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Dear Deacon, There is so much momentum heading into the closing
weekend of 40 Days for Life! Tonight, I am speaking in Los Angeles at a 40 Days for
Life event. Then tomorrow, I head back to the East Coast
for a closing event outside of a late-term abortion
facility in Maryland. With just a few days left, are you getting a little tired? If so, please remember to pray and prepare your hearts
as we enter into what Fulton Sheen called "the week that
changed the world." Next week, our commemoration of the
passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus reassure us of
victory over death. SO ... are you ready for a few more stories of the
Lord's amazing blessings? Here goes!
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MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
------------------------------------------------------- A young couple had arrived for an appointment at Planned
Parenthood in Memphis. On their way into the building,
they declined to talk. But a little while later, the man
walked outside. This time, one of the counselors was able to strike up
a conversation. He confirmed that the young woman was
there for an abortion. The counselor gave him information
about resources that are available in Memphis. He thanked
her and went back inside. Less than ten minutes later, the couple walked out of
Planned Parenthood. The young man raised his arms, smiled and exclaimed,
"We're not going to do it!" The vigil participants waved as the couple drove off.
But then they made a quick stop and circled back into
the parking lot. It seems they'd gotten a phone call
from Planned Parenthood. They may have called off the
abortion, but they still owed $100 for the clinic visit! That should tell you something about Planned Parenthood. "But this did not dampen the young father's spirits,"
said Kerry in Memphis. "Before he drove off again, he
gave two thumbs-up to the vigil-goers."
-------------------------------------------------------
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
------------------------------------------------------- Lisa, a sidewalk counselor at the 40 Days for Life vigil
in Charlotte, just got a text from a young woman who had
chosen life for her child. "Hi! How are you?" she wrote. "I'm happy I didn't do it.
I want you and the people that you were with to know that
it meant the whole world to me to know that you all care
about me, not even knowing me. Thanks! I hope to hear
from you soon." Of course, Lisa got back in touch right away and scheduled
some more time to talk. Anytime is fine, the young woman
replied, because if it weren't for the people praying,
"I would have done a really bad thing." "I hope this is as encouraging to y'all as it was to me,"
said Lisa.
-------------------------------------------------------
HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY
------------------------------------------------------- Louise writes on the 40 Days for Life blog that she
went to church one morning recently and spotted several
members of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal -- a
religious order that, among other things, is noted for
its strong pro-life stand. "Right then and there, I knew something special would
happen today," she said. The friars left church and
headed to the 40 Days for Life vigil. "We noticed a young couple approaching the building,
the woman crying the man consoling her," she wrote.
"Two counselors started to speak with them. As time
passed, prayers became more and more intense within
all of us there. You could just feel the Holy Spirit's
presence among us." One family brought their baby over and the woman cried
some more. An hour later, the couple went inside to
cancel their appointment. "You just had to be there to feel God's presence all
around us," Louise said. "I don't think anyone who
witnessed that hour will ever be the same."
Today's devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, national
director of Priests for Life.
------------------------------------------------------
DAY 37 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------ We are the defenders of true freedom. May our witness
unveil the deception of the "pro-choice" slogan.
------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------ Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is liberty. -- 2 Corinthians 3:17
------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
------------------------------------------------------ Norma McCorvey (the former Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade)
used to work at an abortion mill named "A Choice for
Women." She now realizes what a cruel irony that title
was. She saw first hand, just as pregnancy resource center
counselors see, that women don't get abortions because
of freedom of choice, but rather because they feel
they have no freedom and no choice. They feel trapped, abandoned, desperate and afraid,
and have been led to believe that abortion is their
only option. As Frederica Mathewes-Green has written, no want wants
an abortion like she wants a Porsche or an ice cream;
rather, she wants it like an animal caught in a trap
wants to gnaw off its own leg. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
That doesn't mean that the Spirit allows us to do
whatever we want or to decide for ourselves what's
right and wrong. Rather, it means that the Spirit gives us the freedom
to do what is right, the power to choose what is good,
when we see it before us and yet feel pulled in the
opposite direction. Liberty means that we no longer
have to feel doomed to do what we know is wrong. We are the people of the Spirit of the Lord, and when
we take action on behalf of life, especially by being
present at abortion mills, we are acting on behalf of
true freedom, and imparting to those who are in
bondage the power to do what is right.
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------ Come, Holy Spirit. You are the Spirit of freedom, the
source of all that is good, the power to do what is
right. Fill us, and fill those who are in bondage today,
feeling doomed to do what is wrong. Set them free, and help us to hasten them on the road
to freedom, where your grace overcomes every
temptation. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------ To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day37print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------ Yours for Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: I'm really enjoying your stories of local 40 Days
for Life campaigns posted on the 40 Days for Life blog.
If you have news to share, please reply to today's
entry at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2053
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
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