Saint Gerard: Patron Saint of Motherhood <http://www.saintgerard.com/index.html>http://www.saintgerard.com/index.html Faith I started this web-site in an attempt to offer much-needed hope and inspiration to moms, moms-to-be, and the many women who pray to be moms someday. My story started as a short one but sixteen children later, it has truly become a rewarding and fulfilling journey. This is What Saint Gerard has Brought Me... This is my story, and I hope it helps to provide the encouragement, strength and support every woman needs in trying to conceive a baby. Shortly after my first son, Nick, was born in 1953, my husband and I decided to have another child. You can imagine our joy as we prepared for the newest additions to our young family. Unfortunately, our twin boys died shortly after birth. This tragedy was followed by a miscarriage five months later. Then, adding to the grief we'd already been forced to endure, my doctor gave me crushing news. He said he believed there was a strong possibility we would not be able to have more children. That's when I first learned about Saint Gerard, the Patron Saint of Motherhood. My doctor's advice was to keep trying and pray to Saint Gerard. He gave me a small Prayer Booklet on the Patron Saint and a Saint Gerard Medal. That's when my prayers began and within the years that followed, I vowed that if Saint Gerard would bring me more children, I would have a mass in his honor every year. Sixteen children later, I am proud to say I have continued to keep my word. This year, my family and I will once again hold our mass in honor of Saint Gerard Majella at my son's home. Our 39 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren are all on hand to help celebrate the annual event. I believe in the power - the miracle - of Saint Gerard. I know he answered my prayers and I believe he has helped countless friends and family members in their efforts to conceive children, too. With every year that passes, our tributary mass to Saint Gerard continues to amaze and reinforces my belief in Saint Gerard. I've watched the mass grow from roughly 50 family members to upwards of 400 participants each year. No one leaves without a loaf of the Saint Gerard bread, which is blessed during the mass, or their Saint Gerard medals. It is believed by some - including myself - that eating the bread may have resulted in babies who were conceived shortly thereafter. This year, once again, the Mass and dedication will be held on the Saturday before Mother's Day, and I look forward to adding to our prayer list the names of more women who believe Saint Gerard can offer them hope and strength. He helped me, and I know he will continue to help others. If you or someone you know wants to be included in our prayers, please e-mail your information to me at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] and your name will be added to our special prayer list. Good luck and I hope to hear from you soon! Sincerely, Josephine Spano <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the Kingdom!<*}}}>< Prayer for Unborn Life: O GOD OF LIFE AND LOVE, You have given us the gift to participate with You to bring new life into the world. But, all too often, the mother's womb, which should be a nursery of life, becomes instead a place of it's destruction. Help us to remove this evil and ensure respect for all life made in Your image and likeness, called to fulfill its promise on this earth, and destined to find a home with you for all eternity. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Our God, Our Savior, and Our ALL. Amen. <http://holypostage.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=37> Christmas Postage from HolyPostage.com <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the Kingdom!<*}}}>< --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Catholics on Fire" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Catholics-on-Fire May the blessing of Jesus and our Blessed Mother be with you -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
