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Day 36 - October 27

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 behalf of life, especially by being present at abortion mills, we are acting on behalf 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 today, 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.

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

Yesterday’s email:

Only five days to go!

I’m on the road today ... visiting the 40 Days for Life
teams in San Diego before going to Houston on Saturday.

There’s a big gathering tonight at 6:30 in San Diego,
and I’m hoping to meet lots of California volunteers!

If you need event details, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/sandiego

It’s Wednesday — which means a church night for many
people. Here are stories about folks who have brought
their churches to the streets on Wednesday nights with
events at their 40 Days for Life vigils.

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA

Every Wednesday night during this 40 Days for Life
campaign, there has been a prayer service at the
abortion center where the vigil is taking place.

Thursday is abortion day in Fort Wayne. The abortionist
comes in from out of town each week, arriving on
Wednesday night.

“We have had several denominations of the clergy lead
the prayer services, as well as wonderful musicians who
lead the group in song and worship to consecrate the
grounds in God’s name directly across from the abortion
clinic,” said Evelyn in Fort Wayne.

“On Thursdays,” she said, “we have the largest
gatherings at the vigil site to let the women and the
workers there know we care and we are there for them.”

Student groups continue to participate in the vigil
as well — three different schools took part on day
recently. “The first group of high school students
came as they do every week before they go to school —
so they are there before the sun even rises,”
Evelyn said.

To see photos from the Fort Wayne 40 Days for Life
vigils, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1380

SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA

Wednesday is also the day a Sunday school group from
Broadmoor Baptist Church goes to pray at the 40 Days
for Life vigil in Shreveport.

To see a photo of the Shreveport vigil, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1380

In all, more than 300 people have signed up to pray at
this, the first 40 Days for Life campaign in the
Shreveport-Bossier City area. “One volunteer told me
she went for her prayer hour and ended up staying for
four! She said that she just couldn’t leave,” said
Emily in Shreveport.

“Our campaign is raising awareness in the community
about the location of the abortion facility,” she
explained. “Many people, even some who are pro-life,
did not know that the Hope facility on Kings Highway
was an abortion clinic.”

With 300 to 400 abortions performed at the facility
each month, Emily said, “our public prayers are so
important.”

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA

“Our vigil was blessed with the presence of more than
50 young students from St. Rita’s Church who came to
pray for the unborn and a greater respect for life,”
said Jacinta in Alexandria.

“We also had a successful outreach effort, with 13
people teaming up on Saturday and Sunday to knock on
an estimated 350 doors and spread pro-life information
in the area near the abortion centers and Old Town
Alexandria,” she said.

One volunteer explained how she got involved. “I just
signed up after learning that the clinics are only a
short distance from where I work,” she said. “I was
totally shocked that they are so close, so I felt
compelled to witness and pray there.”

She then spread the word to her co-workers and
brought six of them to pray at the vigil during
their lunch hour.

To see a photo from the Alexandria vigil, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1380

“I have met people who have reinforced my faith and
have been a blessing to be with,” said another
volunteer. “There is a great unity among those
committed to 40 Days for Life. May God bless you and
those working so hard for the unborn.”