Father Bob's Reflections

 

Nine Days of Prayer for Life

I always publish this blog near the time of the anniversary of  Roe v. Wade. And I always have this to say . . .  .

Let us stand down, stop the condemning and judging and seek light and understanding, forgiveness and wholeness, kindness and compassion for the young in desperate situations who have no one to turn to and who may themselves be abandoned.

We live in a world that will not recognize the inviolateness and sacredness of every person on this planet.  And that may include those who say  they are against abortion.

My sense is that the sin of those who are quick to condemn others is as great as those who bring violence and bloodshed into their very own bodies.

We ALL have much for which to ask forgiveness.  We ALL need to ask God to increase our capacity to love and turn away from hate ~ especially this year after this awful election campaign. The hatred still hasn’t stopped and the President has not taken the lead to crush it.

There is too much hate in this world — sometimes even from those who minister the Body and Blood of Christ at the altar.

The ones Jesus loves the most are the lost sheep of this world.  He would reach out to those who have had abortions and offer his mercy and forgiveness.  And Pope Francis keeps telling his priests he wants them to have the “smell of the sheep,”   and get out there and minister to them.

The enemies of Jesus are those who justify themselves, the self-righteous, the hypocrites, the ones who know nothing of compassion, those who would not think of walking a mile in someone else’s shoes but would lash out with their tongue (or a tweet?)

President Trump says he will defend the unborn and appoint Supreme Court justices who will do so. But Pope Francis is more concerned with what Cardinal Bernardin  spoke about as “a consistent life ethic,”  that’s more than just about abortion. It also includes policies that are anti-war, anti-poverty, pro-prison reform, pro-immigration, pro-environment, anti-death penalty, and for compassionate end of life care. So, Catholic bishops and the U. S. Church in general may not be so much  in lockstep with his policies.  In fact surprisingly, they’ve already asked him to go slow on repealing the Affordable Care Act.

This year Cardinal Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York has  opened up the one day of Prayer for the Legal Protection for Unborn Children to Nine Days of Prayer for Life and it’s been widely adopted by other dioceses. Here is an outline of the themes for each day. . . .

Nine Days of Prayer for Life

Day One ~ Monday, January 23rd . . . For the conversion of all hearts and the end of abortion.

      ~ How can we build a culture that supports women and respects life?

Day Two ~ Tuesday, the 24th . . .  May each person (woman or man) suffering from the loss of a child from abortion find hope and healing.

       ~ God is ready to forgive each of us! Don’t be afraid. Draw close to his heart.

Day Three  ~ Wednesday, the 25th . . . May all people embrace the truth that every life is a good and perfect gift and worth living.

        ~ How will (or did) you show someone today that their life is a gift?

Day Four ~ Thursday the 26th . . . May those near the end of their lives receive the medical care that respects their dignity and protects their lives

        ~ How will (or did) you show someone today that their life is a gift?

Day Five ~ Friday the 27th . .  For an end to Domestic Violence.

      ~ 75% of Americans are reported to know a victim. Learn the warning signs.

Day Six ~ Saturday the  28th . . .  May those affected by pornography receive the Lord’s mercy and healing.

       ~ Only God can truly fulfill our hearts. How can we invite him into ours?

Day Seven ~ Sunday the 29th . . . For those who long for a child be filled with trust in God’s loving plan

        ~ Lord, help us to see the ways you love us today.

Day Eight ~ Monday, the 30th . . .  For an end to the use of the death penalty in our country.

        ~ How can we bring hope to others and be examples of God’s merciful love?

Day Nine ~ For an end to Human Trafficking and modern slavery.

         ~ Smile and speak the name the clerk in stores you visit today and say “thank you!

 

       Dearest Lady, mother of Jesus,

whose tender love brought Love Itself into our world,

  help those who have never known the tender embrace of their own mother’s love

  to receive the same tender care and love you wish for each of them. . . for each of us . . .  as you offered the strict, yet tender, love of a Jewish mother upon  Jesus, the Son of God 

     who was nourished at your tender breasts,

              cradled in your arms,

         bounced upon your knee;

                   whose booboo was kissed by your lovely mouth,

              whose dead body you received come down from the Cross.

You were the one from Jesus learned the joys of human love.

  Receive today all of Jesus’ brothers and sisters on this planet, born and unborn.

  Draw us all into that one great mystery of divine/human love which is the glory of our Christian faith,

  the Incarnation of the son of a young beautiful woman, Son of God,

       our Brother, our Friend, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  

                      Amen. 

And now, before you go, here’s the penitential hymn “Remember Your Love”  Click Here. Be sure to turn up your speakers and enter full screen.

Bob Traupman

 contemplative writer

And P.S.  Don’t worry about the aborted children;  the innocent ones will shine like the stars in God’s kingdom.

The tragedy is that they will never set foot on this beautiful planet.