 Dear Deacon, Lots of people love the peaceful approach of 40 Days for Life and see how God has used this effort. BUT ... it comes as no surprise to find out that not everybody is a fan. There are people in the abortion industry who call this campaign “40 Days of Harassment.” No one is being harassed, of course (except maybe the prayer volunteers). The truth is that peaceful prayer on the sidewalk is bad for business. So the pro-abortion side is doing whatever it can to minimize the impact … by twisting the truth. 40 DAYS OF MOCKERY There are a number of pro-abortion backlash efforts that have adopted the “40 days” theme. The worst of the lot is jointly sponsored by “Clergy for Choice” and the Planned Parenthood affiliate in Eureka, California. This effort, “40 Days of Prayer to Keep Abortion Safe and Legal,” is really a mockery of 40 Days for Life – and frankly, of God. They use a collection of 40 daily prayer intentions – sounds familiar, doesn’t it? But listen to some of the "Clergy for Choice" intentions:
GREENLAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE 
In spite of all the shrill rhetoric … the still, small voice of
the Holy Spirit can reach the minds, hearts and souls of even the people
on the inside of the abortion centers.“A woman stopped to tell vigil prayer volunteers (several Knights of Columbus men) that she used to work at the abortion center they were standing in front of,” said Jackie in Greenland, “and how after three months of working there, she just had to quit.” The woman said the abortion facility was “a terrible place. Fourteen-year-old girls go there … and they are not helping them. Their parents aren't informed.” She thanked the men several times for what they were doing … and then drove off. She didn’t say when she had worked there, Jackie said, “but it brought to mind a clinic worker, who a few years ago during a 40 Days for Life campaign, had asked me and my prayer partner to pray for her as she was leaving the abortion center. Only God knows if this was the same worker.” Today's devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life. DAY 38 INTENTION Pray that we become vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement. SCRIPTURE On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" -- Luke 24:1-5 REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life This meditation, based on a sermon I once heard, is adapted for pro-life concerns. It's Friday. Jesus is on the cross. He has been killed by his enemies; he is off the scene. But that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'! It's Friday. Abortionists continue their work 3,300 times a day, tearing off the arms and legs of little babies and crushing their heads. But that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'! It's Friday. Pro-abortion groups receive blood money from billionaires who are as deceived as they are. But that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'! It's Friday. Liars attempt to speak for all women and hide the pain of abortion, and ignore the evidence of how it harms women, and call abortion a blessing. But that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'! It's Friday. People of hardened hearts guard the clinics and usher desperate women in to have their abortions, while keeping them from the pro-life people who want to give them hope. But that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'! Hope does not mean that we ignore or minimize the evils around us. It means, rather, that we see the whole picture, which is that evil is conquered because of what happened one Sunday morning. We are called to proclaim, celebrate, and serve that victory, waiting in joyful hope for Christ's return and the full flowering of the Culture of Life! Indeed, Sunday's comin'! PRAYER Lord, fill your people with new hope. Make us vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement, that as we engage in the difficult work ahead, we may experience the peace and joy that come only from you and that nobody can take away from us. 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/ ------------------------------ Yours for Life, Shawn Carney Campaign Director 40 Days for Life PS: Have you received assurance that your efforts with 40 Days for Life have borne fruit? If so, please share your story by replying to today's blog entry at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/
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