Meditations on Mercy - Sixth Sunday of Easter
Praying to End Abortion: 40 Days for Life
Photo By: Flickr/Catholic Diocese of Saginaw
“Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Mt 20:16
The 40 Days for Life prayer campaign began in Texas in 2004, when four people came together and prayed for a way to end abortion in their community. They decided to pray, fast, and keep vigil at the local Planned Parenthood abortion clinic for 40 days and nights. They were each willing to stand vigil for six hours each day to cover the 40 days if necessary, but they also began doing outreach, door to door and by word of mouth. Students from the local college joined the effort. By the end of the 40 days, hundreds of people were involved in this prayerful, peaceful movement that has since grown to encompass over 700 cities in 44 nations worldwide.
The 40 Days for Life idea soon began to spread nationally. The first campaign in my community was held in 2008, its leaders drawn from local Catholic parishes. I was part of the first local team; it was also the first pro-life action I had ever been involved with. Prior to that time, I remained silent on abortion, thinking it more compassionate not to call attention to women who turned to that awful solution. But I finally realized that silence only worsened the problem, and saw that the pro-life movement was not offering condemnation but real, tangible, and loving assistance. They were not only saving the lives of countless babies, but also saving women from the trauma and grief of abortion. So I began to speak write, pray, and work for life.
Although I was a latecomer to the prolife movement, many of my 40 Days for Life teammates had long been fighting to end the injustice and tragedy of abortion. I remember one elderly man, a member of the Knights, who had been working to end abortion for at least 33 years before 40 Days for Life began. He did not resent the presence of the newcomers at the “frontlines,” but welcomed us. At the end of that first campaign, all those who had participated gathered to praise God for the mercies He had shown during the 40 days. That elderly man, looking around at over 200 prayer volunteers, broke down in tears of joy. I felt both grateful and humble to be counted in his company: the last joining with the first, working together to defend human life.
It’s not too late to join us in God’s vineyard if you haven’t already. Visit www.40daysforlife.com to find a location near you.
Recommended Stories
About the Author
Born and raised in a faithful Catholic family, I wandered far from my faith for nearly two decades. Through the infinite mercy of Christ and His Church, I found my way back home to the Catholic Church in the early 90s, and began a path of rediscovery of the beauty and truth of the Catholic faith, eventually earning a Bachelor's degree in Christian Tradition. A stay-at-home Mom for many years, my Church ministries grew to include teaching Catechism and First Eucharist classes, writing and facilitating retreats for healing after abortion, and becoming active in pro-life work with our local 40 Days for Life campaign in the Tri-Cities, Washington as an organizer, participant, speaker, and writer. My desire to share the greatest gift of my life, Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and His Divine Mercy, has found expression in my writing. My articles have been published locally in the Tri-City Herald's Spiritual Life and editorial columns; in the Carmelite Digest; Celebrate Life magazine; and recently in the National Catholic Register.
Links to these articles and more can be found on my blog at http://www.catholicethics.blogspot.com/. My Catholic Ethics page is on Facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/CatholicEthics.
