40 Days For Life: DAY 39: Abortion escort to vigil participant

40 Days for Life vigils have drawn participation from all walks of life... ...young and old, women and men, life-long pro-lifers and Planned Parenthood escorts! That's the case in Memphis, Tennessee where a former abortion facility escort now stands vigil with the local 40 Days for Life campaign!

Your prayers on the sidewalk are unifying Christians of many different backgrounds, all coming together with a common goal of serving God and defending life. Recently, a homeless man approached one of the Memphis vigil participants. "I saw you out here and I wanted to pray with you," he said, telling volunteers of his vision that Planned Parenthood will be replaced by a legitimate medical facility. With 8 babies saved in Memphis this fall, perhaps that vision will soon become a reality!

Canton, Ohio A woman drove up to the Canton 40 Days for Life vigil and told prayer warriors to open the back door of her car. When they did, they found "a pudgy little guy with a cute smile." Last year, the mother decided to have an abortion--but she couldn't stop thinking about people praying on the sidewalk. She changed her mind and left the facility. Vigil participants tearfully hugged the proud mom before saying goodbye. The scene repeated itself days later when a motorist stopped at the red light and exhorted the campaign volunteers to keep up the good work. "You saved my son's life," she said, pointing to the back seat. "Your signs make a difference."

Buffalo, New York The vigil in Buffalo is held in front of a facility that delivers live children in the front--and aborts babies in the back. Recently, a worker exited the building to criticize the vigil participants. "A woman just had a baby," she said. "She is nursing, and your praying is bothering her." Delphine, who leads the campaign, was doubtful that their prayers could even be heard through the brick walls and glass block windows. Perhaps the new mother was just troubled by the idea of welcoming her bundle of joy in a facility that aborts her little one's peers.

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

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

Pray for Life: Christ Our Hope

November is Respect Life Month

PRAY FOR LIFE November 2019 ‌ ‌ Intercession May the lives of those nearing death be valued and protected until God calls them home. Prayers Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be Reflection With every Hail Mary that we pray, we ask our Holy Mother to intercede for us “now and at the hour of our death.” Today, there is a growing desire to control the timing of death, rather than entrusting this sacred hour to God and His loving plan for us. St. John Paul II tells us that “what really happens in this case is that the individual is overcome and crushed by a death deprived of any prospect of meaning or hope” (Evangelium vitae, 15). While those nearing the end of life may experience feelings of fear and anxiety, God’s grace abounds in these final moments of life. We are called to accompany those preparing to enter eternal life, recalling that Christ has walked this path before us and remains with us always! Psalm 23 tells us, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.” Christ, the Good Shepherd, never abandons us, walking with us through death and into eternal life with Him. As St. Ambrose said at the funeral for his own brother, “Death is, then, no cause for mourning, for it is the cause of mankind's salvation” (Spe salvi, 10). May we recall these words as we accompany loved ones nearing the end of their lives. Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)  Offer one or more of these end-of-life prayers for the sick and dying: www.bit.ly/sick-dying-prayers.    Visit and spend time with an elderly person in your life. It could be a relative, a member of your parish, or someone at a local nursing home. Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for this month’s intention. One Step Further Learn more about how to Live Each Day With Dignity through the many resources offered on palliative care and assisted suicide.  Did You Know?  There are many ways to tenderly care for a loved one approaching the transition from this life to the next. Read “Caring for Loved Ones at Life’s End” to learn some of them: usccb.org/endoflifecare. USCCB | 3211 Fourth Street NE, Washington, DC 20017-1194