A Day of Prayer and Penance for Life
in the dioceses of the United States
January 22nd
Visitation
Flemish. Rogier van der Weyden (oil on oak panel, ca 1445)
Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig
A special Mass “For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life” was confirmed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments for use in the dioceses of the United States. This Mass may be used on occasions to celebrate the dignity of human life. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) §373 was altered to allow this Mass to be said on January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday), the day of penance for abortion:
GIRM 373: In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.
The liturgical celebrations for this day may be the Mass “For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life” (no. 48/1 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions), celebrated with white vestments, or the Mass “For the Preservation of Peace and Justice” (no. 30 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions), celebrated with violet vestments.” (American adaptation)
Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life
Readings: Readings of the day or any readings from the Lectionary for Ritual Masses, the "Mass for Peace and Justice"
Collect A
God our Creator,
We give thanks to you,
Who alone have the power to impart the breath of life
as you form each of us in our mother’s womb;
Grant, we pray,
that we, whom you have made stewards of creation,
may remain faithful to this sacred trust
and constant in safeguarding the dignity of every human life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. +Amen
Collect B
O God, who adorn creation with splendor and beauty
and fashion human lives in your image and likeness,
Awaken in every heart
reverence for the work of your hands,
and renew among your people
a readiness to nurture and sustain
your precious gift of human life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. +Amen
