October 31, 2010
It's Day 40 -- and I have great news to share! As of
right now, we know of ...
... 541 babies -- and their mothers -- that God has
spared from abortion.
That's at least 3,352 since the first coordinated
40 Days for Life campaign a mere three years ago. And
who knows how many more that we'll never hear about?
"The Everett Planned Parenthood is closed again,"
wrote Ed, one of the local 40 Days for Life leaders
in Everett, Washington. "It's the third Friday closed
this campaign!"
In Columbia, Missouri ... the Planned Parenthood
facility there hasn't done abortions since August 9.
Faithful volunteers are continuing the vigil ...
... and Planned Parenthood doesn't like it.
"We found out that Planned Parenthood in Kansas is
watching us on video -- over 100 miles away," said
Kathy in Columbia, "and they called in a 'violation'
to the Columbia police station."
The "violation"? There was a camera tripod sitting in
Planned Parenthood's driveway. "Soon two police cars
showed up and they went in," Kathy said.
It turns out the tripod belonged to a reporter who
was working on a news story. The police quickly left
when they found out what was really going on. "One
officer has come out twice -- and he's not too happy
with Planned Parenthood."
And all this time ... no abortions in Columbia!
And of course ... no abortions AT ALL in Severna Park,
Maryland ... where an abortion facility CLOSED ITS
DOORS FOREVER at the very beginning of this campaign!
Who knows how many lives have been saved in Columbia
and Severna Park?
There have also been at least four abortion facility
employees who have left their jobs during this 40 Days
for Life campaign -- possibly more. And others may be
thinking about it.
And then there's Anita's van -- a life-saver on
wheels. It has "pray to end abortion" painted on the
side, along with a pregnancy help center's phone
number and the 40 Days for Life web address.
To see a picture of the van, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1397
Lives have been saved because of the information on
the van -- no one knows how many. But this pro-life
mission was about to come to an end. The van was about
to be repossessed.
Anita had no idea what would happen. So she prayed.
She had to decide whether to pay her tithe ... or the
note on the van. She paid her tithe.
Anita didn't know it, but one of her friends sent out
an e-mail that explained the situation. And people
started giving. Before long, there was enough to pay
off the loan!
"This is not my van," she said. "This van belongs
first and foremost to God, and then to every single
pro-life person out there."
The van -- and its message -- will stay on the road.
And who knows how many lives will be saved?
"Abortion will truly be finished one day," Anita
said. "I pray it is very soon. The walls of deception
are crumbling as we speak. The truth is spreading --
one heart at a time -- and all of you have played a
part in getting that message out. Thank you all so
very much!"
Here's today's devotional from Fr. Frank Pavone,
National Director of Priests for Life.
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DAY 40 INTENTION
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Let us keep our eyes fixed on the New Jerusalem,
where death will be no more.
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SCRIPTURE
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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
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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone
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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.
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PRAYER
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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.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
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To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2010day40print.pdf
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For Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: If you have good news to share from YOUR 40 Days
for Life campaign, please leave a comment at
today's blog entry:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1397