9 Days for Life: Day Seven: May all who support or participate in abortion experience a conversion of heart to seek and receive the Lord’s boundless mercy
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Today’s Intention: May all who support or participate in abortion experience a conversion of heart to seek and receive the Lord’s boundless mercy.
Table of Contents
9 Days for Life
Prayers
Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection
Fatherhood has its origins in God, who chose to reveal Himself to us as Our Father, sending his only Son for the sake of our salvation. Fathers therefore have a special role “in revealing and in reliving on earth the very fatherhood of God” (Familiaris consortio 25). Fathers are called to exhibit “generous responsibility for the life conceived under the heart of the mother” (FC 25). They are uniquely entrusted with the protection and defense of both mother and child and, in this way, in safeguarding the sanctity of human life.
As evidenced in our world today, the role of the father “is of unique and irreplaceable importance” (FC 25). Often women choose abortion because they do not have the support of the child’s father, or—even worse—the father of the child pressures her to make the decision to abort. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge with compassion that men can also be overwhelmed by an unexpected pregnancy and that society increasingly tells them that they should have no say in their children’s lives. In the face of these false messages, we pray that expectant fathers will find courage in the example of Saint Joseph—who embraced the role of father amid difficult circumstances—and offer loving, life-affirming support to the mothers of their children.
Acts of Reparation
(Choose one.)
- Give up sleeping on your pillow—or even your bed—tonight. Offer this small sacrifice for the intention that expectant fathers will courageously answer their call to support both mother and child.
- Pray a decade of the Rosary for all expectant fathers, that through her intercession, Our Lady may inspire in them the virtues of Saint Joseph.
- Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention.
One Step Further
Research continues to show that one of the top reasons a woman chooses abortion is due to a lack of financial resources. Read Poverty and Abortion: A Vicious Cycle, which explores the connections between abortion and poverty, and how the absence of fathers contributes to this ongoing cycle.
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.
Day One: May the tragic practice of abortion end.
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 Six: May every expectant mother receive compassionate care and support as she nurtures the life in her womb.
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.
Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb
The “Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb” was crafted to support parents awaiting the birth of their child, to encourage parish prayers for—and recognition of—the precious gift of the child in the womb, and to foster respect for human life within society. It may be offered within the context of the Mass as well as outside of Mass.
- Learn more about the “The Gift of Joy”, a new booklet on “The Blessing of the Child in the Womb”
- Rite of Blessing for a Child in the Womb / Rito de benedición de una criatura en el vientre materno
- News Release from March 26 (Solemnity of the Annunciation): Vatican Approves English and Spanish Texts for ‘Blessing of a Child in the Womb’
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.
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