Dear Deacon John,
Have you gone to pray at your local 40 Days for Life vigil yet?
For some, the answer is, “I really wanted to ... but just never made it out there.” If that’s you, then I have good news – it’s not too late!
For some, the answer is, “I really wanted to ... but just never made it out there.” If that’s you, then I have good news – it’s not too late!
You still have today, tomorrow and Sunday to go out and make a difference. Here’s the link to the 40 Days for Life locations.
Find one … and please go pray. You just may see a life saved. That’s what happened to me during my stop in St. Louis!
St. Louis, Missouri
I had a great visit at the St. Louis 40 Days for Life campaign in front of the only abortion facility in Missouri.
The leader, Brian Westbrook, also leads the St. Louis Coalition for Life. Brian courageously left his job as an engineer to do full-time pro-life work and has helped save many lives in St. Louis.
The local Thrive pregnancy center has a mobile ultrasound bus outside this large Planned Parenthood center. As all of us were there praying, a mom left Planned Parenthood and went into the bus.
The leader, Brian Westbrook, also leads the St. Louis Coalition for Life. Brian courageously left his job as an engineer to do full-time pro-life work and has helped save many lives in St. Louis.
The local Thrive pregnancy center has a mobile ultrasound bus outside this large Planned Parenthood center. As all of us were there praying, a mom left Planned Parenthood and went into the bus.
Praise God!
Louisville, Kentucky
While a handful of
people prayed at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Louisville, a young woman
and her male companion went into the abortion center. As they walked
towards the building, a counselor was offering to help them. But still,
they went inside.
Before too long,
though, they returned to the sidewalk and met the counselor … who walked
the young woman to the nearby pregnancy help center, where she received
positive, life-affirming assistance.
“God is so very good,” said one of the vigil participants.
Springfield, Illinois
“At our Springfield Planned Parenthood, a young woman came out and gave me a hug and said she was going to keep her baby!” said Claudia, the local coordinator.
“She thanked us for
being there and said that our prayerful presence there caused her to
change her mind and not have an abortion,” she said. “This experience has made the effort all worthwhile for me.”
Claudia said that
just knowing one life has been saved is a tremendous blessing. “I can
only imagine how many more women have the same experience but never say
anything.”
San Fernando Valley, California
“We had a pretty
good prayer presence during the morning hours,” said Patti, who leads
the San Fernando Valley campaign, “and our sidewalk counselor at the
back driveway watched closely as a couple drove into the back parking
lot, parked … and talked for about ten minutes.”
Patti said after they had wrapped up their discussion, they started their car and drove away.
She’s praying that this couple, like many others before them, have chosen life.
“Just our prayerful witnessing is enough to change so many hearts … and save so many lives!” Patti said. “If you haven’t devoted any time yet to this 40 Days for Life vigil, please consider doing so.”
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
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:
For life,
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SHAWN CARNEY
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
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