In researching the section on bridal mysticism for my new book, I have been looking at von Zinzendorf, founder of the Moravian brethren. Some of his ideas are odd, but the Moravians celebrated as sacred all aspects of  sexual life.

Von Zinzendorf, reflecting on the passage in Luke which says that John the Baptist leapt in his mother’s womb when she heard the voice of the God-Bearer, Mary,

“believed that this indicated that the spiritual life can begin in utero. In the Moravian communities, pregnant women received special guidance and instruction from old women. The pregnant Sisters held regular devotions that included hymns about the Christ child in Mary’s womb and at Mary’s breast. The devotions were for the embryos and infants as well as the mothers.”

And

“once a year, on July 2, there was a special festival for the pregnant women, the young mothers, and the suckling children all together. The babbling of the children was considered part of the liturgy and a reminder that Christ called for his followers to have the faith of children.”

(Craig Atwood, “The Union of Masculine and Feminne in Zinzendorfian Piety”)

Perhaps churches could have a blessing of pregnant mothers on the feast of the Annunciation.

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