Prayer of a Mother before being Delivered of a Child

LORD GOD and Father in heaven! The time has now come when, by Thy will, I must travail in labor. To Thine Almighty care do I resign myself with body and soul. Deal with me according to the good pleasure of Thy Fatherly will, and as Thou knowest it to be good for me. O Lord Jesus Christ, when Thou hadst instituted Thy Holy Sacrament, Thou didst in Thy parting words to Thy disciples, speak of the labor and anxiety of the woman about to be delivered, and also of her joy after the birth of the child, in order that Thou mightest comfort Thy Christians in their tribulations. I beseech Thee, by Thine agony and bloody sweat, by Thy death on the cross, strengthen me with the help and comfort of Thy Holy Spirit, in order that also I, after the anxiety and pain is past, may be made glad at the sight of the new-born babe, and the deliverance from my pain. But, if (indeed) the hour of my death has come, and I must give up my life in the travail, I pray Thee with all my heart not to let Thy bitter suffering and death be in vain for me, a poor sinner. My husband and my helpless little children I commend to (Thy care) Thee, who art called the Father of the orphans.

For I know that only while I live, am I to (have) care of them. Therefore, into Thy Fatherly hand do I entrust and commit everything; as Thou wiliest, it is all well. Should longer life be vouchsafed me, I will serve Thee as long as I am in this world. If I now die, it is Thou who takest me in my appointed station to eternal life. To Thee, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, be glory, praise, and honor, now and forevermore. Amen.