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Day 37 - March 29

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

Just four days left in this campaign! I have HUGE news
today, but I must keep some details confidential.

THREE MORE abortion workers have QUIT THEIR JOBS!

That makes a total of EIGHT during this campaign ...

... and a total of 69 who’ve left the abortion industry
during 40 Days for Life campaigns since 2007!

Please keep these three people in your prayers as they
seek new employment and go through this transition in
their lives.

I also have good news from Virginia and some quick
stories of babies saved (including another set of
twins). Here are the reports from the front lines:

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA

The Planned Parenthood abortion center in Virginia
Beach — where a 40 Days for Life vigil is in progress
outside — has cut its business hours. They’re now
open four fewer hours each week.

“Does this mean they are struggling financially?”
asked Marcia in Virginia Beach. “I do not have an
answer, but obviously they are not flourishing if
they are cutting back hours.”

Since this new location opened, abortions had been
scheduled on Tuesday mornings. But now they don’t
open til noon on Tuesdays. At first, it was believed
that abortions would just be scheduled later in the
day. But not so! They did no abortions Tuesday of
last week.

“This means one third of their usual abortion business
did not happen last week,” said Marcia. She checked
with someone who monitors all of the abortion centers
in the area, and abortion numbers were down everywhere.

“Is this the fruit of prayer and fasting?” Marcia asked.
“I believe that it is. Let’s go for a strong finish!”

To see some photos from the Virginia Beach vigil,
please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3101

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

“There have been five more babies saved from abortion
in Charlotte since we last reported,” said Andrea.
“That makes a total of 46 for this campaign!”

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

“Over the past week in Pensacola, those praying in
front of Pensacola’s last remaining abortion facility
witnessed five mothers choose life,” Ernie reported.
“Praise God for these blessings!”

MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY

“Five babies were saved last week in Montclair,”
Christine wrote, “bringing the 40 Days for Life
campaign total to date up to 16!”

SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN

“I just learned about three more turnarounds at the
Southfield 40 Days for Life site,” said Mike. “One of
them was a set of twins. Praise the Lord!”

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

“Another mom carrying twins chose life for her baby on
Saturday,” said Jenny, “so two more from Louisville!
God is so good!”