New prayer book for mothers launched

Oct 13, 2005 / 22:00 pm

A new book of prayer, dedicated to mothers and influenced by the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, is now available is bookstores.

"Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers" by Donna Cooper O’Boyle features traditional and original prayers, includes quotes from Pope John Paul II and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, and offers moms advice and encouragement as it discusses the gifts, sacrifices and sorrows of motherhood, reports the New Times.

"How does a mother inundated with family really have time for prayer? She really needs to transform her life into a prayer," said the mother of five and longtime friend of Mother Teresa.

"Our society today devalues the role of the mother because we judge value by the size of the paycheck," she told the newspaper.

But the book tries "to help mothers be at peace being a mother, just knowing that the role at the heart of the home is a significant role," she added.

Cooper O'Boyle's friendship with Mother Teresa began almost 20 years ago when she and her family were in Washington, D.C., visiting AIDS and cancer patients at a convent of the Missionaries of Charity. Their meeting at mass one morning struck the young mother, who eventually sent Mother Teresa a letter.

"Lo and behold, I got a letter back," she told the New Times. "She wrote with bits of advice and direction and asking for prayer and offering prayer."

Cooper O'Boyle had received 22 letters and a personal phone call from Mother Teresa and had seen her on 12 occasions, meeting privately with her a couple of times before she died.

The key to Mother Teresa's success in her work, Cooper O'Boyle says, "boils down to her saying yes to God."

Cooper O’Boyle will hold a book signing at Borders Bookstore in Danbury Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.

"Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers" is available at www.osv.com

and local bookstores.