Devotional for Day 37, April 10, 2014
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life
Intention: We are the defenders of true freedom. May our witness unveil the deception of the “pro-choice” slogan.
Scripture: Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. — 2 Corinthians 3:17
Reflection: Norma McCorvey (the former Jane Roe of Roe v. Wade) used to work at an abortion mill named “A Choice for Women.” She now realizes what a cruel irony that title was. She saw first hand, just as pregnancy resource center counselors see, that women don’t get abortions because of freedom of choice, but rather because they feel they have no freedom and no choice. They feel trapped, abandoned, desperate and afraid, and have been led to believe that abortion is their only option. As Frederica Mathewes-Green has written, no want wants an abortion like she wants a Porsche or an ice cream; rather, she wants it like an animal caught in a trap wants to gnaw off its own leg.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” That doesn’t mean that the Spirit allows us to do whatever we want or to decide for ourselves what’s right and wrong. Rather, it means that the Spirit gives us the freedom to do what is right, the power to choose what is good, when we see it before us and yet feel pulled in the opposite direction. Liberty means that we no longer have to feel doomed to do what we know is wrong. We are the people of the Spirit of the Lord, and when we take action on be- half of life, especially by being present at abortion mills, we are acting on be- half of true freedom, and imparting to those who are in bondage the power to do what is right.
Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. You are the Spirit of freedom, the source of all that is good, the power to do what is right. Fill us, and fill those who are in bondage to- day, feeling doomed to do what is wrong. Set them free, and help us to hasten them on the road to freedom, where your grace overcomes every temptation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
There have been 88 abortion workers who have had a change of heart and left their jobs during 40 Days for Life campaigns. Many of these workers leave during the last two weeks of the campaign … and today, we ask for prayers for one abortionist who is struggling with his conscience.
A prayer volunteer has spoken to one of the abortionists at a facility where the 40 Days for Life vigil is in progress. I’m keeping the location confidential for now. They’ve had several conversations, and the volunteer says the man has told him, “I can’t do this anymore. I need to talk to a priest.”
I can only echo the request of the campaign coordinator in this city – please pray that this man … and any others in a similar position … may have the faith and courage to trust God and leave the abortion industry.
Now … here’s the latest from Steve Karlen, our North American outreach director … who’s been on the road in Michigan.
Brighton, Michigan
I arrived in Brighton early to tour the local pregnancy center. As I drove in, I passed the vigil site and saw a volunteer hunkered down with a chair and an umbrella—enduring the rain.
At the vigil site, I learned that her name was Pat, and she had been at the vigil site all day! In fact, she has been there nearly all day, every day for the last five days as she’s coordinated a five-day block adopted by her church.
Tom, the Brighton campaign leader, told me that she has been a big part of the campaign even on days that her church has not committed to. I was also joined by a group that included a number of folks from Silent No More. Their message is always powerful.
Traverse City, Michigan
Apparently, the snow was so high for most of the campaign that there was nowhere to stand! Lillian, the campaign coordinator in Traverse City, said she prayed from her office, which has a window facing Planned Parenthood. One elderly gentleman drove up and came out to greet us and thank us for being out on the sidewalk.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
The event I spoke at in Grand Rapids took place in frigid rain and wind. Lisa, the local coordinator, told me that the number of abortions in Kent County has dropped by more than 40% since 40 Days for Life started in 2007.
There is a house next door to the abortion facility that is owned by a group of sidewalk counselors. These counselors initially allowed the 40 Days for Life participants to park on their property. But that arrangement was ended because the city said the house was not licensed as a church. Fortunately, the campaign team got creative and came up with alternative arrangements.
Thanks to Steve Karlen for today's update from Michigan!