Abortion affects everyone - -

September 26th marked the opening day of 40 Days for Life in 150 cities in the United States.

This campaign is a simple, prayerful campaign that was dreamed up by young men and women to make the public aware of the evils of abortion.

During the 40 Days for Life, men and women stand vigil outside an abortion mill, day and night, praying and fasting, interceding on behalf of the babies that are being brought to the mill to meet certain death.

Dear reader, you may ask - what difference does that make - well, please read below and if you are in a city that has a 40 Days for Life campaign going on, consider going out to the site and praying along side of the prayer warriors who have dedicated the next 38 days to be there for those who cannot speak.

Last year, over 500 mothers changed their minds about aborting their babies due to the simple, peaceful and prayerful presence of the 40 Days for Life prayer warriors.

Please read below for a message from David Bereit, one of the founders of 40 Days for Life.


What a way to start the day!

The fall 40 Days for Life campaign was barely hours old when we received an e-mail from Jennifer in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

She and a few others had arrived at 6:30 Wednesday morning to pray at the abortion center. A couple arrived in the parking lot, got out of their car and walked towards the building.

"Joe gave them a flyer," said Jennifer, "and she brought it into the clinic. About 10 minutes later they came out of the clinic and went to the car."The woman argued with the man for a time, but then they got in the car and left. "This lady looked at us praying and blessed herself with the sign of the cross," Jennifer said. "We saved our first baby!"

Shortly thereafter, a text message appeared on my phone from Chris, the campaign director from New YorkCity: "David! 1st 40 Days turn around!" Later in the day, another life was saved at the same location. Nance, organizer of the Grimes and Waller county,Texas, 40 Days for Life efforts e-mailed, "a BABY SAVED from Planned Parenthood in Houston!!!

"While driving to the 40 Days for Life kickoff event in South Bend, Indiana tonight, I received an excited call from the Indianapolis campaign leader.

A firsttime 40 Days for Life volunteer was praying outsidethe Planned Parenthood abortion facility this morning when a car leaving the center pulled over and the occupants beckoned for her to come near. The volunteer nervously approached and was told by the mother in the vehicle, "Your prayers are working. Mydaughter just decided to not have an abortion.

"We are hearing amazing success stories like this fromall across North America......So let's spread the news! In addition to prayer, fasting and constant vigil,the other component of 40 Days for Life is grassroots community outreach. Prayer and fasting allow us to humble ourselves before God and ask for his grace and mercy. Constant vigil allows us to bring Christ's love to the locations where lives are on the line and people need to know that others are concerned about their well being. Community outreach allows us to tell the story to entire neighborhoods, entire cities.

Some people might say, "Abortion doesn't affect me; I wouldn't have one -- or encourage anyone else to haveone -- but it's none of my business."Well, it is everyone's business when the rights ofthe most helpless in our midst are being trampled --and we need to say so.

Others in our communities may have simply given up on ever changing the abortion status quo. They need someone to rekindle that fire -- and that someone maybe you! Whether the outreach is manning a booth in the mall, engaging the local media, speaking to church or civicgroups, conducting a door-to-door campaign, or simply spreading the word to friends, family, co-workers,and fellow believers, it's important to reach peoplewho don't ever think about abortion -- and don't ever drive by the clinic -- with the reality of how abortion negatively affects the community. I add, pray when you drive by one of these facilites, pray and intercede.

.Ernie and Mary Beth in Pensacola, Florida report that their campaign, which is holding vigils at two abortion facilities, received an enthusiastic and appropriate send-off from Rev. John Licari."He talked about how abortion hurts women and families," they said. "His theme was: Don't hide your light under a bushel basket. We need to bring the light of Christ into a world so desperately in need of His love and mercy, especially at the abortion clinics. He reminded us to 'be not afraid.'

"We are the light of the world. Let's go forth and shine! Here's today's devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone,National Director of Priests for Life...-

----------------------------------------------------DAY 2 INTENTION-----------------------------------------------------Pray for those who work in the abortion industry, and for those who have repented of committing abortions and have resolved to defend life

.-----------------------------------------------------SCRIPTURE------------------------------

-----------------------Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had saidthis, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeingwhat had happened, praised God and said, "Surely thiswas a righteous man."-- Luke 23:46-47-----------------------

------------------------------REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life--------------

---------------------------------------"Those of us who have participated in the killing of unborn children are the Centurions of today. We have dropped our swords against the unborn child. Now we must recognize the depth of our guilt and deal with the ramifications... To revitalize our humanity we need to forgive and be forgiven, to reconcile and behealed.
"These words come from a brochure of the Society of Centurions, an organization for former abortion providers. These words convey in a beautiful and moving way what is happening across the nation as hundreds of abortionists and their staff membersexperience repentance, conversion, and healing. How does this conversion begin? Dr. Philip Neywrites, "The factors that changed their opinion on performing abortions, in the following order of frequency, were: evidence of the infant's humanity, a spiritual experience, personal distress, evidence of the mother's distress, scientific articles, being accepted as a person, a personal relationship with a pro-lifer, pro-life pickets." (The Centurion'sPathway, p. 77).The journey is not easy. But the Jesus who heals us calls us to face the truth of what we've done, make restitution where possible, and engage in the hardwork of mending relationships. Let's pray for theCenturions; may their numbers increase!-

----------------------------------------------------PRAYER-----------------------------------------------------Lord, we thank you for those who have repented of committing abortions and have resolved to defend life. We too repent and resolve.We repent of every instance in which fear has made us silent when we should have spoken. We repent of the on going bloodshed in our land, and for thinking that we can deprive the unborn of protection but keep it for ourselves.We resolve that we will advance the cause of righteous candidates for public office, and that we will be more afraid of offending you by our silence than of offending others by our speech. We resolve that we will proclaim your name to the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.-----------

------------------------------------------PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL-----------------------------------------------------
To download today's devotional as a formatted,printable PDF to share with friends:http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2008day02print.pdf