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On this Monday morning, more good news to report!

Thus far during this 40 Days for Life campaign, we
are aware of ...

... 122 babies spared from abortion! And of course, those are only the ones we know of.

Here are just a few of the stories behind that number.

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PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY
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A married couple was headed into the abortion facility.
They have two small children and they're in a bad
financial situation. They thought that abortion would
be the best way to go.

After talking with one of the vigil participants, they
kept their appointment at the clinic only to emerge
45 minutes later. During their appointment they learned
that the doctor, who normally doesn't do abortions on
Thursdays, said that they should do it right away and
that he could be there in an hour.

Instead, they decided to leave. A volunteer called
another doctor who was able to see them right away
and do an ultrasound.

40 Days for Life volunteers are working on getting
support for them so that they are not alone.

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
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Two volunteers were praying at the Planned Parenthood
abortion center in Indianapolis when a young man came
out to meet them.

The man and his wife were expecting their fifth child.
At first, they panicked at the thought and had scheduled
the abortion.

But when he met the vigil participants, he was smiling.
He told them his wife was inside, but they had decided
not to go through with the abortion. He accepted a bible
and a baby gift and left for work.

A short time later, his wife walked out. She still
seemed a bit unsure. But when the volunteers told that
her husband strongly supported the choice for life, she
appeared greatly relieved.

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ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
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A 40 Days for Life volunteer was praying in front of
Planned Parenthood praying when a vehicle drove by
and someone threw a bottle at him. His first thought
was, "Time to leave!"

Instead, this faithful volunteer stayed there and kept
praying. A while later, a woman came out of Planned
Parenthood and looked at the prayer volunteer and simply
said: "I'm going to keep mine."

"We don't know how many factors contributed to her
decision to carry her child to term, but we do know
that faithful prayer warriors are making a difference,"
said Haylee in Anchorage. "What a miracle to know that
a life has been saved!"

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WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
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While volunteers prayed outside, a woman walked into
the abortion center for a scheduled appointment -- with
her boyfriend and 9-month-old son in tow. As she didn't
know how far along in her pregnancy she was, she was
prepared for an ultrasound.

After seeing the ultrasound image, the woman changed her
mind and is now very excited about having her baby.

It's worth noting that children are usually not allowed
in abortion center waiting rooms -- for a reason.

While the boyfriend and son were there, the child made
his way over to another woman, who was waiting for an
abortion. The baby boy pulled himself up on his knees
and smiled at her. The woman got up and hurried out
the door.

Day 14 - October 11

Intention:

Abortion is the great "no." May all of God's people have the freedom and grace to say "yes" to His marvelous plans.

Scripture:

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed and in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

-- Psalm 139:13-16

Reflection:

Unlike the rest of creation, we are capable of a personal relationship with God. Not only did God create us, but created us according to a plan devised from all eternity. No matter how far back we go in our imagination, there was never a time when God did not know each of us, in every detail of our being.

There was not a particular time when God decided to make us. The decision to make us has been in the mind of God from all eternity. All our days were written in His book.

To dare to say that a human being, developing in the womb, should not be born is as wrong as to say that a born person should not continue to grow and live. In each case, an attack on human life is an attack on the God who formed and made us. Jesus Christ is the great "yes" to the promises of God; abortion is the great "no."

Prayer:

Lord, I pray today for every unborn child. The beauty of the bodies and souls of these children flows from your hands and your eternal plan. Awaken in every human conscience a profound reverence for human life, and grant us grace to defend our smallest and most defenseless brothers and sisters, those still being formed in the secret places of their mothers' womb. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life