Pregnancy is undoubtedly a source of joy and excitement but sometimes it can also carry its crosses: morning sickness and pregnancy complications can burden mothers with sufferings. However, these crosses can be great opportunities to get closer to Our Lord and they also provide an opportunity to grow in devotion to saints, which benefits our interior lives. I have compiled a list of saints who have been of profound assistance to me as a midwife and those patients of mine who have faced difficult pregnancies.
Mary, Mater Admirabilis
I usually offer my first Rosary of the day, the Joyful mysteries, for the safe pregnancy and birth experience of the women I look after and for all my relatives and friends. I will invoke the help of Our Lady under her title of “Mater Admirabilis”. This is a very powerful prayer of intercession, giving honour to Our Lady, who was indeed the most admirable of mothers. In humility she accepted the will of God to be mother to Our Incarnate Lord. Not long after her fiat, she embarked “with haste” on a three-day journey to visit her cousin Elisabeth who was also pregnant. The birth of Lord took place in the humblest of conditions, showing from the beginning of her maternity an ardent desire to be united with Our Lord in his humility. Finally, she humbly submitted herself to the law of Moses and waited the eight days of purification before presenting Our Lord to the temple, she who is most pure! There are many feast days dedicated to Our Lady throughout the year so pick one and start your novena.
Saint Joseph
I also pray to St Joseph for pregnancy, being the greatest of the saints after Our Lady. I would particularly encourage fathers-to-be to pray for his intercession, particularly for the protection of the new baby. The diligent protector of Christ, “Christi Defensor sedule” will intercede for the safe keeping of the little ones in the womb and their mother. Saint Joseph’s feast is on 19th March. The novena and the devotion to Saint Joseph’s seven joys and seven sorrows are great sources of grace.
Saint Gerard of Majella
The 18th century Italian saint, Gerard Majella is one of the patron saints of pregnant women. Italian women call him “il santo de felice parti”, the saint of happy childbirth. Saint Gerard Majella is known for his saintly life, characterised by prayer and penance. His last recorded miracle however seems to be the one that has associated him with motherhood. Shortly before his death, Majella had his handkerchief returned by a young girl who, finding it, had set out to return it only to be told to keep it. The Saint told her that she may need it some day. Years after his death, the young girl became married and became pregnant shortly afterwards. She unexpectedly went into labour prematurely and was on the verge of losing her child. She called for Majella's handkerchief to be applied to her. Almost immediately, the pangs of labour disappeared, and she later gave birth to a healthy child. His feast is on the 16th of October. Below is a prayer to ask for his intercession:
“O Great Saint Gerard, beloved servant of Jesus Christ, perfect imitator of your meek and humble Saviour, and devoted Child of the Mother of God: enkindle within my heart one spark of that heavenly fire of charity which glowed in your heart and made you an angel of love. O glorious Saint 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 lustral waters of baptism through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
St. Gianna Beretta Molla
St. Gianna is one of the saints I’m most devoted to. I discovered St. Gianna as a trainee midwife and I invoked her intercession for the first time for a cousin struggling with high blood pressure during her pregnancy. She is a powerful saint and a great example of a self-sacrificial Catholic mother and paediatrician.
Saint Gianna had developed a fibroid tumour on her uterus and she was advised that the only way to save her own life would be to have her uterus removed, which would also lead to the death of her child. She heroically refused this option, and pushed ahead with the pregnancy, desiring only that the child should be born. Towards the end of the pregnancy, St. Gianna did agree to an operation to remove the tumour, only on the grounds that it would pose no risk to the child. She brought her child to term but died of infection not long after as a result of the operation. Her feast day is 28th April.
St Raymond Nonnatus
The name “Nonnatus” may sound familiar as the name of the fictional convent in which the nuns and midwives of the television series “Call the Midwives” live. The name is fitting indeed because Saint Raymond Nonnatus is the patron saint of childbirth, expectant mothers and pregnant women. The appellative “nonnatus” which means “not born” was given to Saint Raymond because he was born via C-section after his mother died trying to give birth to him naturally. His feast day is on 31st August.
St Anne
St. Anne and St. Joachim, the parents of Our Lady are not mentioned in the Bible and little is known about them. However, Church tradition holds that St. Anne was an older woman when Our Lady was born, similarly to her cousin Elizabeth. Mary is said to be their only child and was dedicated to God at a young age. St Anne carried the cross of infertility for many years in an era when the absence of children was seen as a curse inflicted upon those who had displeased God. St. Anne, therefore, is the patron not only of expectant mothers, but also of childless mothers. Those who are struggling to conceive can pray for St. Anne’s intercession and imitate her patient and hopeful piety. Her feast day is on 26th July.
For more information about these great saints you can read “Butler’s life of the Saints” or visit https://thekoalamom.com/2013/02/patron-saints-of-pregnancy-and-childbirth/
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