A Blessing for Mothers

Mother and child on the water, Shutterstock

To bless Mothers:

To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you

To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you

To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you

To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you

To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you.

To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you

To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you

To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you

To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you

To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience

To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst

To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children – we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be

To those who step-parent – we walk with you on these complex paths

To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren -yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you

To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you

To those who placed children up for adoption — we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart

And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you

This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart. We remember you.

We celebrate all mothering for the ways it reflects the Imago Dei (Image of God) by bringing forth new life, and nurturing life to those around them.

As one family, we pray

May God grant you wisdom
to know and share gospel values to those you nurture.

Together we say… AMEN.

God, the giver of all life,
We thank you for these women who share with us their wisdom.
Help them to be ever mindful of your wisdom.

Together we say… AMEN.

God, you gave us Mary as the mother of Jesus and his Church.
May Mary continue to be a role model for all mothers.

Bless and console those women who struggle with this day due to loss of a child, lack of children, unexpected pregnancies, or the death of a mother.

Together we say… AMEN.

God continue to bless these women,
who have had children, adopted children, loved and cared for children and those people in their lives.
God bless these women with courage and a generous heart.

Together we say… AMEN.

Loving God,
As a mother gives life and nourishment to her children,
So you watch over your Church.

Bless these women, that they may be strengthened as people of faith sharing life with those around them.
Let their example of faith and love shine forth.

Grant that we, their sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, friends and family – honor them always, with a spirit of profound respect,
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

AMEN.

Source: Holy Family’s Mother Day Blessing