October 22, 2009
I just posted a special 3-minute video online that I
think will bless your day:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=422
This video will introduce you to just a few of the
amazing volunteers who are making 40 Days for Life
such a huge success -- and will give you a chance to
see what campaigns in various cities look like.
Over the final 10 days of this fall's 40 Days for
Life campaign, I'll be sharing short "on site" videos
from various locations across the country.
Today's video comes from Louisville, Kentucky, where
you will hear from young and old, Evangelical and
Catholic, male and female -- all with one mission to
end abortion.
Watch it now at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=422
On the video, you will hear from a young school girl
who talks about why she is involved in 40 Days for
Life. She is one of the many children who have
blessed this fall's campaign.
The headmaster of a school in Pennsylvania just had
to tell parents what happened at a 40 Days for Life
vigil, so this item was included in the school
newsletter: "Our seventh and eighth grade students
braved pouring rain and frigid temperatures to give
prayerful witness to the sanctity of human life in
front of Planned Parenthood in West Chester."
As it continued to rain, the children marched, prayed
and sang. But a man waiting in the parking lot took
exception to their presence. He turned up his radio
in an attempt to drown out the students' prayer.
It didn't work. The children kept praying. So he
turned up the volume even louder.
It still didn't stop the prayer.
"As we were preparing to leave he finally broke down,
exited his vehicle and engaged a sidewalk counselor
in conversation in a very contrite and humble
fashion," the headmaster wrote. "I am confident that
our students' faith-filled witness made possible an
opportunity for conversion to the truth that
otherwise would not have occurred. Our Lord hears the
prayers of his children."
When we speak of God hearing His children's prayers,
we don't just mean seventh and eighth graders in
Pennsylvania -- we mean ALL of us!
"God always does something every time we go down
there," says Vicki in Fargo, North Dakota, who prays
often at the 40 Days for Life vigil at the state's
only abortion facility. "I was so blessed to be there
and I believe God wants to show us He is there. He
will reveal His presence in some way and usually in
unexpected ways!"
To see a photo of the Fargo vigil, go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=422
The prayers are being heard.
One woman came out of the abortion facility in Fargo
and told vigil participants that she "couldn't do
it." The people who had accompanied her to the clinic
seemed angry with her decision -- but she looked
delighted.
Another woman in Fargo was intent on having an
abortion. But when she drove up to the abortion
facility and saw "that icky place," she just couldn't
bring herself to park her car and walk in. She said
the place "looked awful." When she called one of the
volunteers later, her voice was filled with joy as
she is now "so excited about having the baby."
Rosa in Pasadena, California was just ending her
prayer shift at the 40 Days for Life vigil at Planned
Parenthood when a woman walked out of the clinic and
said she'd changed her mind about having an abortion.
"When I saw you praying out if front it made me think
about what I was planning on doing," the woman said.
"I was inside the center and realized that God has
been good to me and that this baby is a blessing.
Please keep up what you are doing. You are making a
difference."
She then pointed to a sign reading "choose life" and
said, "I am choosing life for my baby." She then
thanked Rosa and left. Rosa is convinced that the
vigil participants' prayers saved two lives that day
– both the baby and the mother.
God hears His children's prayers!
Here's today's devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone,
National Director of Priests for Life...
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DAY 30 INTENTION
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That those tempted to abort may understand that their
child is already present, and already a real person.
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SCRIPTURE
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And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of
Mary that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth
was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said,
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the
fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For
indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded
in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
-- Luke 1:41-44
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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone
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Jesus not only loves unborn children -- He was one
himself!
Think about this for a moment.
We often hear people speak of a pregnant mother by
saying, "She's expecting a child." Now if one is
expecting a package, the package is not yet there. As
reflected in our verse for today, however, this is
not the case with the mother.
Her gift is already there. The pregnant woman, a
mother already, does not have a child "on the way,"
but has a child, already present and in full
possession of his or her human rights, starting with
the right to life.
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PRAYER
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Jesus, open my eyes to your presence in the life of
every child. Open my heart to joy in the birth of
every child, a birth that reflects the joy of your
own birth in Bethlehem.
As you shared life in the womb of Mary, so now send
your protection upon every child still in the womb,
and grant to their mothers the strength and joy that
comes from welcoming the gift of life. 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/fall2009day30print.pdf
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For Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
P.S.- John, when you're done watching the 3-minute
video from Louisville, will you do me a favor? Please
post a reply at the bottom of the web page where it
is posted to let me know what you think:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=422