DEACON FOR LIFE: 40 Days For Life: DAY 38: A national movement

Friday, November 1, 2019

40 Days For Life: DAY 38: A national movement

Under intense pressure from her family, a young woman in Croatia was planning to have an abortion.

But, as she went to visit her doctor, she encountered 40 Days for Life volunteers standing vigil. They offered to help her keep her baby and gave her their phone number...

...and she took them up on the offer! She has now moved into a home the team helps operate, where she will be safe from those who are pushing her to abort.

40 Days for Life--or as the locals call it, "40 dana za život," has truly become a national movement in Croatia.

This autumn, thousands of volunteers have prayed at 35 vigil sites across a country roughly the size of West Virginia.

The Croatian campaign leaders report that most abortions in the country are procured by married women who already have a child--and do not want a second or third.

To transform this mindset, the leaders have given this campaign a theme: "One Child More." Their community outreach efforts involve sharing testimonials from families with two or more children talking about the blessings of being open to life.

Cedar Falls, Iowa

An abortion-minded woman appeared irritated to see 40 Days for Life vigil participants as she headed into Planned Parenthood.

She stopped to accept resources on crisis pregnancy support before making a cryptic comment: "It's not so much about keeping my baby as it is about keeping my family."

Volunteers simply assured her that they were praying for her. She thanked them and entered the abortion facility.

Moments later she came out, acknowledging that she was pregnant because of infidelity.

"She did not have an abortion that day," said Kie, the local leader. "But please continue to pray that the love of Christ will shine through her circumstances."

Bogota, Colombia

A father approaching one of the many abortion facilities in Bogota hesitated after seeing vigil participants praying outside the building.

"The man said he was going to find a solution because his wife was four months pregnant," reported 40 Days for Life Latin American Affairs Coordinator Lourdes Varela. "He had no money or work and had no other way out."

After talking with the 40 Days for Life volunteers, not only did he reject abortion--but he also vowed to pray at the 40 Days for Life vigil every day!

You have heard it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

— Matthew 5: 43-44

Heavenly Father, may we reflect your character of grace and kindness to those who hate us and curse us. Guard our hearts and our tongues as we respond in love to words and actions meant to rile us or cause us harm. Let others see the Hope that is Christ in all we say and do.

See today's full devotional

For life,

Shawn Carney
President/CEO, 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life 4112 E 29th St. Bryan, Texas 77802 United States (888) LIFE-316

LIFE IS SACRED

An example of the traditional magisterial teaching which indicates that it is never morally licit to intentionally kill a child through abortion in order to “save the life of its mother” comes from the teaching of Pope Pius XII:

“Every human being, even the infant in the mother's womb, has the right to life immediately from God, not from the parent or any human society or authority. Therefore, there is no man, no human authority, no science, no medical, eugenic, social, economic or moral ‘indication’ that can show or give valid juridical title for direct deliberate disposition concerning an innocent human life-which is to say, a disposition that aims at its destruction either as an end in itself or as the means of attaining another end that is perhaps in no way illicit itself. Thus, for example, to save the life of the mother is a most noble end, but the direct killing of the child as a means to this end is not licit.”