DAY 38: Meet an abortion survivor
Jennifer in Cherry Hill, New Jersey has been thankful that the 40 Days for Life campaign in her community has the support of the local Catholic bishop in the Diocese of Camden. Just recently, Bishop Joseph Galante participated in the prayer vigil outside the abortion facility — and more than 100 other people were there to join him.
Here’s a photo of Bishop Galante at the vigil:
But there’s someone else in that picture that I’d like to call to your attention — the young woman in the wheelchair next to Bishop Galante. Her name is Maricruz, and I would ask that you pray for her, her birth family in Central America, and her adopted family in New Jersey.
Maricruz is an abortion survivor.
Twenty-one years ago, her mother tried to abort her. This was an attempted chemical abortion; her mother took a pill, which was assumed to be RU-486. It is believed that the drug was being used experimentally in Central America at the time.
To make a long story short, the abortion pill didn’t work. Maricruz was born three months premature. She survived, but was left severely handicapped and must use the wheelchair. Maricruz has three siblings in Central America — and four others who were aborted.
The woman next to Maricruz is her adopted grandmother, an active pro-lifer who’s been honored for her efforts on behalf of the unborn. She is also the mother of 13 — including Jennifer.
Yes, the woman who helped bring 40 Days for Life to Cherry Hill, New Jersey (it’s just outside of Philadelphia, in case you were wondering) is also Maricruz’s adopted mom.
Please share this story with the next person who complains that pro-lifers care nothing about “unwanted” children after they’re born!
Said Jennifer, “God provides for us in our lives when we accept His plan for our lives.”
Jennifer also tells a story of the horrifying truth about abortion, the operation that its supporters call a “safe, legal medical procedure.”
Two prayer vigil participants saw a woman leave the clinic, crying hysterically. She said she was 18 weeks pregnant — and the abortionist had given her baby a lethal injection to end the child’s life. She had apparently known very little about the actual procedure, only that she had a “choice” that would permit her to become un-pregnant.
She cried that God would never forgive her for what she had done. Volunteers suggested going to the emergency room to see if the baby could be saved. Sadly, it was too late. She would have to return to the clinic the next day to have the dead child removed from her womb.
The woman told the volunteers that she wanted to stand on the sidewalk to warn the clinic’s clients about what abortion really is. But please pray that she recognizes her own need for healing and spiritual renewal at this most challenging time in her life. Please pray that the Lord will help her understand that He CAN forgive her and is willing to do so — and most importantly, that she herself can accept God’s forgiveness.
Here’s today’s devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life and President of the National Pro-life Religious Council…
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DAY 38 INTENTION
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Pray that we become vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement.
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SCRIPTURE
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On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
– Luke 24:1-5
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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone
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This meditation, based on a sermon I once heard, is adapted for pro-life concerns.
It’s Friday. Jesus is on the cross. He has been killed by his enemies; he is off the scene. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Abortionists continue their work 3,300 times a day, tearing off the arms and legs of little babies and crushing their heads. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’! It’s Friday. Pro-abortion groups receive blood money from billionaires who are as deceived as they are. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Liars attempt to speak for all women and hide the pain of abortion, and ignore the evidence of how it harms women, and call abortion a blessing. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’! It’s Friday. People of hardened hearts guard the clinics and usher desperate women in to have their abortions while keeping them from the pro-life people who want to give them hope. But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
Hope does not mean that we ignore or minimize the evils around us. It means, rather, that we see the whole picture, which is that evil is conquered because of what happened one Sunday morning. The power of sin and death has been broken by the Resurrection of Christ. We are called to proclaim, celebrate, and serve that victory, waiting in joyful hope for Christ’s return and the full flowering of the Culture of Life! Indeed, Sunday’s comin’!
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PRAYER
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Lord, fill your people with new hope. Make us vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement, that as we engage in the difficult work ahead, we may experience the peace and joy that come only from you and that nobody can take away from us. We ask this 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/fall2009day38print.pdf
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A final note…
As we near the finish line of this 40 Days for Life, I am in Jacksonville, Florida, and in a few hours will be driving down to visit the 40 Days for Life site in Ocala.
There are a gazillion people here in town for the Florida-Georgia football game Saturday, and it just hit me that last year I was also in Florida right before that big showdown — and had the opportunity to sit down with Pam and Bob Tebow, parents of Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow.
Tim’s mom shared with me how doctors had advised her to abort Tim when she was pregnant with him … And why she refused.
That day last fall, Pam and Bob recorded a short audio clip to share their story and to encourage YOU to persevere in your 40 Days for Life efforts.
I think you’ll be blessed by this seven-minute audio…
David & Margaret Bereit with Pam & Bob Tebow
Listen to the Audio Online (click “Play” button to start audio):
As the top ranked college team takes the field on Saturday, led by quarterback Tim Tebow, keep his powerful story in mind!
Yours for Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
October 30th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Let us all pray for an end to abortion.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:05 am
It has been a privilege to pray these 40 days for those who volunteer to stand outside abortion clinics in all kinds of weather. My prayers have been with them and will continue to be prayed for them even after the forty days are over. God will certainly bless all who are involved in this holy endeavor. Thank all of you for your love and concern for the unborn.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:11 am
God bless you David and all those participating in 40 Days for Life, and go Dawgs!
October 30th, 2009 at 8:44 am
I met Jennifer last year about this time when I joined the Cherry Hill vigil right at the end of the Fall ‘08 40 Days for Life. She is an amazing woman who works very hard to do God’s work.
One of the things I like about her is her sense of humor. She had a little gathering at the end of last year’s fall campaign and brought a cake. She told me I reminded her of the bible story of the workers who showed up at the end of the day and still got the full day’s wages! I hope I’ve earned by cake by now.
I will share this email with friends as a way to tell them what I’m doing now and invite them to get involved.
The one problem is I can’t get the audio on Tim Tebow. There’s an x in the box instead of a play arrow. Is it just me?
Thanks for this update.
October 30th, 2009 at 9:59 am
I pray God will bless you all.
October 30th, 2009 at 10:51 am
GOd bless the Tebow family! Their story needs to be told over and over again. Tell it to someone today! Spread the word.
October 30th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Oh, Heavenly Father, as I remain steadfast in prayer & fasting for all of the Pro-Life Prayer Warriors who will continue to intercede & stand year round filling in the gaps for the least of these, the most vulnerable, the unborn. I pray that You will soon wipe away all of the tears, sorrows, & the agony of knowing each day in and each year out, in the land of milk & honey, that the most innocent are dying by the thousands; and now in the millions. Thank you for all Your gifts; especially the gift of discernment. Being able to see & hear into the supernatural spiritual warfare of abortion and having discerned that most may feel small and maybe feel a little helpless; but, always leaving Your Holy Spirit Comforting, HOPE, for a better tomorrow. Thank you for allowing me to see and understand with a greater discernment of the simple causal connection between our nations abortion rate as well as the continued pursuit of the government’s attempts to divide the land of Israel for false peace, the apple of Your eye, has and will continue to bring gianormous judgments upon America (i.e., Financial weakness, Fierce Weather everywhere, and a rise in social afflictions with random violence in the streets, anywhere U.S.A., especially toward our children). I pray that as we stand together praying as the Lord’s intercessors that we remember what He said when we are at our weakest, our Father is at His strongest. In Jesus name, I know like I know that our prayers have already been answered, I believe that we must just continue praying and interceding leaving the details with the Father in respect to: “HOW & WHEN WILL IT ALL END” and allow the Father to be who HE IS, OUR GOD!!! May HE continue to Bless US All in these last moments!!! Amen & Amen.
October 30th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Thank you, David and Margaret, for the encouragement through videos from various vigil sites. I do not live in Charlotte, but my daughter does. When I visit her, I sometimes go to the Latrobe Street abortion facility to pray. It was wonderful to meet some of the other intercessors through the video filmed there. The good news about lives shared brings tears of gratitude to our Lord and Savior.
I am one who was also advised to have an abortion 41 years ago. I refused, and now have a beautiful daughter, son-in-law and 4 grandsons who are being raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. All praise to God Most High and Most Merciful! Blessing to you.
October 30th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I pray protection, wisdom, and effectiveness for all who stand today
as a witness for you Lord. A witness for those who cannot stand by themselves, unless they be given a “living release” from the womb that now holds them! They cannot be Born Again, unless they are first born
alive! Then they can be raised by you Lord, and by the parents you select them to have, and live the life you grant them! Abortion stands in the way of your living plan, and its death hurts us all! Praise God, for those who he selects to stand today! Amen!
October 30th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I am convinced action by the pro-life movement and God’s Church on earth is being strengthened and the darkness that blinds is being weekened because of the faith and love exhibitted worldwide by the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil participants. All glory and honor be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
October 30th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Thank you for these inspiring messages. We do need a human life amendment to our constitution; but more important than the politics is the changing of hearts, especially right there on the front lines. The truth that EVERY life is sacred–babies, mothers and even abortion workers is proclaimed with great grace and dignity by your movement.
Thank you and may God bless you.
October 30th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Dear Pro Lifers,
I listened to the audio and agree with Pam Tebow- there IS something SUPERNATURAL about being a part of the Pro Life Ministry. There is a feeling of joy and expectancy that God WILL hear and answer our prayers to SAVE BABIES from Abortion and that all of our efforts and sacrifices will bear fruit (even if it is not evident immediately). This 40 Days for Life Campaign is proof of that. I can’t wait to hear the Grand Total number of babies saved during this campaign at our closing meeting on Nov 1.
May God bless each and every person who participated in these 40 Days. May He continue to give us all the courage and stamina to continue standing for LIFE wherever we go and whatever we do.
Let us Praise and Thank God for His graces and blessings on all of us and on the mothers and fathers and babies who were spared a horrible death by abortion. But, let us also pray for the healing and forgiveness of all of those mothers and fathers who chose abortion and for their aborted babies – that God may have mercy on their souls.
Sincerely,
JoAnn V.
October 31st, 2009 at 3:11 am
We had a beautiful day today in Dallas to pray with and without words, to sing in the evening and to be accompanied by wonderful musicians. All told there were a greater number of youth than adults. The Highlands school of Irving, TX sent their high school students in uniform. We estimated 180, and not all at once. There were about 60 at all times during the morning. Five police cars arrived, but the students continued their prayers. We were conforming to the rules, and there was no trouble. In the evening, about 125 Confirmation candidates from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church came out with their parents. Our pastor led with a sung Rosary and wonderful bilingual catechesis before each decade. So many other dedicated “regulars” and sidewalk counselors plus people of various denominations came and prayed. Oh! and the Handbell choir from IC grade school was there too. Our young people are our hope. The Holy Spirit’s presence was sensed by many who commented upon it to me.
October 31st, 2009 at 5:08 pm
GOD INDEED HAS HIS HANDS ON OUR LIFES
PAM AND BOB ‘S TESTIMONY IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO ALL.
I WILL COMMIT TO THE NEXT VIGIL IN LAS VEGAS NV
GOS BLESS YOU ALL
October 31st, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Thank you to all the people that came
out to pray for the first time this 40 Days for Life, may God bless all of
you, please keep doing it, go and pray at the abortion mills regularly the unborn babies needs you.
I know one day we will see those babies we are praying for in heaven.
God Bless you all
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:46 pm
David; just listened to the Tim Tebow tape, and would have to say, in this sports mania world, this is a message that needs to be repeated, over and over, to all our high schools. What a POWERFUL witness this GIFTED player can have amongst his peers. I hope and pray that somehow messages like these and the story of the survivor from Central America, can be shared in print and Media, many ,many, times in the next year. These are the major events that will change the hearts and minds of all people of good will that we have been praying for. May GOD continue to Bless you and your Family, for bringing us tuis 40 days for LIFE Program . We pray, may it never end, until we have conquered the Battle. GOD BLESS you and your Family. Marvin & Doris
November 4th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Hellow everyone,
My wife and I would like to say Praise Jesus Christ for everything that we all have. My wife and I don’t like sports much, but we love Timmy Tebow, we actually babysat for him and his brother when they were young. They would always be reading the bible and you can tell that Tim is a great person. He is a great fore-runner for our cause: stopping abortion. I was thinking that we should see if we could get Tim to officially support our movement, we could put his picture on a bill-board and have it say “Tim Tebow loves football, not abortion” I think this would get people to be swayed by his celebrity status and join us.
What do you think?