Pro-Life: The Lord is Our Hope

Dr. Alveda King, Director of African-American Outreach for Priests for Life/Gospel of Life Ministries and the niece of the late Martin Luther King Jr. sings about hope for the pro-life movement during times of despair.

Fr. Thomas Euteneuer: Preparing for Pro-Life Spiritual Battle

"In our day and age, the greatest war we fight is the struggle to protect the sanctity of life, marriage and family. The attacks grow more relentless each day and the number of casualties is enormous. Will we fight with Him to defend the life of each and every unborn child? Advent is a time to ask ourselves that question and make sure that we are prepared for the battle and not playing into the hands of the Enemy through sloth or apathy. Will we defend marriage and the sanctity of the marital act from all immoral practices such as homosexuality, contraception, pornography and adultery? These are the main challenges of a slothful generation that has long ago given up fighting the most important battle-- that is, the fight to save our immortal souls. "

~ Fr. Thomas Euteneuer ~

Fr. Thomas Euteneuer: Get Ready for Christ Our Savior!

Pope Benedict XVI: That Children May Be Respected, Loved, and Never Exploited

"In every child we see something of the Child of Bethlehem. Every child asks for our love. This night, then, let us think especially of those children who are denied the love of their parents. Let us think of those street children who do not have the blessing of a family home, of those children who are brutally exploited as soldiers and made instruments of violence, instead of messengers of reconciliation and peace. Let us think of those children who are victims of the industry of pornography and every other appalling form of abuse, and thus are traumatized in the depths of their soul. The Child of Bethlehem summons us once again to do everything in our power to put an end to the suffering of these children; to do everything possible to make the light of Bethlehem touch the heart of every man and woman. Only through the conversion of hearts, only through a change in the depths of our hearts can the cause of all this evil be overcome, only thus can the power of the evil one be defeated. Only if people change will the world change; and in order to change, people need the light that comes from God, the light which so unexpectedly entered into our night."

~ HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI ~
Saint Peter's Basilica
Thursday, 25 December 2008

DECEMBER 2009 PRAYER INTENTIONS OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

•Children. That children may be respected, loved, and never exploited.
•Christ, Light of the World. That during Christmas the peoples of the earth may recognize the Incarnate Word as the light that illuminates every person, and that every nation may open its doors to Christ, the Savior of the world.

~ From Apostleship of Prayer ~

Abortion: Battle Against the Devil

"Let us never pretend that abortion is just a social or political phenomenon that has to be voted out of office to be defeated. We must do everything we can to restore legal protection to our most innocent citizens, but our battle against the devil will not be won at the polls. It will be won on our knees before the Lord and on our feet before the centers of death. More than ever we need men and women of tested holiness who are willing to fight the spiritual battle for the lives of God’s precious babies and the souls of their mothers and fathers."

~ Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer - The “Sacrament” of Abortion, Spirit and Life, August 10, 2007 ~

Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Gift of Life

THANKSGIVING FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE

Heavenly Father, You are the giver of ALL life.

I thank You, Lord, for the gift of life which You have given me.

Teach me to recognize the sacredness of my life.

Teach me to honor the sacredness of others.

Remove from me the selfishness

that prevents me from experiencing the majesty of each soul.

Help me to recover from the indignities that I have suffered

and which have diminished my self respect.

Restore in me the conscious understanding that

Your Holy Spirit lives in me

and that all my actions and thoughts should reflect

the holiness of Your indwelling Presence.

Sanctify my life, Heavenly Father,

that I might be a blessing to all whom I meet.

Let this world be a brighter place

because You reached out to others through my simple acts of kindness.

Help me to believe in my own goodness that I may resist temptation

and celebrate Your gift of life this day. Amen.

~ Prayer from Prayers of Thanksgiving ~

David and Goliath Pro-Life Victory

ALMIGHTY GOD, THANK YOU!

Pope John Paul II: "Death Battles Against Life"

"When the Founding Fathers of this great nation enshrined certain unalienable rights in the Constitution - and something similar exists in many countries and in many International Declarations - they did so because they recognized the existence of a "law'' - a series of rights and duties engraved by the Creator on each person's heart and conscience.

"In much of contemporary thinking, any reference to a "law'' guaranteed by the Creator is absent. There remains only each individual's choice of this or that objective as convenient or useful in a given set of circumstances. No longer is anything considered intrinsically "good'' and "universally binding''. Rights are affirmed but, because they are without any reference to an objective truth, they are deprived of any solid basis (cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Threats to Human Life, I, iii). Vast sectors of society are confused about what is right and what is wrong, and are at the mercy of those with the power to "create'' opinion and impose it on others.

"The family especially is under attack. And the sacred character of human life denied. Naturally the weakest members of society are the most at risk: the unborn, children, the sick, the handicapped, the old, the poor and unemployed, the immigrant and refugee...

"Do not be afraid to go out on the streets and into public places, like the first Apostles who preached Christ and the Good News of salvation in the squares of cities, towns and villages. This is no time to be ashamed of the Gospel (cf. Rom 1:16). It is the time to preach it from the rooftops (cf. Mt 10:27). Do not be afraid to break out of comfortable and routine modes of living, in order to take up the challenge of making Christ known in the modern "metropolis''. It is you who must "go out into the byroads'' (Mt 22:9) and invite everyone you meet to the banquet which God has prepared for his people. The Gospel must not be kept hidden because of fear or indifference. It was never meant to be hidden away in private. It has to be put on a stand so that people may see its light and give praise to our heavenly Father (cf. Mt 5:15-16)."

~ Pope John Paul II Homily, Denver 1993 ~

Abortion Changes You: Healing the Wounds

Website: Abortion Changes You

Abortion: Killing of an Innocent Human Being

Abortion Information from Catholic News Agency

The Smallest Persons: Life in the Womb

"A person's a person, no matter how small."
~ Dr. Seuss, Horton Hears a Who ~

Baby Steps (English) from American Life League on Vimeo.

Baby's Heart is Beating 18 Days From Conception

Eighteen days from conception baby's heart begins to beat, tentatively at first, but by 25 days, it beats at a steady rate. The development of the baby's heart marks the first organ system to function.

~ From prolifeacrossamerica.org ~

God's Gift of Life: Elessar's Joy of Life

Sometimes human beings get bogged down and forget to enjoy and appreciate the gifts God has given us. It is easy to take blessings for granted. There is so much to be grateful for every day. We all need to take time to count our blessings. Life itself is a gift from God. None of us would exist if He had not loved us, wanted us, created us, and breathed life into us.

If you have a few minutes, I encourage you to take the time to watch Elessar the colt. This is one of God's creatures who really knows how to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

A Reflection of God's Love

God creates human beings in HIS image and likeness. Humans are created out of love by God, Who IS Love. We are made to love and be loved. The degree that we depart from loving is the degree to which we distance ourselves from God. God's rule of life is simple--love Him and love one another. Love is the source of true happiness in this life and for all eternity.

God made the world filled with beauties and wonders of nature for all of His children on earth. He even created faithful animal companions that reflect His unconditional love for us.

Pope John Paul II Pays Homage to Mothers

“We would like to pay homage to all brave mothers who dedicate themselves to their own family without reserve, who suffer in giving birth to their children and who are ready to make any effort, to face any sacrifice, in order to pass on to them the best of themselves ... How hard they have to fight against difficulties and dangers! How frequently they are called to face genuine ‘wolves’ determined to snatch and scatter the flock! And these heroic mothers do not always find support in their surroundings. On the contrary, the cultural models frequently promoted and broadcast by the media do not encourage motherhood. In the name of progress and modernity, the values of fidelity, chastity, sacrifice, in which a host of Christian wives and mothers have distinguished and continue to distinguish themselves, are presented as obsolete. As a result, a woman who is determined to be consistent with her principles often feels deeply alone, alone in her love which she cannot betray, and to which she must remain faithful. Her guiding principle is Christ, who has revealed the love which the Father bestows on us. A woman who believes in Christ finds a powerful support precisely in this love that bears everything. It is a love that enables her to believe that all she does for a child conceived, born, adolescent or adult, she does at the same time for a child of God. As Saint John states in today’s reading: ‘We are called children of God, and that is what we are’ (1 John 3:1).”

~ Pope John Paul II ~

Fr. John Hardon, S.J. Speaks About Abortion

"To stem this tide of abortion will require a series of moral miracles. By definition a moral miracle is a visible effect produced by God which exceeds the native powers of the human will. We may be sure that Christ wants to work this miracle. When He rebuked the disciples, and told them to “let the little children come unto me,” He was speaking to all of us. He wants the children conceived to be born, to reach maturity, and glorify Him by their loving service. But Christ demands that we pray in faith and trust in His divine power to change hearts of stone into hearts of selfless love for the unborn.”

~ Servant of God Fr. John Hardon, S.J. ~

Thomas Jefferson: Care of Human Life and Happiness

"THE CARE OF HUMAN LIFE AND HAPPINESS

AND NOT ITS DESTRUCTION

IS THE FIRST AND ONLY LEGITIMATE OBJECT OF GOOD GOVERNMENT."

~ Thomas Jefferson ~

Fort Hood Memorial: 14 Lives

Bill O'Reilly Interviews Former Planned Parenthood Director and 40 Days for Life National Campaign Director

Read the interview here.

40 Days for Life website

Dr. Bernard Nathanson Regrets Abortions

Dr. Bernard Nathanson tells about his career as an abortionist in New York City. He claims that his abortion clinic was the largest one in the western world. He employed 35 doctors and 85 nurses. Abortions were performed daily from 8am until 12 midnight in 10 operating rooms--ending the lives of 120 unborn babies every day. He even admits to killing his own unborn child. In the following video, a subdued Dr. Nathanson speaks before an audience saying:

"I stand before you as a mass murderer.

I am directly responsible for the deaths of 75,000 innocent children."

St. Michael Prayer Campaign for the Conversion of Abortionists

Help to Build a Culture of Life in America!

"A NATION THAT KILLS IT'S OWN CHILDREN IS A NATION WITHOUT HOPE."

~ Pope John Paul II~

Life in the Womb: View Beating Heart of 6 Week Old Unborn Baby

ABORTION STOPS A BEATING HEART!

Infertility, Adoption, Child Loss, Medical

I am eager to share with you a newly discovered website, which offers "prayer support and comfort to the brokenhearted who suffer the pains of infertility at any stage of life, difficult pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, the loss of a child and the adoption process."

The Apostolate of Hannah's Tears was founded in 2003 in Columbus, Ohio on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. Under each of four main headings on their website there are resources specific to that issue--infertility, adoption, child loss, and medical.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead to The Apostolate of Hannah's Tears all those who will benefit from the support and information available through this organization's website and blog.

Life Will Triumph: Christ's Promise of Victory

Dr. Bernard Nathanson: Repentant Abortionist

God bless Dr. Nathanson for admitting his mistakes publicly and for trying, since his conversion, to save the lives of the unborn by telling the truth about abortion.

Abortion Destroys Love and Peace

"...THE GREATEST DESTROYER OF LOVE AND PEACE IS ABORTION."

~ Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta ~

Catechism of the Catholic Church: Abortion

"Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person--among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life." 2270, Catechism of the Catholic Church

"Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law." 2271, Catechism of the Catholic Church

Abby, Former Planned Parenthood Director on Laura Ingraham Radio Show

More on Abby, the Planned Parenthood Director who quit her job--

If you are following this story, don't miss an audio of part of her interview on the Laura Ingraham radio show with guest host Raymond Arroyo posted on the 4o Days for Life blog.

Also she is scheduled to be on the O'Reilly Factor on Fox News channel this coming Friday night.

God's Call to Pro-life Unity

Yesterday's post told about Abby Johnson, a Planned Parenthood director who converted from being, in her own words, "extremely pro-choice" to being pro-life after recently seeing the harsh reality of an actual abortion procedure on ultrasound. Thanks be to God for opening her mind and heart to the true nature of abortion.

During the eight years that Abby worked at Planned Parenthood, she was present for the first ever 40 Days for Life campaign in 2004 conducted outside the abortion facility where she worked, and she was present for the first national campaign and all 40 days for Life campaigns since the first. It was during this recently finished Fall campaign that Abby's heart was finally touched and converted.

Abby's conversion was a great joy and encouragement for all those who have been praying, fasting and keeping a prayerful, peaceful vigil outside abortion facilities during 40 Days campaigns, at other times as well, and for decades of years prior to 40 Days for Life campaigns. There were a total of eight clinic workers who left their jobs during this just ended fall campaign and up to this date 542 babies whose lives were saved in this one campaign alone. Since the first 40 Days there have been over 2000 babies saved from abortion and many abortion workers converted, and those are only the ones known about for certain.

I am personally encouraged, motivated and reinvigorated by seeing what God has inspired and is promoting and supporting by HIS GRACE. He has made it obvious that we are NOT ALONE in this seemingly unending battle, but are warriors called to serve under the greatest and most powerful Commander-in-Chief possible in HIS WAR against the unseen forces of evil that seek to destroy not only the lives of the unborn, but the lives of those who are seduced into participating in abortion.

I believe that the MANY DECADES OF YEARS of prayers, sacrifices and pro-life efforts of COUNTLESS pro-life warriors have been rewarded by 40 Days for Life, this new and mighty inspiration of the Holy Spirit that is uniting pro-life ministries and groups throughout the nation and the world. It is a call to UNITY that is being answered by ministries like Priests for Life, Silent No More, Project Rachel, Helpers of God's Precious Infants, and many, many others. It is GOD'S CALL TO UNITY--not David Bereit's, Father Pavone's or any visible leader. They are HIS instruments, HIS voice to recruit new volunteers and to reinvigorate veterans to zealously persevere in HIS battle for life.

God has decided that it is time for a new SURGE in this spiritual war against the lives of the unborn and against those whose involvement with abortion will damage their lives and their relationship with God. HE IS LEADING IT! HE IS CALLING US! He wants to use ALL OF US as His instruments, His voice--not just some of us. What a privilege it is to serve Our Lord, our God! We could not be at Calvary when Jesus was abandoned by most of His followers, but we CAN be at the modern day Calvary of the abortion mills where what is done to the unborn is done TO Him, and where what is done for the unborn is done FOR Him.

Redeeming and converting a civilization has already been done once.

It can be done again.

But we need to understand that God is calling you and me to do it.

He chose us. He calls us.

He's waiting and now we need to answer Him.

~ Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. ~

MIRACLE: Planned Parenthood director converts!

Planned Parenthood Director's Spiritual Conversion

Praise God! After eight years of working at Planned Parenthood, Abby Johnson resigned last month after seeing an ultrasound of an abortion procedure. She was also disillusioned by the recent focus on abortion as a way to bring in more revenue, saying, "The money wasn't in family planning, the money wasn't in prevention, the money was in abortion..."

40 DAYS FOR LIFE DAY 41: True colors

Abortion: Spiritual Warfare With St. Michael the Archangel

"The battle against the devil, which is the principal task of St. Michael the Archangel, is still being fought today because the devil is still alive and active in the world. The evil that surrounds us today, the disorders that plague our society, man's inconsistency and brokenness, are not only the result of original sin, but also the result of Satan's pervasive and dark action."

~Pope John Paul II, 1987, at the Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel~

Human Life International is calling on all those who want to see an end to abortion to pray a daily prayer to St. Michael for the conversion of abortionists. Prayer cards are available in 27 languages.

40 DAYS FOR LIFE DAY 40: The beginning of the end