A Mother’s Prayers

I recently found this prayer tucked away in the back of my Liturgy of the Hours volume. I must have printed it off from some website, but I have no memory of doing so and thus don’t recall where I found it. But I’ve started praying it every morning at the end of my morning devotions.

O God the Father of mankind, who hast given me these my children, and committed them to my charge to bring them up for Thee, and to prepare them for eternal life: help me with Thy heavenly grace, that I may be able to fulfill this most sacred duty and stewardship.

Teach me both, what to give and what to withhold; when to reprove and when to forbear; make me to be gentle, yet firm; considerate and watchful; and deliver me equally from the weakness of indulgence, and the excess of severity; and grant that, both by word and by example, I may be careful to lead them in the ways of wisdom and true piety.

Pour Thy grace into their hearts, and strengthen and multiply in them the gifts of Thy Holy Spirit, that they may daily grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ; and so, faithfully serving Thee here, may come to rejoice in Thy presence hereafter.

Amen.

I also pray this prayer to St. Joseph, whose origins I’m also a little foggy on.

O dear and good St. Joseph who so lovingly cared for your little family at Nazareth, pray for all working men and their families. [and especially for Dom and our family, or daddy and our family, if I’m saying it with Bella] Help us all to enjoy a happy Christian family life. Be a father to us all and watch over us even as you cherished the Blessed Virgin Mary and her Holy Child. Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my heart and soul.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.