2: Our Lady of Sorrows: Birth in Poverty

 It is another bright and beautiful day today. I wasn't expecting to be called to pray another novena so soon but am really enjoying this one so far! "Another novena?!" I thought, and as days past it was abundantly clear I was being asked to pray this one. When your heart feels unexpected pulls in places of pain, especially when they wake you up at night, that is God speaking to you through that wound. He doesn't want us to have pain and wants to heal our wounds so often speaks through them so we can be open to healing. Sometimes, we like our wounds because it helps us feel sorry for ourselves and pity ourselves and our bad luck...but that's not why Jesus died. He died and took on our wounds to heal us from pain and sin. 

"Yep, the sun is definitely shining!" When you know, you know.

 I took a second rose from Mary's little vase early this morning and set out to bring it as a prayer to a place where people have encountered pain: the Emergency Room next to labor and delivery at a hospital near me. Life can begin there or the beginning of eternal life can begin there. 

Thank you, Mother Mary.

The majority of people in modern countries are born in a nice clean hospital with staff that has received some training. Most nurses and doctors are kind, though not all, and I have seen a good amount of little babies born in the hospitals. Today, I would like to pray for all of the people who are suffering in giving birth in dire circumstances.

St Vincent de Paul, who saved poor babies, pray for us.

Day Two: Sorrows of Birth in Poverty

In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen. 

Heavenly Father hear our prayers today as we pray for healing and strength for our brothers and sisters experiencing unimaginable overwhelming emotional and physical pain today in labor and delivery of their children. Our Lady of Sorrows, you the Mother of Jesus gave birth in poverty among dirty animals. I pray for all fathers to be close to their wife and child as they are in labor and delivery. Please bring comfort and healing to the women in last stages of pregnancy in poverty. I pray for women who will labor and deliver on the street today. I pray for migrant mothers who don't have medical care. I pray for the babies to be protected in the delivery as they are born into instability. I especially pray for all Afghan mothers who just gave birth to their child or will be delivered of their child in the next few days. Please, Mother of Sorrows, hear their cries of help and be near to them. Hold their hands and be near to them in the pain of delivery. I pray for all babies turned the breech position in the womb to have the hands of Mary turn them so that they can be safely delivered. I pray for all babies with umbilical chords wrapped around their necks for the chords to be untied by the hands of Mary. I pray for all mother's who will deliver totally alone today, for Mary to make her presence known in helping that mom have clarity in the movement of her body, her breathing, and delivery of her child. I pray for the spirit of fear to be dispelled from mothers in labor and delivery. Mother of Sorrows, be near to mothers delivering today, especially for the poor, the migrant and Afghan mothers. 

If it be the will of God Almighty, I pray for my special novena intention of (Name your intention). Holy Mother of Sorrows, please intercede for my special intention that is in the depths of my heart.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be a world without end, Amen.