PRAYER SERVICE FOR MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS
Hymn: Come Holy Ghost, Creator blest….
Leader: Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created
All: And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Introduction:
On 26th July we will be celebrating Parent’s Day. On this day we will ask the Lord for special blessings on our parents. In preparation for this festal celebration, we pray today for all the mothers and grandmothers.
Motherhood is one of the most precious gift to a woman that comes from God. Holy Father Pope Francis says, “A mother joins with God to bring forth the miracle of a new life. Motherhood is the fruit of a “particular creative potential of the female body, directed to the conception and birth of a new human being” Also a mother is like the hub of the family wheel that holds the family together. We pray that every woman who has been given this privilege of becoming a mother may be blessed by God and along with us may she thank God for the gift of motherhood or grandmotherhood.
Opening Prayer
Leader: O loving God, you brought peace and joy to the world through the birth of your Son. In a very extraordinary way you chose Mother Mary to play a special role in your Son’s life to be born amongst us. Today as we pray for our mummy/mama/mother/ grandma we give thanks to you for her/ them. Please fill her/them with holy joy and keep her/them safe from harm. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gospel Luke 1:26-38 (Use the Bible for reading: Any language)
Leader: A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.
The word of the Lord
Reflection: Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus and she responded favourably to God’s invitation. Pope Francis in his apostolic exhortation ‘Love in the family’ mentions: “Mothers…testify to the beauty of life.” “A mother who watches over her child with tenderness and compassion helps him or her to grow in confidence and to experience that the world is a good and welcoming place. This helps the child to grow in self-esteem and, in turn, to develop a capacity for intimacy and empathy.”
Certainly, “a society without mothers would be dehumanized, for mothers are always … witnesses to tenderness, dedication and moral strength. Mothers often communicate the deepest meaning of religious practice in the first prayers and acts of devotion that their children learn… Without mothers… faith itself would lose a good part of its simple and profound warmth… Dear mothers: Thank you for what you are in your family and for what you give to the Church and the world. May the Holy Spirit fill you all mothers with tenderness, compassion and love.
Moment of Sharing: The mother or grandmother may share some feelings/ incidents on the joys of motherhood. (after this maintain a brief period of silence)
Hymn: God is so good (3), he’s so good to me. God cares for me (3), he’s so good to me.
I love Him so, (3), he’s so good to me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBMi42a_kpc or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq6I0ceM92A
Prayers of the Faithful
Leader: Trusting in God’s love for us, we now offer God our prayers and petitions.
Our Response: Lord hear our prayer.
Reader: For our Holy Father Pope Francis, Bishops, priests, deacons, religious sisters that they may provide motherly tenderness, compassion and love to their flock. We pray: Lord hear our prayer
Reader: Lord, bless all mothers. Grant them good health and true happiness. We pray: Lord hear our prayer.
Reader: For all women who are longing for motherhood, grant them a child and for those pregnant a safe delivery. We pray: Lord hear our prayer
Reader: Lord, be especially present to mothers in the world who are sick, suffering, or afraid. Please send your Holy Spirit to comfort and heal them. We pray: Lord hear our prayer
Reader: Lord, reward all mothers who have died. Welcome them into your heavenly kingdom We pray: Lord hear our prayer
Pray 3 Hail Mary
Closing Prayer: O loving and compassionate God, we thank you for the gift of our mothers/ grandmothers who care for us and love us so much. Lord, shower upon them your abundant blessings; especially on my mummy (N) grandmother (N), mother-in-law (N). Lord grant them good health, happiness, peace and long life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Final gesture: The mothers will now bless their child/ren.
Dismissal: May the Lord bless us and keep us in His loving care and protection. Amen
Final Hymn: Any hymn to Mother Mary.