I get asked all the time: “I’m interested in going out to the 40 Days for Life vigil. What do I do when I get there?”
The answer is easy: PRAY!
The question usually rests upon an underlying fear may of us have: “I want to go to the vigil, but I’m nervous because I don’t know how to counsel women who are going for an abortion.”
Well, if you’re nervous the first time that means you’re normal. If you feel like sidewalk counseling isn’t your calling, don’t worry about it.
Just go and PRAY! God will take care of the rest.
How do we know that? Because the number of lives saved from abortion during this 40 Days for Life campaign now stands at…
…144!!
And in many cases, the people at the 40 Days for Life vigils did nothing other than pray.
They had no contact with the women who had abortion appointments — until they left the facilities without having the abortion.
PRAYER WORKS!
Sue in Sterling Heights, Michigan reports that she and a friend were praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil.
“A nervous, shy, young woman approached us,” Sue said. “She wanted to thank us for praying to end abortion and to save babies. She said that our prayers had saved a baby of a friend. She did not want to talk long or in any detail, just right to the point.”
Sue said the sight of people praying outside the clinic, “offering peaceful witness to the sanctity of life, saved a precious baby. Being meek is not weak!”
Maureen in Providence, Rhode Island tells a similar story. One day, there was only one person at the vigil — a lone college student, who simply stood for an hour and prayed. She watched as a young couple, accompanied by an older woman, walked into the Planned Parenthood center.
A while later, the three walked back out, and the older woman came over to talk. “Just so you know,” the woman said, “she’s my daughter. She’s pregnant — and she’s keeping the baby.”
Maureen said, “It sounded as if she changed her mind because she saw someone standing out in front of the clinic praying for an end to abortion.”
Mike in Riverside, California tells of another silent witness whose presence saved a life.
“A couple drove up from San Diego, and when they got to Planned Parenthood they saw a woman praying and holding an ‘I regret my abortion’ sign. They drove around the clinic a few times, and then sat in their car for a while. Finally, they decided to go back home and keep their baby.”
Before they left they thanked the woman holding the sign for being there — and then they were gone.
“Our little army may be small,” said Mike, “but we are mighty in the Lord!”
Prayer also worked for St. Patrick!
He was trying to board a boat to Ireland to covert the pagan island and was turned away. After saying a short prayer under his breath, he turned around and persistently asked again — knowing it was God’s will for him — and he was allowed to make the trip.
St. Patrick bought Christ to the Emerald Isle and the rest is history…
Among other things, St. Patrick is said to have driven the snakes out of Ireland. Patrick’s inspiration came from his time on a rocky hilltop during a period of prayer and fasting.
How long was he there?
40 days, of course!
With a name like Shawn Doyle Carney, I couldn’t leave St. Patrick out of today’s e-mail! 
Today’s devotional was prepared for you by Fr. Frank Pavone, the national director of Priests for Life…
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DAY 21 INTENTION
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Pray that we become vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement.
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SCRIPTURE
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On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
– Luke 24:1-5
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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life
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This meditation, based on a sermon I once heard, is adapted for pro-life concerns.
It’s Friday. Jesus is on the cross. He has been killed by his enemies; he is off the scene.
But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Abortionists continue their work 3,300 times a day, tearing off the arms and legs of little babies and crushing their heads.
But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Pro-abortion groups receive blood money from billionaires who are as deceived as they are.
But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. Liars attempt to speak for all women and hide the pain of abortion, and ignore the evidence of how it harms women, and call abortion a blessing.
But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
It’s Friday. People of hardened hearts guard the clinics and usher desperate women in to have their abortions, while keeping them from the pro-life people who want to give them hope.
But that’s because it’s Friday. Sunday’s comin’!
Hope does not mean that we ignore or minimize the evils around us. It means, rather, that we see the whole picture, which is that evil is conquered because of what happened one Sunday morning.
We are called to proclaim, celebrate, and serve that victory, waiting in joyful hope for Christ’s return and the full flowering of the Culture of Life!
Indeed, Sunday’s comin’!
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PRAYER
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Lord, fill your people with new hope. Make us vessels of hope to all around us, especially to those who minister in the pro-life movement, that as we engage in the difficult work ahead, we may experience the peace and joy that come only from you and that nobody can take away from us. We ask this 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/spring2009day21print.pdf
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Looking forward to how many more lives will be saved during the rest of this 40 Days for Life campaign thanks to your prayers!
Yours In Christ,
Shawn Carney
Spring Campaign Director
40 Days for Life