“Lord, stretch out your hand and complete the work that you have begun”
Oh, eternal God, Father of infinite goodness, who instituted marriage to propagate the human species and to populate the sky, and who destined our sex to this task, wanting that our fecundity be one of the marks of your blessing, I am pleading of You, whom I love and adore.
I want to thank you for the child I carry in my belly. Lord, stretch out your hand and complete the work that you have begun.
May your Providence be with me through a continual assistance to the fragile creature whom You confided to me until the hour of your arrival into the world . At this moment, God of my life, help me and guard my weakness with your mighty hand. Receive, then, my son and guard him until he enters, through Baptism , into the bosom of the Church, your wife.
Oh, savior of my soul, that during your mortal life you loved the children and so many times took them in your arms, take my child also, so that, having you as a father, she may sanctify your name and participate in the your kingdom. I consecrate my / my child with all my heart and I entrust you to your infinite love.
Your righteousness has beheld Eve and all the women who are born of her in great pains. I accept, Lord, all the sufferings you give me at this moment and I humbly beg you for the Immaculate Virgin, that my moment of giving birth will be blessed for me and for this child you will give me.
And you, Blessed Virgin, Most Holy Mother of Our Savior, honor and glory of our sex, intercede with your Divine Son, so that He may attend, in His infinite mercy, my humble prayer.
I ask you, for the virginal love you had for Joseph, your holy husband, and for the infinite merits of the birth of your Divine Son.
Holy Angels charged with watching over me and for my son, protect and lead us so that, through his help, we may someday come to the glory of which you enjoy and to praise our common Lord, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of St. Francis de Sales originally published by Radio Maria , translated and adapted to Portuguese by Aleteia.
