"40 Days for Life" took place in the United States from September 23rd to November 1st. It is an initiative of the US pro-life movement in which prayer vigils are carried out in front of abortion clinics for 40 days, where people pray, fast, and ask for an end to abortion.
Four concurrent campaigns have been organized since 2007, with participation in the US, five Canadian provinces, Ireland, and Australia. For the 2009 Fall Campaign, prayer vigils were scheduled to take place simultaneously in front of 212 clinics.
In Jacksonville, Florida, the 40 Days for Life began on September 26th with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Victor Galeone. At the end of mass, a procession with the Blessed Sacrament was led from Assumption Parish, where the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mothercurrently work, to a Women's Help Center. Two hundred people took part in the procession. The Knights of Columbus participated, along with many youth, people from the pro-life movement, and members of the Home of the Mother. The bishop gave his blessing to all those present -- and in this way, the procession ended and "40 Days for Life" began.
