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Day 40 - April 1

Intention:

Let us keep our eyes fixed on the New Jerusalem, where death will be no more.

Scripture:

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

--Revelation 21:4-5

Reflection:

Every activity we undertake in defense of the sanctity of life is prophetic, inasmuch as it points to the day when "death will be no more." Every victory we have when an act of abortion is prevented is prophetic of that day when death itself will be definitively conquered. Every triumph of grace in this world, whereby someone is brought to see the value of life and given the strength to welcome it, is a breaking into our history of that definitive future in which the old order of things will have passed, and all things will be made new.

As pro-life warriors, we must keep our eyes fixed on heaven, and our hearts secure in the hope that the day is coming when all evil will be conquered. It is the future that shapes the present; it is victory that informs the battle; it is the destination that determines the journey.

Daily, we are called to reflect on heaven. When we weep, we are to think of the day when every tear will be wiped away. When we face the destructive power of death, we are to think of the day when death is swallowed up in victory. When we labor against abortion, we are to think of the day when we will have the rest and peace of the final triumph of life. Heaven is as real as earth, and its joys will be as real as our present sorrows.

Prayer:

Father, you are the God of hope. Your word fills us with the vision of the world to come, when every tear will be wiped away, and death will be no more. Father, how we need that hope, how we are strengthened by that vision! Keep our hearts focused on heaven, and diligent in the labors of earth. As we struggle against the culture of death, root our souls in the assurance of victory. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

We made it!

Day 40 reminds me of Augustine’s famous advice: “Pray
as though everything depends on God; work as though
everything depends on you.”

You have done just that. We’ve seen faithful
volunteers in 258 cities pray, fast, do community
outreach and hold peaceful vigils in front of 258
of the most hopeless places in our world.

Your prayers have brought one thing in particular to
the public right-of-way ... HOPE.

Hope is what the abortion industry is afraid of. Hope
is what makes women scheduled to have abortions turn
around. Hope is what leads abortion workers out of
that industry. Hope is what transforms our world.

It is amazing what can happen when you go to the
sidewalks and let the love of Christ be present in
places that thrive on hopelessness.

This could not be done without your faith, courage
and selflessness.

Let me be the first to say thank you for your efforts
these past 40 days. Your prayers sent a clear message.
Here’s a great example from this campaign.

AUBURN HILLS, MICHIGAN

When Seth Peters heard that Planned Parenthood was
planning a 17,000 square foot abortion center in
Auburn Hills, “minutes away from my parents’ house,
where I had been lovingly raised and where I still
call home, I was heartbroken and angry.”

He signed up to bring a 40 Days for Life vigil to the
proposed location — joining other community voices
speaking out against the abortion chain’s plans. He
received support from many local sources.

Adjacent property owners had previously filed suit,
noting that deed restrictions would not permit an
abortion facility there. Planned Parenthood may be
tied up in court — but not about to give up.

“Planned Parenthood is hungry for this site,” Seth
said, noting that it sits near a low-income
neighborhood, a college campus and a wealthy suburb
— all prime targets for abortion.

He pushed ahead with vigil plans, even though a number
of people didn’t see the need for prayer at a place
where abortions are not currently taking place. “That
is unfortunate,” he said, “because it’s a bit like
waiting until the hurricane hits before you board up
your windows.”

Planned Parenthood got tired of waiting. They bought
an empty medical building in nearby Ferndale and plan
to open an office there tomorrow. That facility will
not offer abortions, but will refer women to other
locations that do.

“You can see how effective prayerful vigilance has
been thus far in keeping Planned Parenthood at bay
in Auburn Hills,” Seth said. “The fact that they have
shifted to Ferndale can be considered a victory.”

At the very least, he said, “this campaign was about
planting seeds and praying that abortion will end at
this Auburn Hills location before it ever has a chance
to begin.”

Clearly, there’s a lot of work to be done ... and a lot
of praying to be done. But I know that with God’s help,
we are witnessing the beginning of the end of abortion.