Praying to End Abortion

Today was a gorgeous day to pray at the 40 Days for Life vigil, on this, the last day of the Spring campaign. I got to spend over an hour in prayer with two of the people who have most often been the prayer warriors to come with me to the abortion clinic during these past 40 days.
   
As usual on the busy street corner, there were lots of people walking by on such a beautiful day; some out for a stroll or a jog, some were walking their dogs, and others were on the way to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
    
Since the start of 40 Days for Life began in September of 2007, over 4,000 babies have been saved from abortion, and those are just the ones we know of that have been confirmed by vigil participants. It’s amazing what happens when people all over the world gather in 247 different locations to unite their hearts and minds to the Lord in an effort to protect His most sacred gift of life.
    
Often the Lord has showered abundant blessings upon vigil participants, and this Spring was no exception. At the beginning of the campaign our dear brother in Christ invited a VCU student and her friend to the 40 Days for Life Kick-off. He’d often seen them at daily Mass, so he extended an invitation to the event. Over the past 40 Days, our brother, my husband, and I have gotten to know the VCU student, her roommate, and her roommate’s boyfriend much better.
    
It was actually this young lady who inspired me to pray at the vigil more often when she said she’d like to pray there daily, and I said to let me know when she wanted to go, and I’d accompany her. It’s quite fitting that our favorite brother in Christ would be the one to introduce us to a new friend, who has become dear to me over these 40 Days. As this devout woman of faith and I have prayed together at the vigil, gone for daily Mass, to church for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as spending time talking and hanging out, we have shared our deep love of the Lord and desire to live out His holy will.
    
As my mom was saying the other day, if just one mother and father had decided to choose life for their baby, this entire campaign would have been worth it. Not only were many children saved, many post-abortive women offered the healing they longed for, and a large number of volunteers came out for the first time ever to pray at their local vigil, but also God deepened some close relationships and graced us with new friends dedicated to serving the Lord first and foremost.
    
Lord, thank You for these days of Lent, these days of praying at the 40 Days for Life Vigil, which have brought us closer to You in mind, body, and spirit, and opened our heart to the many ways You can and want to work in and through us to bring Your gentle touch, unconditional love, and compassionate healing into each person in our broken world. Amen.