DAY NINE: January 22, 2019
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Did You Know?
In the Catholic Church in the United States, January 22nd
is designated as a particular day of prayer and penance, called the
“Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” As
Catholics, we are called to observe this day through the penitential
practices of prayer, fasting, and/or giving alms.
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Intercession
May the tragic practice of abortion come to an end.
Prayers
Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection
Today, on this 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade,
we mourn the many children’s lives ended by abortion and remember in
prayer those who suffer the aftermath. The Church comes together today
to pray for the protection of all unborn children and to make reparation
for abortion, trusting that the Lord hears our prayers.
Pope Saint John Paul II wrote,
“A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up
throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer,
may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from
every Christian community, from every group and association, from every
family and from the heart of every believer” (Evangelium vitae,
100). May that prayer arise in our hearts today and each day forward
until every human being is protected in law and welcomed in life.
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Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)
- Abstain from snacking today. Eat three meals only.
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Learn how to pray the Angelus (www.usccb.org/angelus), and consider saying it every day for the next week—on awakening, at noon, or at 6 p.m. (or all three times).
- Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention.
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One Step Further
More women and girls
consider abortion than we may realize. They are our relatives and
friends, people who work with us or for us. Even if someone identifies
as being pro-life, the shock of an unexpected pregnancy, the devastation
of a difficult prenatal diagnosis, shame, pressures, or fears may
influence her to consider abortion.
If someone shared with you she
was pregnant and hadn't ruled out having an abortion, would you know how
to respond in a loving way that is life-affirming for both her and her
baby? Learn about the four steps of the L.O.V.E. Approach™*: Listen and Learn, Open Options, Vision and Value, and Extend and Empower (www.usccb.org/l-o-v-e).
For other simple tips on
how to provide loving, life-affirming support for a friend who is
unexpectedly pregnant, read “10 Ways to Support Her When She’s
Unexpectedly Expecting” (www.usccb.org/support-her).
*The L.O.V.E.
Approach™ is trademarked by Heartbeat International, Inc. and may not be
adapted or modified. The L.O.V.E. Approach™ is used in “What to Do When
a Friend Is Considering Abortion” with permission from Heartbeat
International, Inc.
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Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life),
no.100 © 1995, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All
rights reserved. Copyright © 2018, United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Our Lady of Guadalupe
mosaic: Decorates a side altar in the Church of Santa Maria della
Famiglia at the Vatican. Dec. 15. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
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