DEACON FOR LIFE

Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.

Monday, March 21, 2016

From 40 Days For Life: DAY 41: VIDEO: Centers closed … babies saved‏

Dear Deacon John,

There are 471 reasons to celebrate now that this 40 Days for Life campaign has drawn to a close!

That’s how many babies have been saved from abortion – that we know of!

Here are more reasons to celebrate – 40 Days for Life locations where abortion centers have closed!

Today’s short video shows the celebration in Jacksonville, North Carolina after an abortion facility that had been in business for decades suddenly announced its closure.

Plus … an abortion business in Indiana where numerous 40 Days for Life vigils were held over the years closed its doors just this past Friday!

Earlier in the campaign, two facilities in Georgia – in Augusta and Marietta – also shut down.

Praise God for these blessings!

Jacksonville, North Carolina

The 40 Days for Life volunteers in Jacksonville were ready for another 40 days of prayer and fasting – especially since the owner of the abortion center appeared on local TV to say he was there to stay.

But not long after that, he made a surprise announcement – his business would shut down because of “unforeseen circumstances.”

So a rally that was planned for the sidewalk outside turned into a victory celebration!

To see the video report, featuring Matt Britton, 40 Days for Life’s board chairman, click on the image above ... or go to:

https://40daysforlife.com/2016/03/21/jacksonville-north-carolina-2/

South Bend, Indiana

This was the 16^th 40 Days for Life vigil outside the Women’s Pavilion in South Bend – and it should be the last.

In the final days of the campaign, it was announced that the business would shut down on March 18 – Day 38 of this campaign. And it did!

This center had been open for more than 30 years … and had been accused of having “little regard for health standards and women’s safety.” Abortions had stopped at this location, but they were still referring women to other centers for abortions.

Three years ago, pro-life groups bought the building next to the abortion facility and housed a chapel and several other pro-life ministries. All of that prayer certainly had an impact.

“It’s a good day,” Shawn Sullivan, the 40 Days for Life director in South Bend told the media. “There won’t be anybody going next door to get abortions anymore.”

Praise God!

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 from Fr. Frank Pavone

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:

http://40daysforlife.com/media/day41.pdf

For life,

SHAWN CARNEY

President

40 Days for Life