Dear Deacon,
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
On this day, I'd like to offer a special hello to the
40 Days for Life team in Dublin. Today, I'm going to
visit the 40 Days for Life campaign in Silver Spring,
Maryland.
St. Patrick is known for bringing Christ to a pagan
culture. In the midst of the festivities today, we
remember his faith and courage as a missionary of
the gospel.
It is faith and courage that similarly inspire us to
bring the hope and love of God to our culture at
abortion centers during 40 Days for Life.
Yes, we're all Irish today. But let's take a look at
the faith in Spain.
Frank in Madrid sent me some stories and pictures that
show the problem is the same all over the world. But
so is the solution.
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40 DAYS FOR LIFE IN SPAIN
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For Pilar, a psychologist in Madrid, praying for 40
days outside an abortion center reinforces her faith.
"The surroundings impress me, the contrasting realities
present in a very limited space: the Eucharistic temple
of St. Martin of Tours and the clinic in front of it ...
the coming and going of passers-by and the prayer group
like an island before that center where life is cut off."
Frank, a New Yorker living in Madrid, says that each
campaign "shakes me out of my lethargy with the hope
of doing something important for God and the salvation
of souls."
Sometimes people that see them praying on the street,
in front of the abortion facilities, say a word of
congratulations. Other times, they insult them or spit
on them or laugh at them. In the newspapers, they are
accused of "intimidating" the abortionists.
"The owner of the Callao abortion center in Madrid
called the police because eight of us were on the
other side of the street praying in low tone for the
end of abortion," explains Candela, who works as a
television producer.
María Angeles, a professor at the University of
Seville, believes that "whoever has not seen the
empty eyes of a woman who has just aborted, whoever
has not understood the nervousness created at an
abortion center by the presence of some women ...
cannot understand the reality of abortion and how the
only hope springs from prayer."
Francisco, who is retired, put it simply: "The remedy
is God. We must ask for it. Publicly."
Nacho, a 33-year-old historian, prays in front of the
Triana abortion facility in Seville. "To pray humbly
and simply on the street is no merit of mine but of
the Lord, and if by this testimony on the street some
people are moved to stop for a second and think and to
give a second chance to the lives of the weakest, why
not do it?"
"Above all," Fernando said, "we are convinced that by
praying, we are going to end abortion in Spain and in
the whole world."
To see photos from 40 Days for Life in Spain, please
go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2967
Today's devotional is from Carmen Pate, a member of
the 40 Days for Life board of directors.
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DAY 25 INTENTION
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Pray that God will bless us with His gift of strength
as we respond in obedience to His call.
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SCRIPTURE
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Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold
back those stumbling to the slaughter.
If you say, "surely we did not know this," does not He
who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your
soul, does He not know it?
And will He not render to each man according to his
deeds?
-- Proverbs 24:11-12
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REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
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In this age of technologically advanced communication,
ignorance of human rights abuses is no excuse.
We know there are persecuted Christians in China,
there is genocide in Darfur, and there are babies
aborted and women and families devastated right in our
own communities.
"But I can't save them all," you say.
God isn't asking you to. He has equipped each of us
with time, talent, and treasure to do what we can when
He provides the opportunity.
He has given us His Holy Spirit to empower us as we
abide in Him. He is asking us to be on His side in
speaking out and protecting those who can't protect
themselves.
When we are obedient to His calling to get in on the
work He is doing, we will experience intimacy with Him
in a whole new way.
Our faith will increase as we see God at work! You
have responded to His call during this 40 Days for
Life campaign.
Let your efforts be for His pleasure and His purposes.
Pray without ceasing!
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PRAYER
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God Almighty, we pray for continued guidance and
strength as we intercede on behalf of the young women
and their babies who are stumbling to the slaughter.
Open the eyes of the mother's heart to see her child
as you do -- a precious gift to be treasured.
Let her feel Your loving arms around her and may she
be assured that you have a plan and a future for her
and her child.
Give her reason not to enter the abortion clinic.
Give her wisdom and discernment to find life options
through a local pregnancy care center and may she
boldly choose life.
Thank you, Lord, for hearing our prayer. Because of
Your Son's sacrifice we pray, Amen.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
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To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2012day25print.pdf
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Yours for Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: How has your community been blessed during 40 Days
for Life? Please let me know! You may share your reply
by responding to today's blog entry at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2967
40 Days for Life
10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
