40 Days For Life: DAY 3: Lenten Loopholes

 

7 ways to screw up Lent

If you don't go into Lent with a plan, you could blow it. From fasts that don't challenge you to Lenten loopholes, there's a danger of arriving at Holy Week without experiencing any spiritual growth. On this week's episode of The 40 Days for Life Podcast, we share seven ways NOT to observe Lent: Watch or listen by clicking the image or visiting: 40daysforlife.com/lent-like-a-champ We cover: Do we need to make ourselves miserable to get Lent right? How secular culture picked up--and even sold--fasting when Christians abandoned it. Why we shouldn't just pray more; we do well to give something up too. What merely not eating has to do with God. Tune in, and then sign up to go pray at the vigil nearest you: 40daysforlife.com/locations Augusta, Maine 40 Days for Life vigils are known for uniting the body of Christ, and that's exactly what our director of 40 Days for Life 365 and campaign development Heather Gardner found on a recent visit to Maine. In addition to Heather, the speakers at Denny's kickoff rally included a local pregnancy help center director, a Knights of Columbus representative, a state legislator, a Maine Right to Life representative, and the 40 Days for Life leader in nearby Belfast. Leadership team members from Bangor, Maine, were also in attendance. Talk about unity! "Each one shared GREAT information!" Heather reported. "I could really sense the camaraderie among the pro-life groups there." While each organization in attendance plays a unique role in the state's pro-life movement, every speaker noted that prayer comes first and thanked vigil participants for standing witness on the sidewalk. Kalamazoo, Michigan The Lenten campaign usually begins with ugly weather in much of the 40 Days for Life world. Frigid temperatures can be tough for vigil participants, but bearing witness in inclement weather usually inspires more moms to choose life. Nevertheless, Joe in Kalamazoo was grateful that, for once, his opening candlelight vigil took place under pleasant conditions. "It was a balmy 50 degrees when we started," he noted. "And there was very little wind." Vigil volunteers also received a warm welcome from the community. While Deacon Doran led dozens of participants in prayer, many drivers greeted them with supportive "honks of approval." But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. … He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God." --Luke 1:13, 15-16 Our Father in heaven, we pray in a special way for all those who struggle with infertility. We ask you to give them peace in their suffering, strength in their perseverance, and healing in body and soul. For life, Shawn Carney President & CEO, 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life | 4112 East 29th Street | Bryan, TX 77802 US

ALL's Pro-Life This Week Feb. 20, 2026

 

News you should know!

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The Baby and the Immigrant In today’s commentary, Judie explains that the cries of the innocent preborn remain unheard in the very places where their strongest advocates should be pleading for justice, and she asks: How has our nation come to this place in time? READ MORE Read Judie’s other commentaries from the past week on our website. Week in Review A Holy Mass of “reparation and witness” was held outside San Francisco’s Planned Parenthood facility on Sunday. Great News! A new report shows that 8,000 preborn babies have been saved through abortion pill reversal. Susan Ciancio wrote an article with practical actions families can implement to live out a faithful Lenten season. LEARN MORE Pro-Life Education As we begin Lent, we must keep our focus on Christ’s Resurrection, but it couldn’t have happened without Good Friday. That sad day is the focus of a beautiful medieval poem that you can now share with your family. ORDER HERE Because priests aren’t always available to pray with us in front of Planned Parenthood facilities, we created this inspirational prayer card to offer guidance and direction. SHOP NOW Pro-Life Social Media Pro-abortion Tim Kaine claims to be Catholic, and you won’t believe what his Lenten practice is this year. LEARN MORE Pro-Life This Week is made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors. Please consider supporting American Life League with a tax-deductible gift. To contribute securely online using your credit card, click HERE. Or mail your check to our address below. The preceding is a product of American Life League. If you would like to know more, please visit our website. Copies may be made if attribution is given. Mention of a person or group or a person's or group's publication does not constitute an endorsement of all the work, publications and/or information of such person or group. Copyright (C) 2026 American Life League. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: American Life League PO Box 6170 Falmouth, VA 22403-6170 USA

40 Days For Life: DAY 2: First Baby of the Campaign Saved in...

 

We didn't have to wait long for the first report of a baby saved at a 40 Days for Life vigil! "We had a turnaround!" wrote Hempstead, New York, 40 Days for Life leader Michael. Michael's 40 Days for Life team launched their Long Island campaign with a prayer rally that started at a local church before processing to the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood. That's where they encountered a woman about to end her seven-week-old child's life by taking the abortion pill. Instead, the woman talked to a sidewalk counselor, visited a pregnancy center, scheduled an ultrasound, and chose life! This baby is the FIRST saved during the Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign... ...but he or she will surely not be the last! Help save a mom and baby from abortion where you live by finding your nearest vigil and signing up to pray at: 40daysforlife.com/locations Thousand Oaks, California A Southern California pregnancy help center told Leonore that her 40 Days for Life 365 vigil just saved a baby. "The mom specifically used our organization's name [40 Days for Life]," Leonore beamed. "Thanks be to God!" The saved baby marks just the latest fruitful encounter from Leonore's year-round vigil, which saved 13 babies (that we know of) in 2025. "Your outreach efforts are bearing fruit!" Leonore exhorted her volunteers. "When we help save a baby, God starts repairing all the relationships in a family."  Cleveland, Ohio The 40 Days for Life team in the Cleveland area organizes three campaigns: Cleveland, Painesville, and Bedford Heights. And the Cleveland location is a 40 Days for Life 365 location. Five prayer warriors stood vigil on a frigid day. Their sacrifices were rewarded when a young woman with a big smile announced, "I changed my mind because you were out here today. ... I came here planning to get an abortion." Prayer warriors sent her home with a backpack filled with supplies for both her and her baby. "Thank you for being here," she told vigil participants. "It changed my mind. Keep coming back!" Dan with the Cleveland team said the experience was a powerful way to enter into the Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign. "[It's] a perfect reminder that being out there truly, truly makes a difference." [pinterest.com image] When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. --Matthew 1:24 Lord, thank you for the example of Joseph, who shows us what it means to live with courage in the wake of fear and uncertainty. Bless all fathers with the strength of Joseph so that in every circumstance they may place their trust in you. Help all fathers to answer the call of sacrificial love that comes with the birth of every child. Give them the strength to be not afraid. Amen. For life, Shawn Carney President & CEO, 40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life | 4112 East 29th Street | Bryan, TX 77802 US