In 1917, the United States government initiated a campaign called “baby week,” during which the children’s bureau promoted the well-being of babies in an effort to reduce infant mortality.
Also, they hoped that the campaigns would help babies in need of necessary medical care, as well as reaching out to pregnant mothers in the local community.
They even printed a prayer, written by Walter Rauschenbusch, in their “Baby Week Campaign” booklet, which was a government sponsored publication.
We can take this prayer as our own and continue to pray for babies, both born and unborn, that they may be protected from all danger.
O God, since Thou hast laid the little children into our arms in utter helplessness with no protection, save our love, we pray that the sweet appeal of their baby hands may not be in vain.
Let no innocent life in our city be quenched again in useless pain, through our ignorance and sin. May we who are mothers or fathers seek eagerly to join wisdom to our love, lest love itself be deadly when unguided by knowledge.
Bless the doctors and nurses and all the friends of men, who are giving of their skill and devotion to the care of our children. If there are any who were kissed by love in their own infancy but who have no child to whom they may give as they have received, grant them such largeness of sympathy that they may rejoice to pay their debt in full to all children who have need of them.
Forgive us our Father for the heartlessness of the past. Grant us great tenderness for all babies who suffer and a growing sense of the divine mystery that is brooding in the soul of every child. Amen.
And today we celebrate...