Dear Deacon John,
Many people are unaware that abortions happen on their own streets ... until 40 Days for Life campaigns shed light on this reality.
As more people find out ... the abortion business is not always viewed as a welcome neighbor.
Here’s one 40 Days for Life location where Planned Parenthood’s facility is becoming more and more isolated.
Vancouver, Washington
The 40 Days for Life vigil in Vancouver takes place outside a Planned Parenthood center in a small shopping center. This business is practically surrounded by empty storefronts with “for lease” signs in their windows.
One morning recently … the Planned Parenthood office was unoccupied as well. “I arrived about 7:30,” said Ed, the local leader in Vancouver. “Usually, the Planned Parenthood staff arrives about the same time.”
But on this day, a small sign was posted on the door: “Sorry for the inconvenience, but our health center is closed.” The sign listed shortened office hours later in the day.
“We are hoping and praying hard that this is an indication that they might be considering closing this facility permanently,” Ed said.
Tampico, Mexico
Abortion is not legal in Tampico ... and the volunteers there are praying and working hard so it remains that way.
“We have had more people each day,” said Carla, the local leader. They are raising awareness, she said, “and finally people in Tampico are starting to speak and are willing to defend life.”
They’ve heard about a local woman who was considering abortion (it’s legal only in Mexico City), but has now changed her mind. “We have several people that have had abortions years ago and they told us they feel they have started to heal.”
On a personal level, Carla said, “I can tell you my life can be divided before and after 40 Days for Life. I can’t even describe what I’m feeling right know. I’m really, really thankful for the opportunity to be doing this.”
Norman, Oklahoma
“We had a miracle today!” said Connie in Norman. “A young mother was at the abortion clinic with her toddler son … and proved to be the perfect testament.”
As this mom prayed, she watched as a young couple went in and out of the abortion center several times. This all ended when the woman came storming out. The volunteer saw an opportunity to talk to her, and asked if she needed assistance.
After a bit of discussion, the mom drove an emotional young woman to the pregnancy help center. After talking with the counselors there, she decided to keep the baby.
“The girl left without the guy,” Connie said, “and the volunteer drove her about two hours to meet her family so she could move back home.” The baby is safe, but this is a difficult situation. Please keep this family in your prayers!
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
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:
http://40daysforlife.com/media/day37.pdf
For life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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