Prayers for John Paul

Well, we all are waiting for John Paul Xavier Stanley's arrival. He is officially due on January 20th. So we anxiously await in these final days! I never realized how long it would feel as we wait these final days :)

As we await his arrival, we invite you to join us in prayer for John Paul's safe delivery, for his health, and for the safety and health of his birth mother. We also ask you to pray for his birth family as this will be a very difficult, yet heroic moment in their lives.

Please, if you would like, join us in one or two of these prayers.

Prayers for John Paul Xavier: 
Through the intercession of Blessed Pope John Paul:

O Holy Trinity,
we thank you for having given to the Church
Pope John Paul II,
and for having made him shine with your fatherly tenderness,
the glory of the Cross of Christ and the splendor of the Spirit of love

He, trusting completely in your infinite mercy
and in the maternal intercession of Mary, has shown himself
in the likeness of Jesus the Good Shepherd
and has pointed out to us holiness
as the path to reach eternal communion with You.

Grant us, through his intercession,
according to your will, the grace that we implore (for John Paul Xavier & his birth family),
in the hope that he will soon be numbered among your saints.
Amen.

Prayers for John Paul Xavier, while in the womb, and for all those expecting:
Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb 
(outside of the Mass)

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.

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.

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.

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.

~found in January's Magnificat