Here’s a picture of me and baby Patrick, one of the children saved from abortion,
as a thanks to YOU for all you have done over these 40 days …
and as a reminder of what this campaign is really all about.
Dear Deacon, Well, the largest 40 Days for Life campaign ever is
history -- for now! What an amazing 40-day journey we've been on, as
247 cities in nine countries prayed, fasted, stood
vigil and conducted outreach to end abortion. Thanks to YOU for responding to the Holy Spirit this
spring! These efforts have been richly blessed. I just got home late last night from speaking at the
closing event in Germantown, Maryland. Before that,
I was in Los Angeles, California at a closing rally. The L.A. rally lasted into the night. It was too
dark for my video camera -- but I do have the audio
from that event for you. As you listen to the audio recording, you'll hear the
incredible story about how 40 Days for Life began for
me personally this spring ... ... and the HUGE blessing in how it ended for me --
meeting TWO of the babies saved from abortion during
previous campaigns in Orange, California! Along with the audio, I've included a picture of me and
baby Patrick as a thanks to YOU for all you have done
over these 40 days ... and as a reminder of what this
campaign is really all about. Here's a link to the audio and the photo from
California: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2115
I hope you get lots of encouragement as we all discern
how to move forward from here! 40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that
recognizes abortion as a local problem ... and you have
shown the willingness to act on your faith to be the
local solution. Many cities that have conducted 40 Days for Life
campaigns have asked ... ... "What's next?" Here are some of the things going on in just a few of
the cities that just wrapped up 40 Days for Life:
-----------------------------------------------------
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
----------------------------------------------------- The Alexandria team recognizes that prayer at the
abortion center can't stop. The local coordinators
are launching an effort to have people praying on
the sidewalks at least on the days that abortions
are performed. It's a proven fact that this prayer
presence can change minds.
-----------------------------------------------------
LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA
----------------------------------------------------- Local leaders in Lawrenceville have noted a decline
in activity at Planned Parenthood -- fewer customers
obviously means fewer abortions. They know that means
they can't stop. There are also plans to network with
other Georgia campaigns to increase opportunities for
sidewalk counseling.
-----------------------------------------------------
BEAUMONT, TEXAS
----------------------------------------------------- The Beaumont campaign used its closing rally to invite
volunteers to keep praying at the abortion center --
and more. "We are more determined than ever for the
formation of a permanent group in our area for an
ongoing prayer group to diligently pray daily against
abortion," said Eileen in Beaumont.
-----------------------------------------------------
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
----------------------------------------------------- In a posting on the 40 Days for Life blog, Rae summed
up this time of discernment very clearly. "Our campaign has been marked by a growing awareness
that abortion is not a problem in a vacuum, but a
product of the despair and hopelessness that is a way
of life where Christ is not known," Rae wrote. The women and men entering the abortion center all
lacked hope. "We are finding ourselves more dedicated
than ever to being Christ for the world, here where
life and death are as palpable as on the streets of
Jerusalem when Jesus carried His cross and walked
through the clueless crowds towards His death." Rae said the group found, to their surprise, "that
trying to save the babies has led us to a more intimate
relationship with Christ and a thirst for helping Him
in His saving mission to the world." And that's exactly why we carry on. We'll have much
more to say in the weeks and months ahead, but for
now we'll take a break from daily e-mail so we, too,
can refresh, recharge and renew.
As a bonus ... here is one final 40 Days for Life
devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director
of Priests for Life.
------------------------------------------------------
DAY 41 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------ Pray that the witness of 40 Days for Life bears
abundant fruit, and that we begin again each day to
storm the gates of hell until God welcomes us into the
gates of heaven.
------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------ He will wipe every tear from their eyes. On this rock
I will build my church; the gates of hell will not
prevail against it. -- Matthew 16:18
------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
------------------------------------------------------ When we read this verse, we usually think that the
Lord is promising that the church, which is His Body,
will withstand all the attacks launched against it. Of course, that is true. But when we think about it
more carefully, we realize that in a battle, the gates
do not run out into the battlefield to attack the
enemy. Rather, they stand still to defend the city
from the enemy attacking it. So when the Lord says that the gates of hell will not
prevail against the church, who is doing the
attacking? It is the church storming the gates! The church, all of God's people in Christ, is called
to take the offensive, to run into enemy territory,
and to gain ground for Jesus Christ. We do not wait for an invitation; we already have a
command. We prepare, but we do not wait for circumstances to be
perfect; we already have one who has gone before us. During these 40 days, we have stormed the gates. We
have taken the offensive. We have pushed forward the
boundaries of the kingdom. And we must keep doing so,
in numerous ways. Indeed, the gates of hell will not prevail. The gates
of falsehood will flee in the presence of truth. The
gates of sin will melt in the presence of grace. The
gates of death will fall in the presence of the
church, the People of Life!
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------ Father, we praise you. We have heard the voice of your
Son, and therefore we can make our voices heard. We have done battle with the power of evil, and
therefore we can have compassion on those still within
its grip. We have been freed from the kingdom of
darkness, and therefore we can bear witness to your
Kingdom of Light. May the witness of all your people through these 40
Days for Life bear abundant fruit, and may we begin
again each day to storm the gates of hell until You
welcome us into the gates of heaven. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus Christ our
Lord, Amen.
------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------ To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day41print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------ There's no way I can really express the appreciation I
have for everything you've done during this campaign --
your prayers, your participation, your persistence. You provide tremendous HOPE for our future! Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: Any additional stories from 40 Days for Life in
your community? Please respond on today's blog entry: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2115 40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
Dear Deacon, Well, the largest 40 Days for Life campaign ever is
history -- for now! What an amazing 40-day journey we've been on, as
247 cities in nine countries prayed, fasted, stood
vigil and conducted outreach to end abortion. Thanks to YOU for responding to the Holy Spirit this
spring! These efforts have been richly blessed. I just got home late last night from speaking at the
closing event in Germantown, Maryland. Before that,
I was in Los Angeles, California at a closing rally. The L.A. rally lasted into the night. It was too
dark for my video camera -- but I do have the audio
from that event for you. As you listen to the audio recording, you'll hear the
incredible story about how 40 Days for Life began for
me personally this spring ... ... and the HUGE blessing in how it ended for me --
meeting TWO of the babies saved from abortion during
previous campaigns in Orange, California! Along with the audio, I've included a picture of me and
baby Patrick as a thanks to YOU for all you have done
over these 40 days ... and as a reminder of what this
campaign is really all about. Here's a link to the audio and the photo from
California: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2115
I hope you get lots of encouragement as we all discern
how to move forward from here! 40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that
recognizes abortion as a local problem ... and you have
shown the willingness to act on your faith to be the
local solution. Many cities that have conducted 40 Days for Life
campaigns have asked ... ... "What's next?" Here are some of the things going on in just a few of
the cities that just wrapped up 40 Days for Life:
-----------------------------------------------------
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
----------------------------------------------------- The Alexandria team recognizes that prayer at the
abortion center can't stop. The local coordinators
are launching an effort to have people praying on
the sidewalks at least on the days that abortions
are performed. It's a proven fact that this prayer
presence can change minds.
-----------------------------------------------------
LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA
----------------------------------------------------- Local leaders in Lawrenceville have noted a decline
in activity at Planned Parenthood -- fewer customers
obviously means fewer abortions. They know that means
they can't stop. There are also plans to network with
other Georgia campaigns to increase opportunities for
sidewalk counseling.
-----------------------------------------------------
BEAUMONT, TEXAS
----------------------------------------------------- The Beaumont campaign used its closing rally to invite
volunteers to keep praying at the abortion center --
and more. "We are more determined than ever for the
formation of a permanent group in our area for an
ongoing prayer group to diligently pray daily against
abortion," said Eileen in Beaumont.
-----------------------------------------------------
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
----------------------------------------------------- In a posting on the 40 Days for Life blog, Rae summed
up this time of discernment very clearly. "Our campaign has been marked by a growing awareness
that abortion is not a problem in a vacuum, but a
product of the despair and hopelessness that is a way
of life where Christ is not known," Rae wrote. The women and men entering the abortion center all
lacked hope. "We are finding ourselves more dedicated
than ever to being Christ for the world, here where
life and death are as palpable as on the streets of
Jerusalem when Jesus carried His cross and walked
through the clueless crowds towards His death." Rae said the group found, to their surprise, "that
trying to save the babies has led us to a more intimate
relationship with Christ and a thirst for helping Him
in His saving mission to the world." And that's exactly why we carry on. We'll have much
more to say in the weeks and months ahead, but for
now we'll take a break from daily e-mail so we, too,
can refresh, recharge and renew.
As a bonus ... here is one final 40 Days for Life
devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director
of Priests for Life.
------------------------------------------------------
DAY 41 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------ Pray that the witness of 40 Days for Life bears
abundant fruit, and that we begin again each day to
storm the gates of hell until God welcomes us into the
gates of heaven.
------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------ He will wipe every tear from their eyes. On this rock
I will build my church; the gates of hell will not
prevail against it. -- Matthew 16:18
------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
------------------------------------------------------ When we read this verse, we usually think that the
Lord is promising that the church, which is His Body,
will withstand all the attacks launched against it. Of course, that is true. But when we think about it
more carefully, we realize that in a battle, the gates
do not run out into the battlefield to attack the
enemy. Rather, they stand still to defend the city
from the enemy attacking it. So when the Lord says that the gates of hell will not
prevail against the church, who is doing the
attacking? It is the church storming the gates! The church, all of God's people in Christ, is called
to take the offensive, to run into enemy territory,
and to gain ground for Jesus Christ. We do not wait for an invitation; we already have a
command. We prepare, but we do not wait for circumstances to be
perfect; we already have one who has gone before us. During these 40 days, we have stormed the gates. We
have taken the offensive. We have pushed forward the
boundaries of the kingdom. And we must keep doing so,
in numerous ways. Indeed, the gates of hell will not prevail. The gates
of falsehood will flee in the presence of truth. The
gates of sin will melt in the presence of grace. The
gates of death will fall in the presence of the
church, the People of Life!
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------ Father, we praise you. We have heard the voice of your
Son, and therefore we can make our voices heard. We have done battle with the power of evil, and
therefore we can have compassion on those still within
its grip. We have been freed from the kingdom of
darkness, and therefore we can bear witness to your
Kingdom of Light. May the witness of all your people through these 40
Days for Life bear abundant fruit, and may we begin
again each day to storm the gates of hell until You
welcome us into the gates of heaven. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus Christ our
Lord, Amen.
------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------ To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day41print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------ There's no way I can really express the appreciation I
have for everything you've done during this campaign --
your prayers, your participation, your persistence. You provide tremendous HOPE for our future! Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: Any additional stories from 40 Days for Life in
your community? Please respond on today's blog entry: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2115 40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
