9 Days for Life: Day Three: May every expectant mother receive compassionate care and support as she nurtures the life in her womb

9 Days for Life. God has carefully, tenderly created every person in His own image and likeness, to be in a loving relationship with Himself. From each tiny child knit within a mother’s womb, to every person approaching death, all are loved perfectly and completely by God: “It is therefore a service of love which we are all committed to ensure to our neighbor, that his or her life may be always defended and promoted, especially when it is weak or threatened [emphasis added]” (Evangelium vitae 77).

9 Days for Life is a publication of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and is reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. Music from https://filmmusic.io “Winter” by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Table of Contents

9 Days for Life

Today’s Intention: May every expectant mother receive compassionate care and support as she nurtures the life in her womb.

Prayers

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be

Reflection

God has carefully, tenderly created every person in His own image and likeness, to be in a loving relationship with Himself. From each tiny child knit within a mother’s womb, to every person approaching death, all are loved perfectly and completely by God: “It is therefore a service of love which we are all committed to ensure to our neighbor, that his or her life may be always defended and promoted, especially when it is weak or threatened [emphasis added]” (Evangelium vitae 77).

In a world in which those who are most vulnerable are so often overlooked and disregarded, Christ calls us to embrace and uphold the unconditional dignity of every human life. In answering this call, we help to build “a new culture of life, the fruit of the culture of truth and of love” (EV 77). May the Holy Spirit continually renew us as we strive to faithfully defend God’s gift of life.

Acts of Reparation

(Choose one.)

Do you love your cup of tea or coffee? Abstain from caffeine today, or try your coffee black.
“Unplug” for some time today, and reflect on how God may be asking you to help build a culture of life in your home, workplace, or Church community.
Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention.

One Step Further

Watching the news and reading headlines, we may often feel helpless in the face of heartbreaking lack of respect for human life. When our efforts to make a difference feel small, it’s important to remember that changing the culture is a process of conversion that begins in our own hearts. It includes a willingness to be instructed by the Holy Spirit and a desire to be close to Jesus—the source of joy and love.

How to Build a Culture of Life briefly explains where to start.

You Can Pray Each Day

We have nine days of prayer, which is the basic format for any novena. The term novena refers to 9 days, and is a way to recreate the experience of prayer that occurred in the Upper Room between the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, and today. As the apostles and Mary were in the Upper Room, they prayed each day in waiting for the Spirit of God to move, which, of course, we celebrate at Pentecost. Each day we will post an additional novena prayer.

The prayer topics are below:

Day One: May the tragic practice of abortion end.

Day Two: May each person suffering from participation in abortion find forgiveness, hope, and healing in Christ.

Day Three: May all who defend life find strength and renewal in the Holy Spirit.

Day Four: May all unborn children be protected in law and welcomed in love.

Day Five: May all who support or participate in abortion experience a conversion of heart to seek and receive the Lord’s boundless mercy.

Day Six: May every expectant mother receive compassionate care and support as she nurtures the life in her womb.

Day Seven: May expectant fathers lovingly support the mothers of their children in welcoming new life.

Day Eight: May expectant mothers choosing adoption receive grace and support in embracing this loving option.

Day Nine: May civic leaders work for the protection of all human life, in every stage and circumstance.

On the friar, you can listen to our homilies (based on the readings of the day) and reflections. You can also ask us to pray for you or to pray for others. You can subscribe to our website to be informed whenever we publish an update.