It's finally here: day 40!To mark the conclusion of this amazing 40 Days forLife campaign, David Bereit and I just recorded aspecial 9-minute audio for you.
Listen online now at:http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=230
Everyone who has prayed, fasted, stood vigil, or engaged in community outreach is a hero -- for responding to God's call to speak up for the mosthelpless who we will most likely never see or meet. Standing witness outside abortion facilities -- evenwhen it is tough and unpopular -- is always worth it.Just ask the 368 children whose lives have been savedfrom abortion during this spring 40 Days for Life.
Yes, reports keep pouring in and the number is now upto 368 lives saved. Praise God!There is much to celebrate on Day 40 of this 40 Days for Life. Here are just three examples among many...To say that it snowed a lot during this "spring"campaign in Kalispell, Montana is an understatement. But Kalispell, which is in a county of about 85,000 people, has maintained a 24-hour vigil since February 25 despite the waves of wintry weather.Their sacrificial efforts just gained front page newscoverage in their local paper...
Listen online now at:http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=230
Everyone who has prayed, fasted, stood vigil, or engaged in community outreach is a hero -- for responding to God's call to speak up for the mosthelpless who we will most likely never see or meet. Standing witness outside abortion facilities -- evenwhen it is tough and unpopular -- is always worth it.Just ask the 368 children whose lives have been savedfrom abortion during this spring 40 Days for Life.
Yes, reports keep pouring in and the number is now upto 368 lives saved. Praise God!There is much to celebrate on Day 40 of this 40 Days for Life. Here are just three examples among many...To say that it snowed a lot during this "spring"campaign in Kalispell, Montana is an understatement. But Kalispell, which is in a county of about 85,000 people, has maintained a 24-hour vigil since February 25 despite the waves of wintry weather.Their sacrificial efforts just gained front page newscoverage in their local paper...
And the dedicated people don't want to stop! And why not? They're making an impact.When the vigil at Planned Parenthood began, the Kalispell clinic was open five days a week. The facility has now cut back to three days a week.
In addition, the area's other abortion center has cutback from six days a week to five. "So they have begun to downsize," said Sandra Bois, a local coordinator."A beginning!"Other true heroes are the men and women who've shared the message that Christ's healing is available in the wake of abortion. They've stepped forward during 40Days for Life to tell the world, "I regret my abortion" or "I regret lost fatherhood."Frances Wilkinson spoke up after an angry abortion supporter's letter to the editor appeared in theOttawa Citizen. The writer said she was "increasingly outraged" at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Canada's capital city and encouraged others to follow herexample of donating to a pro-abortion fund. Frances answered -- and the paper printed her response and a photo of her holding her "I regret my abortion"sign at the 40 Days for Life vigil. See: http://tinyurl.com/d7ky26 Frances said she wants to help other women "so they will not make the worst mistake they will ever make, for themselves and their child, and anyone else affected by the abortion." She added, "No one has the right to kill another human being.
In addition, the area's other abortion center has cutback from six days a week to five. "So they have begun to downsize," said Sandra Bois, a local coordinator."A beginning!"Other true heroes are the men and women who've shared the message that Christ's healing is available in the wake of abortion. They've stepped forward during 40Days for Life to tell the world, "I regret my abortion" or "I regret lost fatherhood."Frances Wilkinson spoke up after an angry abortion supporter's letter to the editor appeared in theOttawa Citizen. The writer said she was "increasingly outraged" at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Canada's capital city and encouraged others to follow herexample of donating to a pro-abortion fund. Frances answered -- and the paper printed her response and a photo of her holding her "I regret my abortion"sign at the 40 Days for Life vigil. See: http://tinyurl.com/d7ky26 Frances said she wants to help other women "so they will not make the worst mistake they will ever make, for themselves and their child, and anyone else affected by the abortion." She added, "No one has the right to kill another human being.
"There are true heroes in Toccoa, Georgia as well.Toccoa is in a county with a population of around 25,000. But this town has served as an amazing exampleof a community coming together to take a stand. A Christian businessman offered his parking lot on a busy highway as the vigil site. The coordinators set up a tent and invited people to pray."The response from the road traffic was fantastic!"said Andrea Sosebee, one of the coordinators. "People honking horns, thumbs up, hollering positive words of encouragement to all -- it was awesome!"She added, "We may not have had an abortion clinic to stand in front of, but our community has truly been awakened to the issue of abortion and the need forchange and healing. This has been such an exciting campaign!"
An awakening. Just what this culture needs, don't youthink? And it's all thanks to the grace of God -- and the faithful response to His call by people just like you in 135 cities across 43 states, Canada, Northern Ireland, and Australia.
Once again, THANK YOU! A remarkable effort is ending-- but it's really only just beginning.Today's devotional is from Fr. Frank Pavone, nationaldirector of Priests for Life
DAY 40 INTENTION
Let us keep our eyes fixed on the New Jerusalem, wheredeath will be no more.
SCRIPTURE
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, forthe old order of things has passed away." He who wasseated on the throne said, "I am making everythingnew!"-- Revelation 21:4-5
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
Every activity we undertake in defense of the sanctityof life is prophetic, inasmuch as it points to the daywhen "death will be no more."Every victory we have when an act of abortion isprevented is prophetic of that day when death itselfwill be definitively conquered.Every triumph of grace in this world, whereby someoneis brought to see the value of life and given thestrength to welcome it, is a breaking into our historyof that definitive future in which the old order ofthings will have passed, and all things will be madenew.
As pro-life warriors, we must keep our eyes fixed on heaven, and our hearts secure in the hope that the dayis coming when all evil will be conquered.It is the future that shapes the present; it is victory that informs the battle; it is the destination that determines the journey. Daily, we are called to reflect on heaven.
When we weep, we are to think of the day when every tear will be wiped away.When we face the destructive power of death, we are to think of the day when death is swallowed up invictory.When we labor against abortion, we are to think of the day when we will have the rest and peace of the final triumph of life.
Heaven is as real as earth, and its joys will be asreal as our present sorrow.
PRAYER------------------------------------------------------
Father, you are the God of hope. Your word fills us with the vision of the world to come, when every tear will be wiped away, and death will be no more. Father, how we need that hope, how we are strengthened by that vision! Keep our hearts focused on heaven, and diligent in the labors of earth. As we struggle against the culture of death, root oursouls in the assurance of victory.
We pray through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
PRAYER------------------------------------------------------
Father, you are the God of hope. Your word fills us with the vision of the world to come, when every tear will be wiped away, and death will be no more. Father, how we need that hope, how we are strengthened by that vision! Keep our hearts focused on heaven, and diligent in the labors of earth. As we struggle against the culture of death, root oursouls in the assurance of victory.
We pray through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
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