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 families who are in the midst of trials: medical difficulties, brokenness, discord or pain. Bless all of us with your peace and trust in God’s presence, even in the midst of sorrow.

We pray, as in all things, through the name of your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
TODAY’S SAINT

Hannah, the mother of the renowned prophet Samuel, is a poignant figure from the Old Testament who longs for a child. The First Book of Samuel begins with the story of Hannah, who is the second wife of a man named Elkanah. Elkanah’s first wife, Peninnah, has many children, but Hannah is barren. Peninnah makes fun of Hannah, mocking her for her barrenness, which seen as a curse in ancient Israel. Peninnah mocks Hannah, but Elkanah tries to comfort her—he tells Hannah that he loves her dearly: “am I not better to thee than ten sons?”

But Hannah is inconsolable. She returns to the temple, weeping and praying desperately. Hannah displays her trust in God by vowing, if she is granted a son, to dedicate her child entirely to the Lord. “O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (1 Samuel 1:11).

Eli, the high priest of the temple, sees Hannah weeping and mouthing words and thinks she must be drunk. He approaches her to rebuke her for her debauchery. But Hannah tells him that she is not drunk, only praying. Hannah’s sorrow smites Eli’s heart and he assures her: “Go in peace, the God of Israel will grant you the petition you have asked him” (1 Sam 1:17).

Hannah goes away, comforted. Soon after, she bears a son, and names him Samuel, meaning “asked of God.” When he is still a young boy, Hannah fulfills her vow, bringing him up to the Temple to live there for the rest of his life to serve God.

Hannah breaks into a hymn of praise—a prayer of thanksgiving to God in the tradition of the psalms and the Song of Miriam, upon which Mary’s Magnificat is modeled: “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation” (1 Sam 2:1).

Hannah’s great gift of her son to the people of Israel bore great fruit—Samuel became one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. God rewarded Hannah for her generosity by giving her five more children. Hannah visited Samuel each year when their family came to the temple and brought him a new tunic. Hannah is a model of trust in God’s providence in moments of despair or hardship. Her story is a story of comfort: trusting in God completely, relying on God, even in hard times, will bear fruit one-hundred-fold.

Hannah, mother of the prophet Samuel, pray for us!

Visit the Mother’s Day Novena page>>