Feast of San Gerardo Maiella

San Gerardo Maiella, ora pro nobis

October 16th is the Feast of San Gerardo Maiella, Confessor. Patron Saint of Muro Lucano in Provincia di Potenza, he is also the patron of children, expectant mothers, motherhood, good confessions and the falsely accused. In celebration, I'm posting a prayer for expectant mothers.(1) The accompanying photo of the Saint was taken during the 2012 Feast of Saint Gerard at St Lucy's Church, National Shrine of Saint Gerard in Newark, New Jersey. Evviva San Gerardo Maiella!

Prayer For Motherhood

O good St. Gerard, powerful intercessor before God and Wonderworker of our day, I call upon thee and seek thy aid. Thou who on earth didst always fulfill God's designs, help me to do the holy Will of God. Beseech the Master of Life, from Whom all paternity proceedeth, to render me fruitful in offspring that I may raise up children to God in this life and heirs to the Kingdom of His Glory in the world to come. Amen.

(1) Prayer For Motherhood was reprinted from The Feast of St Gerard Maiella, C.Ss.R.: A Century of Devotion at St. Lucy's, Newark, New Jersey by Reverend Thomas D. Nicastro, The History Press, 2012, p. 148