DAY 10: Great news from England
On this tenth day of the 40 Days for Life campaign, I have a few stories, a few more pictures — and good news from London that should help get your day off to a really exciting start.
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LONDON, ENGLAND
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Robert, who’s coordinating the first-ever 40 Days for Life campaign in England, says the prayers of vigil participants have helped save more two babies.
Praise God for his courage to bring this campaign to London! Plus there’s another sign that shows how this vigil is having an impact.
“It looks like Marie Stopes [the abortion facility] has closed their doors today,” he wrote on Wednesday. “And all their clients are turning up.” This certainly suggests that the closure was unexpected. This same abortion business was also closed last Saturday — another day they are usually open.
Marie Stopes, by the way, is a major abortion chain in the UK — not unlike the Planned Parenthood network. Yet their Central London location is apparently closing without notice during 40 Days for Life. That is EXCELLENT news!
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LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
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The 40 Days for Life team in Little Rock, Arkansas reported three babies spared from abortion. One of the pro-life counselors had a simple, direct message for women entering the facility for abortion appointments that really struck a chord:
“Ask to see the ultrasound.”
Showing the ultrasound image is something most abortion centers don’t like to do. It offers instant proof to a woman that a baby does indeed exist — HER baby.
One very young couple that the counselor talked to walked out of the facility with smiles — and their ultrasound photo in hand. They took information about a pro-life pregnancy center and left.
Another couple received the same simple message: “Ask to see the ultrasound.” The counselor reports this woman was possibly in the fourth month of pregnancy.
The couple went inside — but over the course of the next hour, the woman came out crying twice. They came out a third time — she was still crying — but this time they left. No abortion!
Here are some of the prayer volunteers in Little Rock:
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TWIN CITIES, MINNESOTA
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Finally, I have a photo of David Bereit, the national director of 40 Days for Life, speaking at a vigil location in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota.
The vigil site is a hospital in St. Paul — a hospital that has its own abortion unit where almost 700 abortions take place each year.
David just wrapped up a marathon visit to a bunch of 40 Days for Life vigils in Michigan. Look for e-mail from David tomorrow with more big news!
I will be in Kokomo, Indiana tomorrow for a pro-life event. If you’re anywhere near, please stop by! I’d love to see you. For event information, you may go to:
Here’s today’s devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life…
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DAY 10 INTENTION
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Let us affirm the unborn by our language.
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SCRIPTURE
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Anyone who says to his brother, “Raca,” is answerable to the Sanhedrin; anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell.
– Matthew 5:22
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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
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Before the schoolyard bully beats up his victim, he calls him names. This is a way to dehumanize the victim, and therefore make it easier to justify attacking him.
In this verse from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that using dehumanizing language is sinful. “Raca” was an Aramaic term of contempt. The respect and love we are called to have for other human lives is not limited to action alone; it also has to manifest itself in language.
Professor William Brennan, in his book Dehumanizing the Vulnerable: When Word Games Take Lives, traces the dehumanizing language used to oppress various groups of people in history, such as our African-American brothers and sisters, or our Jewish brothers and sisters in the Holocaust.
He then shows that the same kind of dehumanizing language is used against the unborn, who have been called “parasites,” “tissue,” and “medical waste,” among other things.
What are we to do instead? We are to affirm one another, including the unborn, with ennobling language that inspires respect and love. The unborn are precious children, they are our brothers and sisters, they are the image of God. Let us multiply the language of affirmation, as we hasten to the day of their protection!
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PRAYER
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Lord, we ask your forgiveness for any times our words have dehumanized our brothers and sisters.
We also ask you to send your grace to those who speak and write in degrading terms about the children in the womb. Convert those who do not see the dignity of these children. Loosen the tongues of those who do not know how to acknowledge the humanity and sacredness of these tiny lives.
Keep us all aware of the power of language, and help us to use it rightly in the cause of life and justice. We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
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To download today’s devotional as a formatted, printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2010day10print.pdf
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For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: How is 40 Days for Life affecting your city? Please leave a comment below.
October 1st, 2010 at 9:13 am
Let us all pray for an end to abortion.
October 1st, 2010 at 9:58 am
“Ask to see the ultrasound” is a GREAT thing to say to ingoing abortion-minded clients! God bless these people!
FROM 40 DAYS FOR LIFE PAINESVILLE OH: The past two campaigns of 40 DAYS FOR LIFE in Painesville have been extremely edifying, but there is a radical change going on even now. It seems the neighborhood has for the most part embraced us. We’ve been coming out here more than nine years and truly have not seen anything like this. More and more passersby are waving and calling out supportive words. But even more evident is the support from the neighboring businesses and from the people who patronize those businesses. Delivery truck drivers and both school and Laketran bus drivers are increasingly waving in appreciation for our efforts to promote LIFE. Furthermore, the information we’re handing out in our Young One packets is even more readily received by motorists turning the corner, pedestrians and even the FPANEO “clients” themselves, a sure sign that the people are talking to each other in this neighborhood and realizing we are truly trying to help them make informed choices about their reproductive health and their unborn. It is a total joy to go out there knowing the neighborhood is looking forward to seeing us that day. God is good!
October 1st, 2010 at 10:22 am
When a mother sees a ultra sound of her unborn child it is so amazing you see little feet and hands . You see the heart beating and sometimes what the sex will be. I went through 2 births of children but miscarried in 1984 I was so disappointed but I knew I would b e blessed with another child . I had a daughter in 1982 and she will be 28 on Oct.7 her brother that died last year from leukemia would have been 25 on Oct.5. You carry a life inside of you and feel it moving every now and then what a precious , precious joy. I never thought when I was expecting both times to ever abort them I do not believe in it . I knew someone many years ago in the 70’s that did that guess she wasn’t ready for motherhood.God bless the work you are doing. Debra Hall, Batavia,New York
October 1st, 2010 at 10:44 am
I needed to hear this today. Being pro-life starts in the home, giving respect and love to eachother there. If we dehumanize others by using language that is not uplifting or building up (which I have done to my shame), than how can we stand in front of an abortion mill and bring hope to those who have been dehumanized?
I stand before Our Lord, sinful and sorrowful, but thankful for eyes that are opened to this truth.
May every word that comes forth from our mouth be pleasing to Our Lord, and may every person we speak to, including our family members, be lifted up and encouraged today.
Thank you for posting this.
October 1st, 2010 at 11:59 am
THere are so many eventfull things that have happened here in Oklahoma City. We have reported that 4 cars that were headed for Dr Patels Outpatient Surgery Center, after driving by the good people praying, parked for a few minutes and turned around and left. No confirmation but those who were there believe those inside decided not to go in for an abortion.
In Norman there was a tree in front of Dr Burns Abortions Surgery Center that covered his clinic and hid signs and those who were there to pray. It was quite annoying since you had to go into the street to walk by. On day 2 ( without benefit of an Oklahoma tornado) the tree fell, or at least the half of the tree that blocked the sidewalk. A miracle? maybe! A blessing? definitly.
October 1st, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Your faith didn’t move a mountain DEBORAH just half a tree:) Praise God…
Great to read the many saved babies.
Our Lady of Life please ask your Son Jesus for the end of abortion and the conversion of PP and all those involved in The Culture of Death.
Our Lady of Life please ask your Son Jesus to bless Forty Days for Life for all their needs and concerns.
October 1st, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Proverbs 24:11
Rescue those being led away
to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:55 pm
“Ask to see the ultrasound”- a great way to turn the hearts of the mothers. I will remember it.
On this First Friday of the month, and on the Feast Day of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, we ask the saints and angels to surround us, inspire us, guide us. Send the Holy Spirit of God to bring wisdom, courage, and insight to all of us. St. Therese of the Little Way, send us roses as a sign of God’s favor this day. Amen.
Go 40 Days for Life teams, Go out and change the hearts and minds of the abortion industry workers, the clients, the mothers and little lives will be spared this day!
October 1st, 2010 at 4:37 pm
40 days for life is praying and fasting to end abortion. I am fasting from bagels because I eat them a lot so I am fasting from them. I think God will help us, and abortion will stop. I am participating in this so abortion will stop.
Age 8, Fort Wayne, IN
October 1st, 2010 at 7:22 pm
In a college course this week we reviewed the Hippocratic Oath. The classic version says, “I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.”
A modern version, written in 1964, says, “Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.”
Hippocrates was surely pro life, and it is to the shame of modern-day physicians who use the name of Hippocrates falsely.
October 1st, 2010 at 7:49 pm
What a blessed day today! I live in El Paso, Tx and have been a prayer warrior for 40 days for life for 4 years. I had the privilege of counseling an abortion-minded woman last friday at one of the abortion sites. She was very emotional and told me her story. I listened and gave her words of encouragement. I gave her a pamphlet about the risks of abortions and begged her not to go in. I had my 10 month baby, Hannah, with me and told this woman that she is adopted. The woman wanted to hold Hannah and started to cry again. I told her that God provides and we need to let Him take care of us. I left feeling confident about her. Today I came back to the site to pray and another sidewalk counselor came up to me and told me that the woman came earlier this week to thank me. Since I wasn’t there, the sidewalk counselor told the woman that she would relay the message. This woman is going to have twins! I thank Our Heavenly Father for using me as an instrument for peace and I will continue to pray for the end of abortion.
October 1st, 2010 at 9:09 pm
There are so many stories to tell when one stands in front of an abortion facility to pray and witness.
I agree with Anita (above). “Respect Life” has such far reaching implications.
One can learn so much from being out there about the meaning of respecting life – from respecting the life of the enviroment to respecting our own bodies by the way we even dress or drive or as Anita says, treating others.
God is teaching us to appreciate the all encompassing life He has given us.
Life 101.
October 2nd, 2010 at 12:03 am
I tried sending this message a couple of days ago and I don’t believe it went through.
While onsite for the prayer vigil at Planned Parenthood Indianapolis it was brought to my attention that the day prior a woman was in the waiting room of PP and got up and left and has decided to have her baby.
I think it is important to put the harrassment into perspective. Namely, these people are reacting to a truth which threatens them in some way. It has struck a nerve with them. Although mean spiritedness is offensive, it pales in comparison to a life saved. Pray, Pray, Pray.
PEACE
October 2nd, 2010 at 2:37 am
MaryJane, I think God must be SO happy with you. Because He does know how much you love bagels and that you are fasting from them so many many babies can be born and enjoy bagels as you do. You are a real example for all of us. Love
Gabriela
October 2nd, 2010 at 3:22 am
Even as we pray…the Lord hears us and reaches down to us in His goodness….
Prayers from today’s Magnificat…
“Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb; I give you thanks that I am feafully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works.” Psalm 139: 13-14
“Truly I have set my soul in silence and peace. As a child has rest in its mother’s arms, even so my soul.” Psalm 131:2
Be at peace and know the Lord hears your prayers…. your testimonies are a witness to this truth…
October 2nd, 2010 at 6:52 am
Forgive us for the Wrong things that we do or say intentionally and unintentionally. Help us Lord to be examples of your Word and light in the midst of darkness. Continue to use us and continue to bless us, in Jesus name, amen…
October 2nd, 2010 at 7:05 am
We wanted to share our first “known” baby saved now that we are on our third 40 Days for Life! We have been standing on a busy corner in Sonora, CA as we do not have an abortion clinic in Tulomne nor Calavaras counties. We began with last years fall campaign with just a few people participating. Our numbers are growing slowly but we refuse to be discouraged, pressing on toward the day when no more babies and their families are distroyed by abortion.
We had some really good news this morning at our 40DFL vigil in Sonora: A woman named Christina approached Josie and Theresa at the corner of Rite-Aid on Mono and Greeley and told them that she was expecting. She continued her story that on Monday she had called Planned Parenthood to get information about aborting her child. She was told that if she was 9 weeks or less along that they could give her a pill to easily take care of the “problem”, She would think about it and call back for an appointment. They told her she did not need an appointment. She said again that she would still think about it. Christina went to Perko’s later that day, just down the street from where we were standing vigil.
Here is the best part!!!!
When she came out she saw our people on the corner quietly holding our signs: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you!” She made her decision right then and there to let her child live!!!! Many blessings for you and your husband for keeping us motivated and focused on our task during these 40 days. I am blessed to have heard Christina’s story as well. Let us pray for her and “our” little one.
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:48 pm
The devotional by Fr. Pavone was very insightful today. “Abortion business says P.O.C. but that’s a baby. It’s you and me!” It is time for Products of Conception like you and me to pray up, stand up, and speak up! Praise the Lord for what He is doing among His people in all the nations!
October 10th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
My parents and I were standing outside Planned Parenthood in Canton, Ohio today. We were getting a lot of honks and thumbs-ups, and the normal amounts of rude individuals who feel that it is necessary to yell at us or flip us off. But at one point, when cars were backed up right in front of us, there was a women who had her daughter, maybe 7 or 8 years old, in the backseat. She leaned forward and asked her mom who we were, and her mom said, “Don’t look at them, honey. It’s what they want.” The little girl leaned back, thought about it for a moment, then looked at me, waved, and gave me a thumbs-up. I think that just embodies how much people who get abortions, and people who believe that you should be able to are pressured and fooled into thinking that believing anything else is wrong, and a crime against women. I hope that little girl remember that moment if sometime later in life, her mother is pressuring her into doing something else, whether it be an abortion or not.
I found that inspiring, and I hope you will too!
God Bless,
Kati Reolfi