--
DAY 2 of The 2012 Fall 40 Days for Life
Pray for those who work in the abortion industry, and
for those who have repented of committing abortions
and have resolved to defend
SCRIPTURE
Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man."
-- Luke 23:46-
REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
"Those of us who have participated in the killing of
unborn children are the Centurions of today. We have
dropped our swords against the unborn child. Now we must recognize the depth of our guilt and deal with the ramifications... To revitalize our humanity we need to forgive and be forgiven, to reconcile and be healed."
These words come from a brochure of the Society of
Centurions, an organization for former abortion providers. These words convey in a beautiful and moving way what is happening across the nation as hundreds of abortionists and their staff members experience repentance, conversion, and healing.
How does this conversion begin? Dr. Philip Ney
writes, "The factors that changed their opinion on
performing abortions, in the following order of frequency, were: evidence of the infant's humanity, a spiritual experience, personal distress, evidence of the mother's distress, scientific articles, being accepted as a person, a personal relationship with a
pro-lifer, pro-life pickets." (The Centurion's Pathway, p. 77).
The journey is not easy. But the Jesus who heals us calls us to face the truth of what we've done, make restitution where possible, and engage in the hard work of mending relationships. Let's pray for the
Centurions; may their numbers increase!
PRAYER
Lord, we thank you for those who have repented of
committing abortions and have resolved to defend life. We too repent and resolve.
We repent of every instance in which fear has made us
silent when we should have spoken. We repent of the
ongoing bloodshed in our land, and for thinking that we can deprive the unborn of protection but keep it for ourselves.
We resolve that we will advance the cause of righteous candidates for public office, and that we will be more afraid of offending you by our silence
than of offending others by our speech. We resolve that we will proclaim your name to the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
"We will" is a response in the Sacramental Rites of Baptism, Confirmation and Matrimony. At all three of these sacred ceremonies, the congregation uses this response to promise they will support and assist the recipient of the sacrament to grow in the Faith. This Blog will discuss the many aspects of Christian Formation that the family is called to master.Our aim is to facilitate intergenerational family empowerment in order to live out our Baptism Covenants and live out the Great Commission.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Today's devotional was prepared by Carmen Pate, a member of the 40 Days for Life board of 40 Days for Life
PRE-KICKOFF INTENTION
"For God's blessing upon all participating in the coming 40 Days for Life campaign.
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SCRIPTURE
-------------------------------------------
"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 I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land."
-- 2 Chronicles 7:14
REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
"Not unlike God's chosen people of Israel, we must humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from
our wicked ways, if we expect God to hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land. The need for repentance has not been greater since the Supreme Court decision of Roe vs. Wade in 1973.
The number one cause of death in America is the needless sacrifice of our children at the altar of convenience called abortion. Conservative estimates
put the number of deaths at nearly 52 million.
And lest we think this is an issue outside the church
walls, 43 percent of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 27 percent
identify themselves as Catholic. One in four women has at least one abortion by the age of 45 -- both
non-Christian and Christian alike. Where was the voice of Truth -- the church?
Mary Comm of In Our Midst Ministries, Inc. sums up the issue best as she writes, "We (the church) have
been an unintentional accomplice to the millions of lives lost and to the multiplied millions of lives
devastated by abortion. We didn't want them to abort. We didn't mean for them to abort. But, because of our
lack of knowledge, because of our fear, we have continued to stand by and do nothing. We, God's hands and feet in this dark and hurting world, have been
unintentional, unknowledgeable accomplice, but an accomplice nonetheless."
May today mark the beginning of change within the church, as God's people, in unity, seek His forgiveness.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we have turned our backs on you and your principles in your Word. We have allowed man to
usurp Your role as God over life and the number of our days. But we come to you in brokenness and repentance over our sin.
We cry out for Your mercy and ask you to remove the scourge of abortion from our land.
Use us as your vessels, Lord, to bring the light of Your Truth to our nation once again. Because of Christ we pray, Amen"
PRE-KICKOFF INTENTION
"For God's blessing upon all participating in the coming 40 Days for Life campaign.
-------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
-------------------------------------------
"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 I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land."
-- 2 Chronicles 7:14
REFLECTION by Carmen Pate, 40 Days for Life
"Not unlike God's chosen people of Israel, we must humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from
our wicked ways, if we expect God to hear from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land. The need for repentance has not been greater since the Supreme Court decision of Roe vs. Wade in 1973.
The number one cause of death in America is the needless sacrifice of our children at the altar of convenience called abortion. Conservative estimates
put the number of deaths at nearly 52 million.
And lest we think this is an issue outside the church
walls, 43 percent of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 27 percent
identify themselves as Catholic. One in four women has at least one abortion by the age of 45 -- both
non-Christian and Christian alike. Where was the voice of Truth -- the church?
Mary Comm of In Our Midst Ministries, Inc. sums up the issue best as she writes, "We (the church) have
been an unintentional accomplice to the millions of lives lost and to the multiplied millions of lives
devastated by abortion. We didn't want them to abort. We didn't mean for them to abort. But, because of our
lack of knowledge, because of our fear, we have continued to stand by and do nothing. We, God's hands and feet in this dark and hurting world, have been
unintentional, unknowledgeable accomplice, but an accomplice nonetheless."
May today mark the beginning of change within the church, as God's people, in unity, seek His forgiveness.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we have turned our backs on you and your principles in your Word. We have allowed man to
usurp Your role as God over life and the number of our days. But we come to you in brokenness and repentance over our sin.
We cry out for Your mercy and ask you to remove the scourge of abortion from our land.
Use us as your vessels, Lord, to bring the light of Your Truth to our nation once again. Because of Christ we pray, Amen"
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