You remember what a novena is, right?
We’re praying this simple prayer for nine days, just like the Blessed Mother and the Apostles prayed for nine days in the Upper Room as they awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Here’s our petition, as we join with other Catholics around the US and the world: Cardinal +Sean O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston and the U.S. Catholic bishops have launched a major initiative calling for prayer and penance to help build a culture that is favorable to life, marriage, and religious liberty.
From the USCCB website:
During this call to prayer and the Year of Faith, our nation faces the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Since that tragic decision, more than 55 million children’s lives have been lost to abortion and the lives of millions of their parents have been shattered. Whether you choose to participate in the national March for Life or in local rallies, marches or liturgies in your own diocese, please consider participating in the Nine Days of Prayer, Penance and Pilgrimage from January 19 to 27, 2013. These nine days, surrounding the Roe v. Wade anniversary and focused on the theme of pilgrimage, are part of the nationwide pastoral initiative noted above.
You can read or print off a PDF of this novena here. But I’ll be posting the prayers here each day. Or, you can visit www.usccb.org/9days to subscribe to receive the novena daily by email, or text “9days” to 99000 to subscribe to receive the novena daily via text message. Pretty cool, I think. Though I went old school and photocopied the PDF so I could pray it with the family at supper time.
Here are the prayers:
Intercession: For the mother who awakens each morning with the memory of abortion fresh in her mind: that the Lord may still the terror in her heart and lead her gently to the well-spring of his love and mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. May she, and all who’ve been involved in an abortion decision, find healing and hope through Project Rachel Ministry.
PRAY: Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reparation (or what you can do):
Acts of Reparation
(choose one):
- Take time to write a handwritten note to someone who is lonely or needing encouragement.
- Pray for your deceased relatives and those who have no one to pray for them.
- “Spiritually adopt” a baby by saying this prayer every day: “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of[baby’s name that you choose], the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.” ( Prayer of Archbishop Fulton Sheen)
More food for thought as we come to the 40th anniversary of the Roe vs Wade decision that legalized abortion in the USA:
A heartfelt video message from Norma McCovey.
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