Goals & Purpose
The goal of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers is not simply to unite mothers in prayer, but also to instruct, educate and inspire mothers in performing their duties and in practicing virtue.
Meeting Information
Meetings occur once per month.
Contact Geralyn Sherman for more details.
(605) 201-1512 or geralyn_sherman@hotmail.com
At our meetings:
- We pray for our families.
- We learn about our Catholic Faith through readings and discussions. Sometimes, Father will come and speak.
- We listen, support, and advise our mothers in managing the daily struggles of life in accordance with God’s will.
- We discuss the truths of the Catholic Faith.
- We inspire our mothers to live out and teach their families their Catholic Faith.
History
It was at a time, about the middle of the 19th Century, when the modern forces undermining family life first began to lift their heads that the Christian Mothers reacted in a spiritual and spiritualizing movement. It was a movement of self-defense and self-preservation.
In various parts of France, and especially in Lille, mothers began to gather to pray with and for one another and their children to discuss their problems and to advise one another regarding the Christian rearing of their children.
The movement gradually solidified and on May 1, 1850, the first conference of Christian Mothers was held in Lille, France.
Parents’ Prayer for Their Children
O good God, we thank You, that You have given us children, made them heirs of Heaven by holy Baptism, and entrusted their training to us. Fill us with a sense of responsibility; assist us in the care of their health, but especially in the preservation of their innocence and purity of heart.
Grant that we may teach them early to know and serve You, and to love You with their whole heart. May You in Your generosity, see fit to grant to at least one of our children the grace of a vocation in religion.
Grant that we, ourselves, may carefully avoid all that we must forbid them, and may faithfully practice all that we should teach them. Help us to further at home by example the work of the priests, religious, and lay teachers in Church and in school.
Give us the spirit of sacrifice to study with our children. Never allow us to grow soft, nor to make life too easy for our sons and daughters. Help us to teach them the eternal value of self-discipline.
We commend them, O God, to Your paternal care, to the motherly protection of the Virgin Mary, and to the guardianship of Your holy angels. Bless our efforts, O Heavenly Father, and let our children advance in wisdom and age and grace before You and men.
Amen.