Praying outside places where abortion take place is a powerful witness and act of love.
When we cast aside all fear, and stand as witnesses to the atrocity that takes place in the building, begging God for mercy, and being a great sign of hope in the face of evil and despair, lives are saved.
Where the majority of people turn a blind eye, we stand at the scene where a great crime against the dignity of the human person takes place. We love the babies. We love the mothers who often feel they have no other choice. We love the dads, some of whom object to their little one’s life being snuffed out. We love the abortion workers and those who provide services to the centre. We love those who are angry at us because they are wounded from their abortion experience. We love all those who pass by.
So many a duped by the lie of abortion. Yet, we stand as a sign of hope, love, and forgiveness. Importantly, we console the heart of Jesus.
Reflection
Joan Andrews Bell is most known for her heart for rescuing those being led to death in abortion. Here, she offers a reflection about what it means to be there at the abortion centre where lives are so brutally taken.
“Would you spend some time with the little babies in your own neighborhood before they die? Maybe you’ll even be able directly to save lives; maybe not. What’s even more important: you’ll be there. In a sense, it may be a way to redeem the abandonment of Jesus by His apostles when they refused to be with Him at His death. Too often we also refuse to be with Jesus for fear of the Cross, do we not?
These little ones dying today are intricately connected with the sufferings and death of Our Saviour. There is a bond here that must not be overlooked. All the political action, educating, donation of funds, demonstrations, alternative work, important and necessary as these are, do not make up for an absence at the death scene. Thus, let me beg you to view your presence at the killing center in your area as the place where God wants you to be. Grab your Rosary, pick up your Bible, bring your devotionals, and go out to the Calvary not far from you – where Christ is being crucified today in your midst.
… we may not be able to save their lives, but can we not plead on their behalf? And should they die, as usually happens (God forgive us!), let us lift up our hearts to God Almighty on their behalf … it will be the only human love they will know on this earth…”
Joan Andrews Bell
Action
- Attend a prayer vigil outside an abortion centre near you.
- Vigils take place in Auckland every Wednesday outside AMAC in Dominion Road.
7:30am (during school term time)
9:30am (every Wednesday) - Candlelight vigils take place outside of AMAC from time to time.
- In Wellington Vigils for the Unborn begin at St Anne’s in Newtown, and end at Wellington Regional Hospital.
- 40 Days for Life takes place in Lent in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Commit today to being on the roster for 2021. Register your commitment by contacting us.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to lead a prayer vigil outside AMAC or Wellington Hospital in accordance with FLI’s philosophy. We would love to hear from you and discuss how this might work.
Prayer
O Mary, bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life:
Look down, O Mother,
upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women who are victims of brutal violence,
of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will,the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God,the Creator and lover of life.
Saint Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae
Available as a prayer card. Please contact us for copies.
