SCRIPTURE

Pharaoh then commanded all his people, "Throw into the Nile every boy that is born, but you may let all the girls live."

Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, and the woman conceived and bore a son. Seeing what a fine child he was, she hid him for three months. But when she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket, daubed it with bitumen and pitch, and putting the child in it, placed it among the reeds on the bank of the Nile. His sister stationed herself at a distance to find out what would happen to him. Then Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the Nile, while her attendants walked along the bank of the Nile. Noticing the basket among the reeds, she sent her handmaid to fetch it. On opening it, she looked, and there was a baby boy crying! She was moved with pity for him…She named him Moses; for she said, "I drew him out of the water."

Exodus 1:22 – 2:6, 2:10
 

SILENT REFLECTION

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Bless all expectant mothers
who are placing their children for adoption
and who may also be young and afraid.

They love their children so much
that they are willing to place them
with a loving family.

Bless, too, all the women who already
have shown the sacrificial nature
of a mother's love in making adoption plans
for their children.

Give them all your courage and your peace, through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

PETITION TO ST. JOSEPH

St. Joseph,

Though you must have been troubled
by Mary's news, you trusted in God's promises.

Elizabeth, too, though she was
thought to be barren,
trusted in the promises of God,
and she bore a son, John,
who would herald the arrival of the Messiah.

Hear the prayers of all mothers
who place their children for adoption
and intercede for them
before your adopted Son and Savior.

St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
pray for us.
 

CONCLUDING PRAYERS

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

(back to main novena page)

 

 

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Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2016 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.