Replies

Some inspiring stories and great pictures today ...
from 40 Days for Life campaigns from Miami to Manassas
to Montreal!

MIAMI / PEMBROKE PINES, FLORIDA

Our 40 Days for Life national director, David Bereit,
just visited two South Florida campaigns — one in
Miami and the other in Broward County, where the
Pembroke Pines site is a first-time 40 Days for Life
location.

At the two vigil sites, he shared words of encouragement
with participants and prayed with volunteers.

Both sites have had consistent vigil coverage at all
hours — despite the heat and humidity — thanks to the
dedicated local leadership and the faithfulness of many
volunteers.

To see photos of David’s visits to the South Florida
vigils, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3045

MANASSAS, VIRGINIA

Bishop Paul Loverde of the Arlington, Virginia Catholic
diocese has a regular pro-life outreach. Once a month,
he offers a respect life Mass ... then goes to pray
outside one of the abortion centers in his diocese.

Last week, he visited All Saints Church in Manassas,
then traveled to the 40 Days for Life vigil site for
prayer. Said Mike in Manassas, “300 people came to
pray with us!”

To see what 300 people at a 40 Days for Life vigil
site looks like, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3045

MONTREAL, QUEBEC

The 40 Days for Life vigil in Montreal seems to have
struck a nerve. Brian in Montreal said about two dozen
university students showed up, “banner and noise-makers
in hand ... parking themselves directly in front of our
banner. They stayed nearly three hours, spending this
time chanting and enjoying the support from pro-choice
motorists.”

As they left, he said, “they swarmed our banner,
plastering it with stickers. Fortunately, there wasn’t
any damage.”

A couple of hours later a mother, with her 18-month-old,
arrived with a homemade pro-choice sign. On another
occasion, a young woman asked whether they knew their
presence was intimidating to women. Said Brian, “I
wondered if our visitor had seen the sign at our prayer
site offering free help to pregnant women.”

Brian says there have been cold, windy days — but the
spirits of the prayer volunteers are never dampened.
Many travel from afar to spend hours in prayer.

“Also, the site is drawing diverse prayer groups,” he
said. “The vigil is a magnet for individuals who
otherwise do not see one another. For example, over the
weekend, persons from different faith communities
converged to pray and share fellowship.”

To see some photos from the vigil in Montreal, go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3045

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

Prayer vigil participants pretty much had the abortion
center’s staff and clientele outnumbered on a Saturday
morning. Around 30 people were there praying ...
representing more than a dozen local churches.

Trudy in Jacksonville says that pro-life turnout is
fairly typical for a Saturday. She sent photos of some
of the people standing on the sidewalk — with a
mostly-empty parking lot behind them.

To see the pictures from the Jacksonville vigil, please
go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3045

Day 33 - March 25

Intention:

As we pray for the end of abortion, let us pray for the expansion of the pregnancy help center movement worldwide.

Scripture:

The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne.

-- Revelation 12:4-5

Reflection:

You don't need to be a theological scholar to get the essential point of Revelation 12. Something BIG is afoot. It has something to do with the birth of Christ and the children of God.

It involves a war in heaven, with powers and principalities beyond our expertise. But the battles are fought here on earth.

The crux of the matter centers around the babe of Bethlehem and the cross of Calvary.

It continues to unfold down through the ages, through us, the children of God, who put their faith in Christ and take up their cross and follow him.

We are waging a war of love against all things that destroy body and soul.

The intensity waxes and wanes, but like labor pains, they grow and culmi-nate in new life.

The unleashing of legal abortion nearly 40 years ago stirred up prayer (lamentation really). Many were then led to start pregnancy help centers and maternity homes.

Today there are over 3,000 such ministries that did not exist 40 years ago.

They reflect a movement of God on our watch: Christians driven to give their time and charity to end abortion one woman at a time.

Let's pray this movement expands worldwide. Let's pray for thousands more Christians to start, serve and support pregnancy help centers.

Prayer:

O God, from generation to generation, you have called your people to be the very aroma of life amidst a culture of death. Now it is our turn. Prepare me. Send me. Use me. I am eager to do my part. Stir your people everywhere to take up this great work.

Rev. John Ensor
Vice President, Heartbeat International