As we prepare to honor the caregiving women in our lives on Mother’s Day, join the Notre Dame family in praying a novena for mothers. A novena is a prayer offered on nine successive days for a specific intention. This novena was written to ask for the intercession of Notre Dame, our Mother, and begins on May 3rd. Participate by offering the prayer and artwork posted for each day through Mother’s Day, May 11th.
To learn more about Notre Dame’s connection to Mother’s Day and the prayer practice of novenas, see the link below.
For a reflection on the gospel of the day, you can sign up for our free Daily Gospel Reflection email at faith.nd.edu/signup.
Day 1: The Birth of the Virgin
Mary, born of Saints Ann and Joachim, we pray today for all who turn to you in troubling times. Help us to accept the Holy Spirit in our lives, as you did, to be examples of faith to all, especially those entrusted to our care. Amen.
Day 2: Annunciation
Mary of the Annunciation, we pray today for our mothers and for all women who wish to become mothers. Bless those couples struggling with infertility, those hoping for a child, and each one of us with the consoling joy of the Spirit you found in surrendering to the will of God.
Day 3: Visitation
Mary of the Visitation, we pray today for the support of all mothers raising children. May they receive the warm welcome and material assistance of family members and their communities in the sacred task that has been entrusted to them.
Day 4: Mary of the Nativity
Mary of the Nativity of your child Jesus, we pray today for all pregnant women preparing for child birth and those who have welcomed a newborn child, particularly for those experiencing complications or difficulties. Inspire those who suffer and those who rejoice to trust in God’s loving plan for our lives.
Day 5: Mary of the Flight into Egypt
Mary of the Flight into Egypt, we pray today for all those who are displaced from their homes especially mothers and children. By the example of the protection you and your spouse, Joseph, provided for our Lord, strengthen them and be their hope in their time of need.
Day 6: Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows
Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, we pray today for our mothers and for all those who are grieving the loss of a family member, particularly mothers and fathers who grieve their children, just as you did when your son was crucified. Welcome all of our loved ones with open arms into the joy of your Son’s kingdom.
Day 7: Our Lady of Lourdes
Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, we pray today for our mothers and for all families who are in the midst of trials: medical difficulties, brokenness, discord or pain. Bring into their lives the healing that has been offered to so many through your apparition at Lourdes. Bless all of us with your peace and your trust in God, even in the midst of infirmity and pain.
Day 8: Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, we pray today for mothers across borders. Inspire us to look beyond our own communities to love and support mothers in all places, especially the poor and marginalized, as you cared for the vulnerable indigenous people at the time of your apparition in Tepeyac.
Day 9: Mary, Mother of God
Mary, Mother of God, we pray today that your motherhood of Jesus, truly God and truly human, might inspire us to imitate God’s care for all of creation, just as you so perfectly modeled for us in you care for God’s only Son. We pray today in thanksgiving for our mothers, our grandmothers, for religious women, and for our female mentors who have cared for us with your tender love. Through your intercession, may God bless our mothers on earth with abundant life and those mothers who have departed from this life with the eternal joys of life in heaven.