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Day 14 - October 9

Intention:

Abortion is the great "no." May all of God's people have the freedom and grace to say "yes" to His marvelous plans.

Scripture:

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed and in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

-- Psalm 139:13-16

Reflection:

Unlike the rest of creation, we are capable of a personal relationship with God. Not only did God create us, but created us according to a plan devised from all eternity. No matter how far back we go in our imagination, there was never a time when God did not know each of us, in every detail of our being.

There was not a particular time when God decided to make us. The decision to make us has been in the mind of God from all eternity. All our days were written in His book.

To dare to say that a human being, developing in the womb, should not be born is as wrong as to say that a born person should not continue to grow and live. In each case, an attack on human life is an attack on the God who formed and made us. Jesus Christ is the great "yes" to the promises of God; abortion is the great "no."

Prayer:

Lord, I pray today for every unborn child. The beauty of the bodies and souls of these children flows from your hands and your eternal plan. Awaken in every human conscience a profound reverence for human life, and grant us grace to defend our smallest and most defenseless brothers and sisters, those still being formed in the secret places of their mothers' womb. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

Todays’s email.

I am headed, along with our national director, David
Bereit, to Nashville, to speak at a prayer rally that
will kick off the 2012 Care Net pregnancy center
conference. Pregnancy centers have a huge impact at
the local level — and they now outnumber abortion
facilities in the United States 3 to 1.

Speaking of impact at the local level, I have some
great news to share ... plus some prayer requests
for some 40 Days for Life campaigns:

* One group believes big changes may be taking place
at the abortion center where numerous 40 Days for
Life vigils are been held. The local team is asking
for extra prayer because this situation involves
“an especially notorious and aggressive abortionist.”

* Several campaigns are having parking issues. With no
public parking nearby, campaigns must find business
owners willing to offer parking spots for vigil
participants. It may not sound like much, but lack
of parking could significantly cut into vigil
attendance and limit these campaigns’ effectiveness.

Please keep these situations — and the many local
40 Days for Life leadership teams who are making
tremendous personal sacrifices during this campaign
— in your prayers.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

“It’s just heartbreaking to see them go in,” said one
40 Days for Life volunteer, who watched as women were
dropped off at the abortion facility. But, she said,
“We had one lady leave without going in. Praise God!”

Ernie, the local coordinator, also sent some pictures
of a candlelight vigil that drew more than 300 people.
Bishop Gregory Parkes led the group in prayer.

“When people go and peacefully pray in front of local
abortion facilities, lives are spared,” said Ernie.
“God works through us. We just have to go and be His
loving witness! Have you signed up to go and pray?”

To see the pictures of this 40 Days for Life event
in Pensacola, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3427

SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN

“It’s amazing that perfect strangers will pull into
the parking lot where we are praying,” said Mike, the
local 40 Days for Life director, “and trust us enough
to share their personal stories.”

A young woman drove up and told prayer volunteers
that was pregnant with her second child. She said
her boyfriend had told her, “If you love me, you
will abort the baby.”

She, in turn, told him, “I don’t love you that much!”
She said she was keeping the baby, and then took some
information to share with her boyfriend.

Mike says it appears this woman just needed moral
support and practical information. “Praise God that
we were there to be of service to her,” he said. “We
will continue to pray for her and her unborn child.”

BRYAN / COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS

The local team in Bryan / College Station is taking
a fresh approach to the “community outreach” portion
of 40 Days for Life.

“We have five vehicles sporting huge 40 Days for Life
decals on both sides of their car,” said Bobby, the
local coordinator. The campaign team had these decals
made up, then offered them to people who spend a lot
of time on the road — guaranteeing that thousands
of people will see them.

In addition, 40 Days for Life yard signs are popping
up in high-traffic areas around the community, and
people are being encouraged to wear 40 Days for Life
shirts on Wednesdays.

As a result, more people are now asking, “I keep
seeing this 40 Days for Life everywhere. What is
that?” It provides a great opportunity to talk about
the campaign — and why it’s so important.

To see pictures of these rolling 40 Days for Life
billboards-on-wheels, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3427