DAY 39: “Best decision ever” + London update
Over these last 38 days, babies have been saved … abortion workers have had changes of heart and quit their jobs … and two abortion centers have closed for good.
Guess what? YOU can still be part of it!
It’s not too late to pray at any of the 258 campaigns. Saturday is usually the busiest day for abortions, so know that your presence and you prayers are needed — TODAY!
Please check for a location near you and, if possible, join the vigil.
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LONDON, ENGLAND
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Yesterday, I asked for prayers for the London campaign, as they were holding a major evening vigil in front of the abortion center — and they were told to expect a pro-abortion counter-protest.
So here’s a quick update.
“The event was a massive success,” said Robert, the 40 Days for Life coordinator in London. “We had around 400 to 500 … at least! A really positive vibe and loads of media interest, too.”
The vigil participants prayed and sang hymns. Even the media characterized the vigil as “peaceful.” A pro-abortion group did show up — blowing whistles, banging drums and chanting slogans. But they had no apparent impact on the vigil.
Now … on to the rest of today’s report!
The heart that God impacts the most during a 40 Days for Life can be your own — just read these stories from the 40 Days for Life blog. For each of these prayer volunteers, this is personal.
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PRAYER VOLUNTEER #1
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“This Lent was my first experience with 40 Days for Life. I was very nervous the first day I showed up to pray with people I had never met. I asked myself who or what am I afraid of. It was a very good question to ask myself.
“As a post-abortive woman myself, it was a huge step to take in honoring my son, who was lost to abortion in 1976. I am very grateful to God that I was able to stand there, hold my head up, and pray … to at last DO something productive on this issue.”
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PRAYER VOLUNTEER #2
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“I am inspired to say, ‘Never to stop fighting for life.’ I had my first abortion at age 14 and hardly knew what it meant — then another through the following years, still not understanding that it was true lives being terminated.
“When a friend talked me out of a fourth at age 23, it was the best thing me friend could have done. My one and only son is now 18 and graduating high school. It was the best decision I ever made.”
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PRAYER VOLUNTEER #3
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“The devotional by Carmen Pate on Day 31 struck a personal chord with me.
“I was one of those women seeking love and acceptance wherever I could find it because I was living far away from God. I, too, was faced with an unplanned pregnancy.
“I, too, wanted to ‘get rid of it’ (the pregnancy) because it felt like it was the end of my life as I knew it. It was a devastating feeling at the time.
“My doctor had the good sense to order an ultrasound at four weeks, where I saw a tiny human heart — a beating and alive heart. I knew in that moment that I couldn’t stop that heartbeat. I got the sense that I had a duty to protect the tiny person growing inside me.
“My daughter is now 13. She has been such a blessing in my life. So, yes, my unplanned pregnancy was the end of my life as I knew it. And I thank God daily for that.
“God bless all of you for your dedication and devotion to preserving life and to loving and praying for the unborn children and their mothers.”
Here’s the link to today’s devotional.
To ensure that this 40 Days for Life finishes strong, if there is any way you can carve out one extra hour this weekend to go pray outside the nearest abortion facility … it could make a world of difference.
Who knows? God might even use you to help save a life!
Yours for Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: Have you prayed at an abortion facility for the first time during this 40 Days for Life campaign? If so, please share your experiences by responding below.
March 31st, 2012 at 7:36 am
Last year around this time, our parish, Holy Family in Steubenville, OH spiritually adopted pre-born children…..about 200 total. I prayed for twins to be spared, having twins myself. In the fall 40 Days I found out twins were saved in NJ!!!! After some emails (and the mom’s OK) I talked tothe mom and have pictures of these sweet little girls!!! Have sent clothes and pray for the family…wonderful graces from the fall. Everytime I see twins saved I rejoice, as there have been many on this site. My husband and I went to Pittsburgh’s PP to pray for the first time and I found it such a picture of the Body of Christ. Folks from all over, different churches and states, all focused on ending the abuse of women and death of their children. A very positive experience, will go again. Also this blog and meditations have been a wonderful way of entering into the prayer, as I check this first thing every morning. Thank you, Lord for Your great love.
March 31st, 2012 at 7:53 am
Isnt not our God amazing? You ask for prayer Shawn for a special event like the London campaign and God answers in an awesome way. ‘Praise God,’ I also asked the Blessed Virgin to pray for the London campaign and you see, it was a double Whammy. thank you all and thank you Shawn and David for another successful Campaign am looking forward to the Fall campaign where more babies will be saved I will pray every day till then that God saves all Babies and overturns
Roe V Wade’ God Bless you all for your Prayers. Elizabeth
March 31st, 2012 at 7:58 am
Let us all pray for an end to abortion.
March 31st, 2012 at 8:53 am
I have given up soda for the 40 Days for Life campaign. This has not been easy. Every time I want to drink one (which is several times daily), I pray for the babies, the mothers, the fathers, the abortionists, the abortion clinic workers, and the campaign participants! I have never fasted before and this experience has made me understand what a powerful force fasting can be. It is a reminder to lift up my voice in prayer in my weakness (desiring soda). I have only been able to get to PP once, with my five children, but I pray daily. Please know there are people like me who are diligently supporting the cause in prayer.
March 31st, 2012 at 9:07 am
I went with another parishoner to the PP in Dover De last Thursday. It was the first time I’ve been there on a Thursday (the day of abortions at the clinic).It was a busy day day at PP – at least 20 cars were on the parking lot at any given time. What a sad day for these young ladies coming out of the building to join their boyfriends,husbands,mothers or friends waiting for them in the parking lot – their lives will never be the same! We (there were 11 of us) prayed for everyone involved, including the clinic workers. We had a lot of support from passerbys and only one experience with a hostile motorist who stopped to berate us. We were told that on Wed. nights a candlelight vigil is held at PP to pray for the end of Thursdays abortions at the clinic. I know are efforts will make a difference, we must never stop praying to end abortion!
March 31st, 2012 at 9:23 am
May God bless you even more abundantly on this a Saturday, when more babies are slaughtered…
The Baby Prayer
Dear Jesus, in your great Love and Mercy, touch the hearts of expectant mothers who are planning to have abortions.
Give them the grace and strength to CHANGE their minds and with Your loving help they will give birth to the babies destined for them.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:50 am
I am so pleased that the London vigil was such a success, I was very worried about how it would pan out especially with there being a pro-abortion group there, so to here that the media took note of your peace and quietness in contrast to the pro-abortion group’s noise is wonderful. It is wonderful that you had so many people praying there. I thank God for the witness that those women have given to the cause, telling of their own abortion experiences and how God has enabled them to promote life. 628 babies have been saved, I am sure that is much more than last campaign but by all means correct me if I am wrong. As one of the girls said at the opening event for 40 days for life, we are on the verge of transforming the culture of death in the world into a culture of life. Let’s hope we can have more locations for prayer vigils here in England, next campaign. God Bless you all.
March 31st, 2012 at 10:55 am
FANTASTIC about how the London vigil went! Praise GOD! I was praying a rosary for the cause in our chapel in Minnesota during that hour…& hoped for the best. The photo of all the people who showed up to pray in spite of warnings of the hostile environment, is SUCH an inspiration! Thank you, Heather, for sharing your SODA FAST, & for praying each time you made a sacrifice! Karen’s story of the TWINS reminded me of the twins & quadruplets spared lately! There IS safety in numbers & in the mercy of God! Love to read all the updates from Shawn & comments from readers. PTL!
March 31st, 2012 at 12:57 pm
The hidden prayers being said . . .
Even though I haven’t been able to get to an abortion clinic to pray but I try to pray daily the rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet for the 40 Days.
I have been teaching my young daughter that life starts in the mommy tummy! I showed her pictures of her inside of me and even a video of her after she was born! She also know what abortion is (sparing the details). She also walked in a Pro-life march in Boston the full 3 miles with her baby carriage not giving up! She said “It hard for my mommy and daddy to adopt because there are no babies, there all being killed!” It’s never to late to start sharing with our young ones of the beauty of life starting in the womb. It’s so much apart of her being, I pray when she gets older will share with others. Just remember there are many of us who are praying in our quiet everyday life and teaching our children about the precious gift of life. Looking forward to the next 40 Days!
March 31st, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the lives saved during this vigil; may your Spirit move to
convict more and more souls of this travesty against You and who You have
created us to be.
March 31st, 2012 at 1:44 pm
What I find most encouraging is that even abortion facility employees, that have been indoctrinated into the culture of death, are having a change of heart. Once you realize that God is so much better at planning your life than you are, things really start to fall into place.
I watched the speech made by Andrew Brietbart where he thanked the pro-life movement for opening his eyes to the evil of abortion. He made a very important statement. He said that he was originally pro-choice because he had never really thought about it that much, and Hollywood is Pro-choice, but when he was forced to think about it, abortion made no sense. He coined the phrase that he was Pro-Choice by “cultural default. “I don’t really have a position so I may as well be pro-choice” because that is what is culturally available. I believe that many are Pro-choice through “cultural default” and the Pro-life movement does a great service in getting the information out there to allow someone to make a real choice instead of making a choice by default. Everyone has heard the saying “if you had to slaughter a cow most people would never eat a hamburger again. How many people, who think they are “pro-choice”, would be “pro-choice” once they watched an ultrasound guided abortion??
The people who pray outside the clinics stand in the light and are proud and honored by what they do. The abortionists operate behind locked doors and drawn curtains and use lies and spin to make their blood money. God is the light and Evil the darkness. Everyone serves someone or something. I pray that the people that are Pro-choice understand who it is that they really serve and are not serving just through “cultural default. Even their name is a lie and a spin. Why do they say Pro-choice instead of Pro-abortion? Why do they say tissue instead of Fetus or Baby. It is because they rely on the darkness and the lies to exist. Evil cannot exist in the light because, in the light, it is easily exposed for what it is and then shunned.
I am certain that most Pro-choices see themselves as good honest people, but I pray that they think, and decide who it is that they really serve? Does your life serve the light or the darkness? WHO DO YOU SERVE – PRO-CHOICER – WHO DO YOU SERVE?? PICK ONE!
March 31st, 2012 at 2:03 pm
This was my first 40 days for life campaign also.
I was beginning to wonder if I was even doing anything by going…it got quite depressing seeing so many go in without talking to us. Then yesterday while I was there, a man stopped and talked to us and then ran in to stop his wife or girlfriend from aborting his child! Then when I was about to leave the vigil, another man came up and said thank you for what we were doing, he said he had lost a child to abortion. We comforted him and he said thank you again.
I think God was trying to tell me ‘don’t give up, it does make a difference.’ We have such an awesome, patient God!! Thank you everyone for not giving up! I never will want to again..
March 31st, 2012 at 2:21 pm
I wrote an earlier comment but just wanted to share. Even if you are busy & only have a few minutes to pray it surely will impact lives. When I was praying out there on Thursday at the Sacramento 40 days for life, what I saw defiantally defies the abortion buissness. I saw one lady who looked like she worked their with a headpiece in her ears, & she was not smiling. I know its not a happy place. I saw one car go into the parking lot but then I think I saw that same car come out of the parking lot so though I will never know if that person changed their mind or not I do hope they did.
March 31st, 2012 at 2:50 pm
Dearest Pro-Lifers:
How terrifically inspiring what God can do when we unite in prayer. Way to go God. You are the Best Friend we can have in this war. Congratulations London on a job well done.
Congratulations to all who prayed outside the abortuaries. You are true warriors in the horrid holocaust. Your bravery ,I pray, will inspire me to start with the Next 40 days in my city. Pray that I will..
March 31st, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Dear Shawn and David,
We had a miracle save here in Corpus Christi, TX last Thursday. As I was leaving the clinic for Mass I saw a woman go onto the property, so I pulled over to warn her not to go onto the property. The police had already been called once that morning and I didn’t want her to get in trouble. She said her niece was in there with her parents and she was there trying to stop the abortion. She was crying and praying the Rosary. I gave her my last pamphlet and told her it was not too late. I was going to Mass and I would offer the Mass for her niece, Taylor. I asked Father if he could offer the Mass especially for Taylor. He mentioned her name all through the Mass asking God to give her a change of heart.
I didn’t think I would ever know if she had a change of heart. However, the next Friday I went to the Federal Building to stand with others against the Obamacare mandate and asked those around me to pray for Taylor. A woman grabbed me and said, “Taylor and her baby are safe.” Apparently the aunt got the courage to go back into the clinic and talked her niece out of having the abortion and said Taylor could come live with her. Of course, the police were called again, and I heard it was very nasty, but Taylor escaped with her life and the life of her unborn child thanks to the power of prayer, love and courage. Please continue prayers for the aunt who has 4 other children, 2 with special needs. Taylor is blessed to have such a loving person take her in and care for her needs.
I couldn’t wait to thank Father Thomas for offering a special Mass just for Taylor and her unborn baby. We all know that this is truly a diabolica battle and only prayer and love can change the heart.
That morning I decided to stay an extra hour. I’m so glad the Holy Spirit gave me that desire. Just our presence does make a difference. I want to thank all those who have sacrificed these 40 Days all around the world so that babies and their moms know they are loved and wanted. UNITED IN OUR LOVE FOR LIFE,
Sandie
March 31st, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Praying in the Rain
Every week is different at Planned Parenthood. This Saturday, the owner of the bike shop next door to Planned Parenthood made me stand out in the rain & not under his alcove. You could tell he felt bad about it because he kept coming out to hassle me to get me to leave so he wouldn’t feel guilty, & for a lot of the time, he was standing outside in the alcove behind me. He said, “So why are you standing in the rain?” I said, “Because you told me to.” (He said if we didn’t get off his property, he was going to call the police.) I don’t remember everything he said, but here are most of them. “You’re not very intelligent; you didn’t even bring an umbrella.” (Actually, I had 3 umbrellas in the car, but I felt it would make a more powerful statement if I stood there like a drowned rat.) He said that I was just mumbling in the rain. I said, “I’m not mumbling. I’m praying.” He said, “They’re not even doing abortions here anymore.” I said, “The morning-after pill is abortion too.” Then he said, “You’re just standing there smiling.” (For some reason, that bothered him.) Anyway, every week is different, & I certainly hope God is using all our sufferings.
March 31st, 2012 at 4:48 pm
To the people in London, England–What a wonderful turnout for your prayer vigil. God will reward you for your work. Continue this good work.
March 31st, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Yesterday I visited the Montclair, CA site where abortions take place on Fridays. I took my 13 yr old & 5 month old daughters with me and we meet my mom to all pray there. What a moving experience! My 13 yr old held up signs with many horns of support, while I walked back and forth with my baby. I have been praying daily but knew it was time to do more, to get out there.
When I was young my mom took me to a Pro-Life rally and it made an impression on me. When I found myself 22 pregnant with no partner, I knew life would not be easy but abortion was not an option. I now hope I can make that same impact on my daughters. God bless!
March 31st, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Dear followers of Christ, I want to personally thank all of you for your efforts and sacrifices in this springs 40 days for Life. I started a campaign in Buffalo 5 years ago that is still going strong after I moved away because of all the faithful people that took up the reins. Leading that campaign for 2 years was the best experience of my life, and I was truly blessed to initiate it in my city!
I want to invite all of you to step up your participation in the fall campaigns before the most important election we will ever face in our country. Your local team needs your help and support, and remember God doesn’t call the equiped, He equips the called!
God Bless you all!
March 31st, 2012 at 8:16 pm
The movie October Baby is another answer to our pro-life prayers, and I am so thankful!! Please support this movie by seeing it as soon as possible. Hollywood is scratching its head over the success of it thus far (they wouldn’t touch it, it had to be funded without major sponsors, from what I understand). This movie will help move hardened hearts all across this nation. Prayer and fasting are powerful weapons, and many people just don’t realize it. 2 Chron 7:14 ‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land…’ Getting on your knees in front of an abortion clinic is seen and valued by God. Railing and ranting against the workers or those getting an abortion is counter-productive, for one should always remember ‘there but for the grace of God go I…’
March 31st, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Just a short note: my wife Nina & I often go to other abortion mills in our time together if we are in the area. We went to Planned Parenthood in Ann Arbor with our signs “ABORTION KILLS CHILDREN” & “PRAY TO END ABORTION”. Out of nowhere a young man appeared behind us shouting – amoung other things – “THEY DON’T JUST KILL BABIES HERE!!”. We both thought it was almost humorous & I told him “God bless you – have a nice day”.
**Think about it – – he just came up with a perfect advertisement for them – – “PLANNED PARENTHOOD – WE DON’T JUST KILL BABIES HERE”
Sad – but very true!! May our LORD bless each and every one of us (Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, etc.!!) that continue for fight for Life and be that voice for those who can not speak!!
March 31st, 2012 at 9:21 pm
God has brought many people our way during this Spring Campaign. Nurses changing shifts would give us a smile, a few thank you’s, an angry Navy veteran coming across Lancaster Avenue from the Lankenau Hospital side to challenge us “Why are you against Planned Parenthood. They have helped me when noone else would. The fathers gave me nothing, noone gave me anything. I was abused by the father until I began to fight back and beat him up. I have had 4 Brain Surgeries.” Joe answered simply, “we are against Planned Parenthood because they do Abortions. Most of their money comes from Abortions.” I chimed in, “They made a billion dollars profit last year and they are still getting $500 million of tax payers money. We believe that God creats each person with an immortal soul with a purpose for their lives, to know Him, to Love Him and the enjoy all Eternity with Him forever.”
By the time we finished speaking with her, she was recalling her Catholic mother’s teaching and realizing the we were doing the right thing. We went to her car to meet her autistic grandson and the man she was helping and we made them all happy.
Another woman, who returned to the Church after her devout mother died came out to pray with us for the first time at Planned Parenthood in St. Davids, PA. The children from St. Katherine of Siena, Wayne, PA came with their teachers and mothers to pray with us yesterday. God sent us a post-abortive woman who prayed with us nearly daily during the entire campaign. Students from Archbishop Carroll High School prayed with us two Fridays.
We can only Glorify God for His help in this Campaign, as we head into our Finale at St. Pius X RCC in Broomall, PA and a Pot Luck Luncheon after the 1:30 AM Mass. To Him Be the Glory!
March 31st, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Praise God for all the great things He has done!! Thank you 40 days for life for answering the call—God Bless you all for your faithfulness! Lets keep on praying and fasting to end abortion. To God be the Glory!!!
March 31st, 2012 at 9:49 pm
There’s a $5000 fine for taking a bald eagle egg from its nest.
Why aren’t we more protective of human eggs?
I took a basket of chicken eggs & set it in front of the PP clinic next to me as I prayed on my knees, & it started a simple discussion that changed the heart of a young man who was on the sidewalk smoking before re-entering the clinic.
April 1st, 2012 at 1:25 am
Since due to my family and work commitments, as well as distance (2 1/2 hours) from the nearest abortion clinic, I have not been able to join the prayer vigils as I would have wanted to. So during these 40 days for Life, since Ash Wednesday, and by God’s grace, I have prayed the Way of the Cross every day. United with the intentions of our Blessed Mother, my prayers were offered for all those involved with abortions as well as those praying at all the vigil locations. In a way it seems like ‘blind faith’, not ever seeing the results, but just trusting that God will attach his grace to these prayers to help accomplish ‘His’ purpose. May the suffering and death of Christ, not be in vain; but bear fruit in the conversion of all, to respect the dignity of every human life.
April 1st, 2012 at 2:00 pm
I almost didn’t get to come to this event as I live outside of London. Two particular friends helped me to make it. I’m so glad I did. I came last year on a smaller vigil, but Friday night was something else! God bless everyone involved.
April 1st, 2012 at 4:13 pm
This was my first 40 Days For Life, in North Carolina. After praying about participating, the Lord led me to advertise in my Presbyterian congregation about forming a team. Two young women, including a mother of an adopted child (of a birth mother who opted not to abort), joined me as a team at the Vigil. She brought her infant son, which meant so much. It was a new experience praying and singing with our Catholic brothers and sisters who have so faithfully lead the campaign. We knew most of the songs and were all encouraged by one another. Thank you for the moving devotionals every day – our eyes are opened to the culture of life!
April 1st, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Dear Sean: I have been present weekly and sometimes daily at 40 Days events. Keep up the good work, Ted
April 1st, 2012 at 8:40 pm
I enjoyed reading the comments…thank you pro-lifers! I want to share my testimony…I’ve been told it is powerful. God is good!!! Visit http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/testimonies/testimony.aspx?ID=2045
April 2nd, 2012 at 1:14 pm
I want to share my first prayer vigil experience, because it reinforces the spiritual power available to us today through prayer. I am 69 yrs young, caucasion, protestant male, planning to retire from a full time financial advisor this year, and I have never prayed in a vigil before 40 Days for Life. When I arrived at the Cleveland, Oh PP site, no one else was there, so I sat cross-legged on the grass at the edge of the parking lot curb and prayed wiile holding onto my my flexible cardboard sign tha flopped in the wind. 20 minutes later a young PP worker came out and said, “You are on private property, but we are NOT going to call the police.” I continued to pray. 15 minutes later a squad car arrived and the policeman asked for my driver’s license to “check for outstanding citations” while apologizing for interrupting me because he believes in what I am praying for. He also informed that local ordinance requires protestors to be off private property. So I moved to the parkway beyond the paved sidewalk.
I was visited by neighbors of PP during the rest of my vigil. Two woman who live in a nearby apartment building were shocked that abortions were being performed on their street. A young man who owns a local grocery sat down and talked with me about how abortion is a scourage to his African-American community. He offered me to bring me a beverage. I was humbled by his hospitality.
I felt empowered by my act of faith in God to commit my time and myself to be in the gap between life and death, confident that it is where God is calling us to be. The world notices our stand for life and protection of life before birth. In all the places in the world a baby should be safe it’s mother’s womb.
April 3rd, 2012 at 7:40 pm
thank you mary jane for sharing,god bless you and your baby who now lives with god.