blessings God has provided during the 40 Days for Life
campaign that just ended, of course. But just as
importantly, we also look to the future. For this campaign, we have received reports of ... ... 668 babies spared from abortion -- that we know of! Many of the local campaigns are still compiling reports,
so it's highly likely that this number will increase as
the national team receives more of their updates. Praise God!
------------------------------------------------------
RENO, NEVADA
------------------------------------------------------ Cyndy had the opportunity to talk with a couple on the
sidewalk outside the abortion center in Reno. The wife
had been told that she needed an abortion because she
and the child could die if she continued the pregnancy. "Cyndy gave them our resource list," said Carol Marie
in Reno, "and thank God, they used it." They were
referred to the emergency room. "The following day,
rather than returning to the abortion site, they
visited the local pregnancy center for life-affirming
help," Carol Marie said. "Praise God!"
------------------------------------------------------
DUBLIN, IRELAND
------------------------------------------------------ Abortion is not legal in Ireland -- but there are
agencies that encourage women to travel to England
to abort their babies. Carolyn in Dublin says the vigil "is so far successful,
thank God." They are able to refer women for pro-life
assistance -- and away from abortion. "We have confirmation of one baby saved," she said,
"and we are in regular contact with the couple."
------------------------------------------------------
POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK
------------------------------------------------------ As Rich was praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Poughkeepsie, he noticed a red SUV enter the Planned
Parenthood parking lot. One of the volunteers walked
over to talk -- and to offer some information, which
the driver accepted. The car then parked close to the entrance, and the
prayer team could see if was a mother and her two
teenage daughters. After a while, Rich said, "The
mother came over to us and told us that her daughter
was NOT going to have the abortion. She was very
strong on that."
------------------------------------------------------
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
------------------------------------------------------ Mary in Little Rock says a couple from Memphis came
for an abortion on the advice of four doctors, who
all said the baby would die and possibly the mother. The volunteers told them there were other options to
consider. The woman was referred to a pro-life ob/gyn
who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. "Against all
odds," Mary said, "their baby continues to live. She
is 7 months along ... we are praying for a miracle." God has granted many miracles in this campaign. We
can always join in praying for one more!
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/spring2012day41print.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=3154 40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
