The Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb

At the request of His Eminence Francis Eugene Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, at the time President of the Conference of Bishops of the United States of America, in a letter dated December 12, 2008, and by virtue of the faculty granted to this Congregation by the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, we gladly approve and confirm the English text of the Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb, as found in the attached copy.

All things to the contrary notwithstanding.

From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, December 8, 2011.

Released by the USCCB just in time for Mothers' Day.

This is a lovely and much needed prayer (which Deacon Greg excerpted for us):

[For the unborn child]:
God, author of all life,bless, we pray, this unborn child; give constant protection and grant a healthy birth that is the sign of our rebirth one day into the eternal rejoicing of heaven.

[For the mother]:
Lord, who have brought to this woman the wondrous joy of motherhood, grant her comfort in all anxiety and make her determined to lead her child along the ways of salvation.

[For the father]:
Lord of the ages,who have singled out this man to know the grace and pride of fatherhood, grant him courage in this new responsibility, and make him an example of justice and truth for this child.

[For the family]:
Lord, endow this family with sincere and enduring love as they prepare to welcome this child into their midst.

Lord, you have put into the hearts of all men and women of good will a great awe and wonder at the gift of new life; fill this (parish) community with faithfulness to the teachings of the Gospel and new resolve to share in the spiritual formation of this child in Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.