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.

Saturday, April 9, 2022

40 Days For Life: DAY 39: Saved Baby Turns 7!

When we stand and pray at a 40 Days for Life vigil, we trust that God will save babies--and He does!

But the girls and boys spared by your prayers don't stay babies long.

Back in 2014, an abortion-bound mother in Tempe, Arizona, opted to skip her abortion appointment...

...and talk to vigil participants instead.

"I see you guys here all the time and knew you would help," she said.

The encounter led her to choose life for her baby boy, Noah.

Lisa, the local leader back in 2014, has maintained a relationship with the family ever since!

Noah is growing up fast. He recently celebrated his seventh birthday--because somebody made a decision to sign up to pray at the local 40 Days for Life vigil!

San Antonio, Texas

Why bother holding vigil outside business hours? Because God still listens to--and answers--your prayers!

One recent Sunday, a woman in San Antonio tried to make a walk-in appointment at Planned Parenthood.

The abortion facility was closed, but the 40 Days for Life vigil wasn't. Vigil participants set the woman up with a free pregnancy test and ultrasound at a pro-life pregnancy help center.

"Some people say that it doesn’t make sense to be on the sidewalk when the facility is closed, but we know from experience that this kind of thing happens all the time," shared Cathy, the campaign leader. "We never know when an opportunity will arise to take advantage of the facility [being closed] and immediately refer a client looking for help."

Fort Collins, Colorado

A couple drove by the Fort Collins 40 Days for Life vigil on their way to get tea. But the vigil caught their attention, and the pair circled back to read the volunteers' signs.

"They parked and came straight to me," said Kristy, the local leader. "They pointed to my 'We Will Help You' sign and said they were pregnant, didn’t know what to do, and could we help them?"

The vigil participants shared information about pregnancy help resources and gave the couple a parting gift.

"It was so beautiful and exciting!" Kristy added. "They pulled away crying and saying 'thank you!!'"

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

--1 Peter 1:6-7

Dear Heavenly Father, we sing to You a new song, for You have done marvelous things. Forgive us when we allow circumstances to defeat us. You give power to the faint and You increase strength in those who have no might. We rest in You, dear Lord, and ask You to empower us again for Your service as You work out Your plan for us and through us.

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.”