Vessels of Hope

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DAY 38 INTENTION
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Pray that we become vessels of hope to all around us,
especially to those who minister in the pro-life
movement.

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SCRIPTURE
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On the first day of the week, very early in the
morning, the women took the spices they had prepared
and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled
away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did
not find the body of the Lord Jesus. "Why do you look
for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has
risen!"

-- Luke 24:1-5

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REFLECTION by Fr. Frank Pavone
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This meditation, based on a sermon I once heard, is
adapted for pro-life concerns.

It's Friday. Jesus is on the cross. He has been
killed by his enemies; he is off the scene. But
that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'!

It's Friday. Abortionists continue their work 3,300
times a day, tearing off the arms and legs of little
babies and crushing their heads. But that's because
it's Friday. Sunday's comin'! It's Friday.
Pro-abortion groups receive blood money from
billionaires who are as deceived as they are. But
that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'!

It's Friday. Liars attempt to speak for all women and
hide the pain of abortion, and ignore the evidence of
how it harms women, and call abortion a blessing. But
that's because it's Friday. Sunday's comin'! It's
Friday. People of hardened hearts guard the clinics
and usher desperate women in to have their abortions,
while keeping them from the pro-life people who want
to give them hope. But that's because it's Friday.
Sunday's comin'!

Hope does not mean that we ignore or minimize the
evils around us. It means, rather, that we see the
whole picture, which is that evil is conquered
because of what happened one Sunday morning. The
power of sin and death has been broken by the
Resurrection of Christ. We are called to proclaim,
celebrate, and serve that victory, waiting in joyful
hope for Christ's return and the full flowering of
the Culture of Life! Indeed, Sunday's comin'!

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PRAYER
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Lord, fill your people with new hope. Make us vessels
of hope to all around us, especially to those who
minister in the pro-life movement, that as we engage
in the difficult work ahead, we may experience the
peace and joy that come only from you and that nobody
can take away from us. We ask this through Christ our
Lord, Amen.

Lift every voice and sing

Kathy Proulx & Co. have graciously agreed to sing at our Victory Celebration this Sunday at 1pm.

I doubt you'll be hearing any of these ditties then, but they gave me pause to reconsider how we can transform our culture in myriad ways, and often unexpectedly:

“PAPA DON’T PREACH” BY MADONNA
Read lyrics | Watch on YouTube
EXCERPT:

You always taught me right from wrong
I need your help, daddy please be strong
I may be young at heart
But I know what I’m saying
But I made up my mind, I’m keeping my baby

“ICICLE MELTS” BY THE CRANBERRIES
Read lyrics | Watch on YouTube
EXCERPT:

How, how could you hurt the child,
How could you hurt the child?
Now, does this make you satisfied,
Satisfied, satisfied?
I don’t know what’s happening to people today,
When a child, child, child, child, he was taken away.
There’s a place for the baby that died,
And there’s time for the mother who cried.

“SLIDE” BY THE GOO GOO DOLLS
Read lyrics | Watch on YouTube
EXCERPT:

Don’t you love the life you killed
The priest is on the phone
…May put your arms around me
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful
May do you wanna get married
Or run away

“THE FRESHMAN” BY THE VERVE PIPE
Read lyrics | Watch on YouTube
EXCERPT:

When I was young I knew everything
She a punk who rarely ever took advice
Now I’m guilt stricken, sobbing with my head on the floor
Stop a baby’s breath and a shoe full of rice

There's even more such excerpts from pop music melodies at this link.

Do you know a lyric that has given you pause to wonder if the singer was meaning to be pro-life?

Come to our Victory Celebration on Sunday Oct.31

1:00 Gather at LaGrave church parking lot

1:10 Music

1:20 Welcome-

Opening Prayer-

Testimonial stories-

Closing Prayer = Walk to 320 Fulton Clinic; Pray Fr. Pavone's prayer all together

Reception with cider and doughnuts back at LaGrave

Take courage

Never prayed at an abortion center before?

If you're still not sure about this, please read
these stories before you take that leap of faith that
thousands are taking right now.

"I thought I SHOULD go and pray," Pamela wrote,
"but I always found an excuse not to do it." Then
she listened to the 40 Days for Life countdown
webcast before the current campaign.

"What struck me was that they said they were actually
blessed by praying," she said. "Any resistance I had
was overcome."

So she went -- and got hooked. "Every single
experience I had -- whether praying alone, with my
daughter, with others ... was really inspiring. I
think if you can at least go one time ... you will
also get hooked."

Theresa is a first-time 40 Days for Life prayer vigil
participant this fall.

"I felt nervous energy all morning," she said, but
"once I was there and began to pray, I immediately
felt the grace of the Holy Spirit. At times I would
be alone physically, but I always felt safe and
empowered."

At first, Mary didn't want to go pray because she
didn't want to offend anyone. Eventually, she got
over it and went to the vigil.

"I may be saving the life of a child -- a child like
any other child," she said, "deserving a chance
at life. I pray for courage and boldness, and it is
granted."

"I was very hesitant to pray at our local abortion
provider, and declined for several years out of fear,"
said Pia. "I have three children, and felt extremely
nervous about praying outside this facility, which
is not in the best part of town."

When she explained her fear to the local 40 Days for
Life coordinator, he said he understood -- but he
also reminded her to "be not afraid."

It was the encouragement of her 14-year-old daughter
and her daughter's friend that convinced Pia to go
pray at the vigil. "Locally we have had several saves,
and there is no doubt in my mind of the power of
prayer," she said, "especially that of our youth."

"I, too, was one who was scared to go to the clinic
to pray," wrote Kris. "But God spoke to me and told
me 'Go, I will give you the words and protection.'
Thank God I listened!"

This particular prayer vigil was being held at an
abortion center that was under construction. It
wasn't yet open, but the vigil helped draw public
attention to what would soon be happening at this
building.

"One morning when I was feeling very anxious, I went
and a young girl -- about 17 -- stopped and wondered
if the clinic was open yet," Kris said. Her boyfriend
was pressuring her to have an abortion.

"My blessing -- that still keeps me going today --
was her deciding not to have the abortion," said Kris.
"Have courage and don’t fear, because God is with each
one of us."