Our Lady "Help in Childbirth"

Icon of the Mother of God "Pomozhenie Maternity", or Our Lady "Help in Childbirth", is a miraculous image, residing in the Cathedral of St. Nicholas White in Serpukho near Moscow. It is also known as Our Lady Help of Birth, and Icon of the Mother of God, Assistant in Childbirth.

The image is venerated for help in successful childbirth, for severe complications in pregnancy, and healing from infertility. The faithful pray before the icon for mothers during pregnancy and at childbirth.

Every Saturday, the image is reverenced and consecrated with holy water at the cathedral.

+ + +

Prayer to Mary to Have a Child

This is the privilege I now seek, Mary!

Confidently I beg you to assist me, for I know that motherhood is so precious in your sight. And confidently, too, I hope for this blessing through your Divine Son, since Jesus is the lover of the little children and has said that we should allow them to come to Him.

It is for this blessing that I beg you to join to my petitions your own holy intercession, that I might be privileged to bring to Jesus a little one such as He so dearly loves, that He may bless it, that He may bless me, also, in my motherhood, and that He may then make us both grow in the wonders of His divine life.

Mother of Mothers, Pray for Me!

+ + +

Consecration of an Unborn Child to Jesus and Mary

Dear Blessed Mother, we gather here in your presence and in the presence of your Son, the Almighty God, here present in the Tabernacle and in our hearts. We ask you, Blessed Mother, in union with your Spouse, the Holy Spirit, to be the safeguard of this little child at birth and throughout its life. We ask you, dear Lady, to keep your mantle over this little one as well as (name), the mother. We come to you to consecrate this child to your Immaculate Heart and to the Heart of your Son. Please give this child your special blessing now and for eternity, and guard it from all the evils of the world. Amen.

+ + +

Prayer For One In Childbirth

Hail, O Queen of Heaven, Mother of Mercy, Consolation of life, and Joy of them that love you! To you do we cry for this poor sufferer. In your maternal goodness, take pity on her. Abandon her not in her pains, since she places a childlike confidence in you. Through your own blessed delivery and your Divine Son, stand by her and gladden her with a happy delivery, that she may gratefully praise your kindness!

In all our troubles and necessities, we fly to you for help, O Blessed Virgin Mary. Amen.