Leading up to Mother’s Day on May 12, FaithND will offer a novena to pray for our mothers, grandmothers, and for those who have been mothers to us on our spiritual and personal journeys. We invite you to join us in praying with Mary and eight other holy women. See the full novena here.

NOVENA PRAYER
Mary, Our Mother, by accepting the invitation to bear God’s Son to the world, you brought forth new life for all of us. Your faithful acceptance of God’s word is our model and inspiration as we strive to make room in our hearts for your Son and bear him to others. Help us to follow him more closely, even to the foot of the cross, as you did.

During this month dedicated to you, we ask in a special way for you to care for each of our own mothers: (state your personal intention).

Notre Dame, our Mother, we pray today for our mothers and for all recent mothers and mothers with young children, particularly those experiencing post-partum depression or exhaustion. Help them—and each of us—to find room for silence in which to hold in our hearts the life-giving Word of God.
We pray, as in all things, through the name of your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

TODAY’S SAINT

Blessed Anna Rosa Gattorno was born Rosa Gattorno on October 14, 1841 in Genoa, Italy. Rosa was part of a large family who were devoted Christians. She was educated at home. She longed to become a sister, but at the age of twenty-one she was married to her cousin Gerolamo and moved away from Genoa.

Misfortunes struck their family, and Rosa and Gerolamo moved back to Genoa, penniless. Their eldest daughter, Carlotta, was struck ill and left deaf and dumb. Gerolamo fell fatally ill and died while on a business trip abroad.

Rosa called this series of grave misfortunes her conversion moment.

She made vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a Franciscan tertiary. She devoted herself to caring for her children and to visiting the poor and hospitalized, bringing them food, clothing, and medicine.

Many Catholic charitable organizations in Genoa clambered for her help and presence. In 1864, she received the call to create a new Rule for her own religious order. Rosa was terrified of this call, fearing to abandon her children. After speaking with her confessor, the bishop, and even Pius IX, Rosa decided to leave her children in the care of her relatives and founded the “Daughters of St. Anne, mother of Mary Immaculate.” She took the name Anna Rosa, in honor of St. Anne.

Her order spread throughout Europe and Latin America. By her death there were 368 houses of 3,500 sisters, carrying out her mission of care for the poor. Anna Rosa died on May 6, 1900. Throughout her life, although she did not live with her children, she continued to follow their lives with care and devotion, never abandoning her role as mother.

Blessed Anna Rosa Gattorno, religious founder and mother—pray for us!

Visit the Mother’s Day Novena page>>