[Salvation]

Mediation, February 22, 2010

Day 6 - February 22

 

Intention:

That those tempted to abort may understand that their child is already present, and already a real person.

Scripture:

And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

-- Luke 1:41-44

Reflection:

Jesus not only loves unborn children -- He was one himself!

Think about this for a moment.

We often hear people speak of a pregnant mother by saying, "She's expecting a child." Now if one is expecting a package, the package is not yet there. As reflected in our verse for today, however, this is not the case with the mother. Her gift is already there. The pregnant woman, a mother already, does not have a child "on the way," but has a child, already present and in full possession of his or her human rights, starting with the right to life.

Prayer:

Jesus, open my eyes to your presence in the life of every child. Open my heart to joy in the birth of every child, a birth that reflects the joy of your own birth in Bethlehem. As you shared life in the womb of Mary, so now send your protection upon every child still in the womb, and grant to their mothers the strength and joy that comes from welcoming the gift of life. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

[Salvation]

Testimony from Florida!

Early Sunday morning, local coordinator Ernie Cyr
sent out an urgent message to 40 Days for Life
volunteers in Pensacola, Florida. He had just found
out that abortions were taking place at the city’s
only abortion facility. Yes, on the Lord’s day.

Ernie’s request for prayer volunteers at the 40 Days
for Life vigil was quickly answered.

It would soon become apparent that their prayers were
being answered as well.

A woman drove up and told the vigil participants,
“I called my sister and convinced her not to have
an abortion!”

It wasn’t easy — her sister was already inside the
building. The woman got on the phone and tried to
speak to her sister, but the abortion facility staff
refused to let her take the call.

Finally, the woman told the center’s staff it was an
emergency and she MUST speak to her sister URGENTLY.
The staff reluctantly permitted them to talk. The woman
explained to her sister that there were far better
options than ending the life of her unborn child.

She listened ... and called off the abortion.

The woman then went into the building, came out with
her sister and returned to the pro-life volunteers.

“When the young mother came out she looked dazed and
confused,” said Ernie, “like the weight of the world
was upon her shoulders.”

She was still very much in shock after almost aborting
her child. “It was so terrible in there,” she said.
“The noise in that place was awful.”

A counselor from a pro-life pregnancy center was able
to tell her about the free resources and free medical
services that would be available throughout her
pregnancy, as well as community services that can
assist her until her child is ready to start school.

Ernie asked if she was able to get her money back.
“She said she paid $525 for the abortion but they
would only give her back $300 or so, so I told her
that the pro-life community in Pensacola is absolutely
behind her.” He’s already started a collection.

“I told her all will be well because she just made a
life-giving decision,” he said. “God has put the
pro-life community in Pensacola behind this woman.
And we will not fail her!”

Fantastic report! But guess what? There’s more!

“There were six — yes, six — other mothers that
chose life for their babies,” Ernie said. “Praise
God! Women were absolutely fleeing the abortion
facility today!”

Ernie called it a “slam dunk miracle.”

“So come on out and pray in front of the abortion
facility every chance you get,” he said. “Jesus is
really, really using us to save lives!”