Prayer to St. Gerard Majella, Patron Saint of Trying to Conceive and Pregnant Women

Reading time: 12 minutes · Updated: Oct 22, 2023 by Anna Rapp

If you’ve ever heard of any Catholic Saint that is dedicated to helping women who want to become mothers get pregnant- you’ve probably heard of St. Gerard. When I was struggling with infertility and had my first miscarriage, I think multiple grandmas and great-aunties sent me prayer cards of St. Gerard Majella! And boy, did I start praying!

Saint Gerard Patron Saint of Fertility, Infertility, and those trying to conceive #fertility #fertilityprayer #fertilitysaint

First, a quick intro to me, in case you found your way here via Google. My name is Anna, and after two years of infertility and miscarriages the doctors gave me no hope (menopause at 32, blah, blah, bad eggs,etc., etc., High FSH, low AMH, low antral follicle count, endometriosis, repeated loss, MTHFR, etc., etc.).

I did absolutely EVERYTHING you can think of to get happier, healthier, and more fertile, and you know what? I got pregnant, naturally! In about 2.5 months. And then, when my baby was 2, I did it all again. I now have two gorgeous miracle children. I credit them to the miracle of GOD through prayer and the intercession of the saints, and to my hard work on diet, mind-body work, and de-toxing our lifestyles from harmful chemicals.

Anyway, I’m so happy you are here! Back to St. Gerard . . .

Don’t miss my 21 Fertility Prayers for Catholics!

Table of Contents

St. Gerard, Patron Saint of those Trying to Conceive

If you are looking for a Patron Saint to pray with during your fertility journey, you don’t have to look any further than St. Gerard. He is known as the Mother’s Saint, and he is the perfect Saint to work with from the first moment your heart stirs in desire for children, til your last dying breath as a mother.

He will intercede to God on your behalf to conceive, to carry a healthy pregnancy, for an easy and safe labor, and for all number of mothering anxieties and desires.

His Feast Day is October 16th, and he is not only the patron saint of women wishing to conceive and of expectant mothers, but also of mothers, children, unborn children, falsely accused people, and good confessions.

Just a note here- as Catholics, we don’t pray TO the Saints, they are not God. In prayer, we always go to JESUS, but it helps to bring some friends along the way. St. Gerard is a good friend to have on your fertility journey.

Praying with Catholic Saints. #fertility #catholic #fertiltiysaints #saints

Life of St. Gerard Majella

St. Gerard was born in Muro Lucano in the area of Naples, Italy in 1726. was a tailor at first, but he sought to become a brother in the Capuchins. They didn’t let him in because he wasn’t healthy enough, but he joined the Redemtorist order in 1749 and had many duties there including tailor, cook, gardener, carpenter, porter, caring for the sick, and sacristan. He was known to be incredibly obedient and devout.

The Most Blessed Sacrament is Christ made invisible. The poor sick person is Christ again made visible.
St. Gerard

The Redemtorists mission was to preach the word of God to the poor, and St. Gerard was especially devoted to the poor and needy. He spent much of his time feeding the hungry, and many of his miracles are about multiplying loaves or wheat in this service.

He died at a young age of 29 from tuberculosis. Before his death he asked that a small sign be placed on his door that said, “Here, the will of God is done, as God wills, and as long as God wills.”

St. Gerard was beatified in 1893 by Pope Leo XIII and canonized in 1904 by Pope Saint Pius X.

Prayer to St. Gerard When Trying to Conceive

Fertility & Pregnancy Miracles of St. Gerard Majella

St. Gerard is credited with many miracles during his lifetime, including curing illnesses, restoring the life of a boy who had died, walking on water, multiplying loaves of bread for the hungry, and reading people’s hearts.

But personally, I like to know which stories and miracles are relevant to trying to conceive, so I can contemplate them! As with most fertility saints, his miracles in his life are mostly about childbirth, but the fertility miracles happen in his intercession from heaven.

The first is this-

St. Gerard was visiting some family friends and he left his handkerchief behind. One of the daughters called out to him with it, but he said, “Keep it. It will be useful to you some day.” Years later the girl was in danger of dying during childbirth. She called for her handkerchief, and as soon as she had it the danger passed, and she delivered a healthy baby.

The second is a general story of a mother and unborn child who were in danger who were saved through the intercession of St. Gerard’s prayers during his life.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much else to find out about him! He is, however, credited with conceptions across the world, and people come from around the world to thank him for their babies. Check out this picture posted on Google Images of the Room of Bows in his church and shrine in Italy, where mother’s leave bows in thankfulness for their miracles.

St. Gerard, Patron Saint of Pregnant Women and those Trying to Conceive

Praying with St. Gerard Majella

Walk in his footsteps by seeking out ways to be obedient to God’s will. Perhaps meditate or journal on this. What is God’s will in your life? How can you be obedient, and joyful?
Honor him by caring for the sick and needy. Spend some time volunteering with the homeless or hungry. Cook meals, or donate your money to a local food shelter.
Learn more about him! Read a book about St. Gerard, or spend time online reading different stories of his life and miracles, to get to know him better.
Carry his prayer card (this is the one I used), wear his medal, or carry his token in your pocket or purse. I liked to keep physical reminders on my person when I was working with Saints on my fertility journey. I would keep the prayer card propped up on my desk at work, and I would wear his medal. I also wore his medal through both of my births!
Say a novena to him. This is a nine-day prayer, a traditional one is posted below. You can do this any time of the year, but you can start on October 7th to end on October 15th, the eve of his feast day.
Go to mass on his Feast Day, October 16 and offer the celebration up for his intercession. See if any churches near you do any special St. Gerard events.
Visit one of his shrines or churches dedicated to him. St. Lucy’s Church in New Jersey has a Shrine to St. Gerard and a big annual St. Gerard festival every year that looks awesome. If you go to Italy, go to his church in Materdomini, where his body is on display. If his intercession helps you get pregnant, go there and leave a blue or pink bow in the “room of bows” to give thanks for your miracle.

St. Gerard Prayer To Get Pregnant

O good St Gerard, powerful intercessor before God and wonder worker of our day, confidently I call upon you and seek your aid. On Earth you always fulfilled God’s designs, help me now to do the holy will of God. Implore the Master of Life, from whom all parenthood proceeds, to render me fruitful in offspring, that I may raise up children to God in this life, and in the world to come, heirs to the Kingdom of His Glory. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Gerard to Get Pregnant while trying to conceive #fertility #fertilitysaint #ttc

Traditional Novena to St. Gerard Majella

St. Gerard Novena – Day 1

Saint Gerard, ever full of faith obtain for me that , believing firmly all that the Church of God proposes to my belief, I may strive to secure through a holy life the joys of eternal happiness.

Say Nine Hail Marys.