committed to transform their homes into cenacles of faith and love, rich with generous activity and sanctifying service.

Glory be…

O God, Creator and lover of mankind, You were close to Saint Gianna when, affected by illness, she was in the painful dilemma of choosing between her own life and the life of the child whom she was carrying in herself, a gift long-awaited. Trusting You alone, and aware of Your Commandment to respect human life, Gianna found the courage to do her duty as a mother and to say “yes” to the new life of her baby, generously sacrificing her own. Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Jesus, and after the example of Gianna, inspire all mothers to welcome with love the sparkle of new life. Grant us the grace we are praying for …………. and the joy to find an inspiration in Saint Gianna who, as a model spouse and mother, after the example of Christ, gave up her life for the life of others.

Hail Mary…

Novena for the unborn

I'm a little late in posting this, but I wanted to share this novena that goes from January 14 to January 22, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.  I think as IFers our prayers and sufferings offered for the unborn and for an end to abortion are especially powerful.  I sometimes think of the experience of IF as (unchosen) fasting for those who choose abortion.

Prayer for Life by Fr. Frank Pavone

God and Father of Life, You have created every human person and have opened the way for each to have eternal life. We live in the shadow of death.  Tens of millions of your children have been killed because of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion.  Father, have mercy on us.  Heal our land and accept our offering of prayer and penance.  In your love for us, turn back the scourge of abortion.  May each of us exult in hearts full of hope and hands full of mercy and work together to build a culture of life.  We pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

I'm looking forward to attending the March for Life this year in DC.  I've wanted to go for a long time, and logistics finally worked out, so this will be my first time (DH's too).

Novena to Sts. Joachim and Anne

The feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is coming up on July 26th, so DH and I decided to pray a novena asking for their intercession for us and for all couples facing IF or miscarriage.

Good parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
grandparents of our Savior, Jesus Christ,

When life seems barren,
   help us to trust in God’s mercy.

When we are confused,
   help us to find the way to God.

When we are lost in the desert,
   lead us to those whom God has called us to love.

When our marriage seems lifeless,
   show us the eternal youth of the Lord.

When we are selfish,
   teach us to cling only to that which lasts.

When we are afraid,
   help us to trust in God.

When we are ashamed,
   remind us that we are God’s children.

When we sin,
   lead us to do God’s will.

You who know God’s will for husband and wife,
   help us to live chastely.

You who know God’s will for the family,
   keep all families close to you.

You who suffered without children,
   intercede for all infertile couples.

You who trusted in God’s will,
   help us to respect God’s gift of fertility.

You who gave birth to the Blessed Mother,
   inspire couples to be co-creators with God.

You who taught the Mother of God,
   teach us to nurture children in holy instruction.

You whose hearts trusted in God,
   hear our prayers for . . . (mention your requests here)

Pray with us for the ministry of Catholic family life.
Pray with us for the ministry of Natural Family Planning.
Pray with us for all who give their time, talent and treasure to this good work.

Hail Mary. . . Our Father. . . Glory Be to the Father. . .

God of our fathers, you gave Saints Anne and Joachim the privilege of being the parents of Mary, the mother of your incarnate Son. May their prayers help us to attain the salvation you have promised to your people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source:  USCCB website