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David Bereit, the 40 Days for Life national director,
and I are in Iowa today — celebrating the closure of
TWO Planned Parenthood abortion centers that have been
the sites of 40 Days for Life campaigns.

One of the reasons 40 Days for Life has such an impact
in communities is because of strong leadership from
local pastors.

I’ve seen a lot of courage this spring at kickoff
events I’ve spoken at, where pastors of Baptist,
Catholic, Presbyterian and many other Christian
churches shared the Word of God and challenged their
congregations to be part of 40 Days for Life.

Pastors don’t hear it enough, but we appreciate YOU!
Thanks for all you do on behalf of God’s children.

HARLINGEN, TEXAS

Nancy says “folks are taking notice” of the 40 Days for
Life campaigns in the Rio Grande Valley — “and the
campaign is still young.”

This is the second 40 Days for Life in which Harlingen
is participating. “Harlingen support is booming
compared to last time as we now have Brownsville, Port
Isabel and South Padre Island folks joining us.”

A particular boost came when Bishop Daniel Flores of
the local Catholic diocese went to pray at the vigil.
A number of people joined him — and so did the media.

A KGBT news crew interviewed both Bishop Flores ... AND
the abortion center’s owner. It was quite a contrast,
and brought quite a bit of attention to 40 Days for Life.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

At a recent vigil, there were more than 100 people on
the sidewalks outside the abortion center. “By far,
our best ever,” said Patti, the local 40 Days for Life
coordinator. “God really blessed us with many new people
coming out for the first time,” she said.

“We had great support from passers-by, including a
young girl and her mother who brought freshly-made
empanadas,” Patti said. “Then a young man who lives
across the street and really appreciates what we’re
doing brought us five dozen fresh-baked bagels.”

To see a picture of the 40 Days for Life vigil in
California’s San Fernando Valley, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=2805

EUGENE, OREGON

You don’t always get to see God’s hand in action. But
sometimes, He permits a glimpse.

A man walked up to Lynda in at the 40 Days for Life
vigil in Eugene and asked her if she wanted to meet
one of the women the volunteers had prayed for.

“I dropped everything and followed him to meet his
daughter and her two beautiful kids,” she said. “Such
beautiful miracles — another testimony of answered prayer!”

Lynda said she just wanted to pass this blessing along
“for encouragement to others that prayers are being
heard and answered!”

Day 11 - March 3

Intention:

Pray that people of faith will have their strength renewed even in the face of the violence of abortion.

Scripture:

The favors of the Lord are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent. They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait in silence for the saving help of the Lord.

--Lamentations 3:22-26

Reflection:

The Book of Lamentations, a short book of only five chapters, contains some of the most poignant expressions of human grief. These verses are used in many Churches on Good Friday, since they can be seen to express a prophecy of the suffering of the Lord and the lamentation of his followers on that dark day.

But in the midst of his grief, Jeremiah writes the verses quoted above. "The favors of the Lord are not exhausted." It is a call to hope that no matter how much violence there is, life will prevail in the end.

Why does he say, however, that God's mercies are renewed each morning?

Because early in the morning, on the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb -- and they found that the events of that morning changed everything.

Christ's victory over death came in the morning, and therefore each day we can renew our confidence that life has the final victory.

Prayer:

Lord, look kindly on your people who weep and mourn amidst the vast devastation that abortion has brought upon our land. We cannot even count the children killed, and the mothers and fathers wounded.

We cannot measure the devastation and corruption abortion has brought upon the very fabric of our society. But we declare today that your favors have not been exhausted, your mercies have not been spent. They are renewed each morning.

Give us new strength today in the resurrection of Christ your Son, that we may bear effective witness to the victory of life! In His name we pray, amen.

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life and President, National Pro-life Religious Council