the patron saint of motherhood

Have you ever heard of Saint Gerard? No? Well, neither had I until about two weeks ago when I received a prayer card in the mail from one of my sweet Mitten Kittens.

O good Saint Gerard, powerful intercessor before God and wonder- worker of our day, I call upon you and seek your aid. You, who on earth always fulfilled God's designs, help me to do the holy Will of God. Ask the Master of Life, from whom all paternity proceeds, 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. 

Powerful words, don't you agree? I have to admit, I get choked up almost every time I read this little card. It's been seven long months of trying to conceive. And while that may not seem like a very long time to you, to this girl it seems like an eternity. Seven, now eight, months of being on a schedule. Seven months of waiting. Seven straight let-downs. Seven months of reading and trying every possible conceiving trick/advice there is. Seven months of unanswered prayers. Seven months of trying again. Had I not miscarried, perhaps my attitude would be different. But, you see, I should be a mommy right now. So seven months, to me, IS an eternity.

It's funny how we receive certain things in our lives at just the right moment. I can't even explain how much hope this little card, and the potent prayer it contains, has given me. See how tattered  loved the card is? It's been in many hands before mine. It has history! More importantly, this card, this prayer, has brought women the happiness they desperately sought, and now has found its way to my hands. I've been told a couple of the stories behind this very card, and better yet, I'm currently witnessing firsthand one of its miracles. My dear friend suffered three miscarriages (all before 11 weeks), but is now 21 weeks pregnant! O good Saint Gerard is right!

We shall see what Saint Gerard has in store for me. He has a permanent spot on my nightstand so that twice daily I can absorb the comforting words, and gently be reminded there are many times in our lives we need to let go and put our full trust in Him.