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Shawn Carney’s email for today.

As the first full week of this 40 Days for Life
campaign comes to an end, we’ve already seen many
blessings ... and we expect God to send more. The
one question local campaign leaders are asking is:

Can YOU do more?

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

The 40 Days for Life team in St. Louis is expanding
their efforts this campaign, including for the first
time some overnight coverage for their peaceful vigil.

“The power of prayer lives outside of time and space,”
said Brian Westbrook, the local coordinator. “When we
are standing on the sidewalk praying at night, the
woman who is about to go to the abortion facility the
next day is staying up all night worried because she
feels she has no other choice but to abort.”

He added that prayers often help to comfort and
empower these women to carry their children to term.

“Abortion is a serious matter,” Brian said, “and we
are showing our community that we are willing to step
out of our comfort zone to stand up for the truth and
change our local culture to END abortion, not just
reduce it.”

To see a picture of some of the nighttime prayer
volunteers in St. Louis, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3337

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA

Wynette in Sacramento tells me that Thursdays, Fridays
and Saturdays have always been very busy abortion days
at the location where 40 Days for Life vigils are held.
But she just found out last week that they are now
completely closed on Saturdays!

“Dozens of children have lost their lives each
Saturday at this location for years in our community,”
she said, “but due to reduced demand for abortion, an
attempt by the abortion business to cut costs, and the
loss of several key veteran abortion staff members,
the business is now closed on Saturdays, which is an
encouraging answer to prayer!”

Wynette also says she personally witnessed the answer
to other prayers. “I was present when a car pulled
over at the corner and the young woman said, ‘I
changed my mind and didn’t have my abortion!’
Praise God!”

To see photos of the 40 Days for Life vigil in
Sacramento, please go to:

http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=3337

IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH

Finally, I’d like to share a story without giving
names or locations.

One of our local teams tells the story of a couple
who pledged their lives together “in sickness and
in health.” Now one of them has cancer.

For the next seven weeks, virtually coinciding with
40 Days for Life prayer campaign, they will be
traveling past the vigil site en route to the hospital
for chemo. They’ve decided that every day after the
cancer treatment, they will stop by the vigil site
to pray.

“They are not people who want adulations for what
they are doing,” said one local team member. “They
prefer anonymity. We are inspired by this couple —
and challenged to do more. Much more!”

Day 8 - October 3

Intention:

May the spirit and example of the Good Samaritan fill the hearts and minds of all our citizens.

Scripture:

Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So, too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

-- Luke 10:30-37

Reflection:

Here Jesus commands us to show mercy to the victims of the culture of violence and death.

But why did the priest and Levite fail to show mercy? Perhaps they feared that the robbers were hiding just around the next corner to attack them. They asked themselves, "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?"

The Samaritan, however, reversed the question, and asked, "If I don't stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"

In working to save the unborn, let's not worry about what will happen to us if we act; let's worry about what will happen to the unborn if we don't.

Prayer:

Father, we are moved by the lesson of the Good Samaritan, who allowed compassion to influence him more than fear. Give us the same heart. Grant that we may never count the cost of standing up and speaking out for the unborn. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life