I went out to the hospital one last time this afternoon. I thought I would stand there by myself, at least until the Youth Group arrived at 2:00 PM. One thing about 40 DFL - you never know what's going to happen! A few other adults joined me and the youth showed up shortly after. We gathered around with our signs and prayed the Rosary. It was glorious! While we meditated on the Descent of the Holy Spirit the wind started blowing like mad! I closed my eyes and imagined I was in the Upper Room on Pentecost....
"Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled
the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to
be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of
them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit
enabled them." Acts 2:2-4
I am sure biblical scholars will interpret speaking in tongues differently than I do but to me, to speak in tongues is to be able to speak in a language/way that your listener hears what God wants him to hear. I hope that everyone our group encountered over the last 40 days heard what God wants them to hear - that abortion ends an innocent life, it hurts mothers and fathers, it kills the souls of the doctors that commit them.
At Mass this morning Fr. Terry made a very honest confession - he said that at first he was a bit intimidated by hanging an 18" x 24" sign around his neck that said "40 Days for Life". Well, he wasn't the only one! Many people told me they didn't want to do it but by the end of 40 Days lots of people were. Many people said when someone approached them in the first few weeks to ask what they were doing they were a bit vague in their reply. As the weeks went on everyone began to speak more boldly. It went from "praying for babies and moms" to "praying for an end to abortion."
I remember my first Life Chain - my heart was in my throat and I was terrified. At Life Chain there is strength in numbers though (I think we had 75 people last year) and everyone prays together at once and only for one hour, once a year. Then you get your hot dog! 40 DFL means you are alone at times and there are no hot dogs but you do get community outreach. This outreach kept me going on many cold afternoons and I trust it warmed and fed others as well.
So, as 40 DFL ends and Holy Week begins I thank you again from the bottom of my heart for showing Terrace how much you care for the unborn, for praying for a change of heart for Dr. Lani Almas, and for taking time out of your lives to stand on what might be one of the windiest streets in Terrace. :-)
And see you next year - the Spring 40 Days For Life campaign begins February 13, 2013!
With my sincere wishes for a spiritually profitable Holy Week and a Happy, Holy and Blessed Easter!
...Your Blog Administrator :-)
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Day 40
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your
stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the
day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done
everything, to stand. Stand firm
then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of
righteousness in place, and with
your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the
shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the
evil one. Take the helmet of
salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-18
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Day 39
Lots of rambling thoughts going through my mind today so I thought I'd share a few with you.
I was thrilled to see Nathan Cullen's assistant Francoise Godet drive by our vigil yesterday when 21 people were out praying and displaying their signs!
As I look back at the last 39 days I am grateful to everyone that braved the elements to come out and pray for the unborn. It has also been an opportunity to renew our hope that some day abortion will be history in this country. Every time someone stops to talk to us and ask what we are doing I realize that there are a LOT more people with Pro-Life hearts out there than the pro-abortion crowd would have us think. However, there is still a lot more work to be done - and we are NOT going away!
Last year during 40 Days my uncle died. He had terminal cancer and was in hospice but his family chose to have him euthanized - which is legal in the Netherlands. My cousin posted a photo online of my uncle just before he died. From what I had been told he was on death's door and I expected him to be laying flat out in bed, eyes closed, face screwed up in pain, moments away from the coma that would precede natural death. No, he was sitting up wearing a dress shirt and tying his tie 20 minutes before the doctors killed him! I watched my own mother die of cancer so I am not averse to the desire to relieve people of their suffering - but killing someone is not the solution and euthanasia lives (or should I say dies) hand in hand with abortion.
This year during 40 Days a very close friend lost her baby when she had a miscarriage. My sense of loss reminded me that this baby was not a "potential" life until he could breathe on his own, or a bunch of tissue, but a real human life with an eternal soul! And while abortion might seem a short term solution to some people - the souls of those babies live forever. Abortion does not make a woman or girl "un-pregnant." It does not magically turn back time. Life - and death- are forever.
For any atheists that might be reading this - if you truly believe our earthly life is all we have then you should be even more Pro-Life than any Christian. Would you deny a person their only chance at life?
It's my son's birthday today. When I was pregnant with him I thought I was going to lose him early in the pregnancy. I ended up in the hospital and while the doctor was very kind when he examined me he called my son "the conceptus." At the time I was grateful because I didn't want to think I was losing my child, a human person. It would be easier to think of him as a bunch of cells if he died. That experience helps me to understand how a woman can be talked into an abortion. But it begs the question - if it's not a baby - then what exactly is it? Of course it's a human baby!
Soon Motion M-312, which seeks to update a centuries old Canadian law that states a child becomes a human being only at the moment of complete birth, will hopefully become front page news. Anyone that has looked at an ultrasound of a pregnant woman knows she is carrying a human being long before the child is born. You can see more HERE.
Sunday April 1 will be the final day of the Spring 2012 - 40 Days for Life Campaign. Thank you again to all to took part - through your prayerful efforts over 600 lives were saved this spring. Since 2007 over 60 abortion workers have walked away from the industry, over 20 abortion facilities have shut down, and many people with past-abortion experiences have stepped forward to begin post-abortion healing and recovery. Well done, good and faithful servants!
I was thrilled to see Nathan Cullen's assistant Francoise Godet drive by our vigil yesterday when 21 people were out praying and displaying their signs!
As I look back at the last 39 days I am grateful to everyone that braved the elements to come out and pray for the unborn. It has also been an opportunity to renew our hope that some day abortion will be history in this country. Every time someone stops to talk to us and ask what we are doing I realize that there are a LOT more people with Pro-Life hearts out there than the pro-abortion crowd would have us think. However, there is still a lot more work to be done - and we are NOT going away!
Last year during 40 Days my uncle died. He had terminal cancer and was in hospice but his family chose to have him euthanized - which is legal in the Netherlands. My cousin posted a photo online of my uncle just before he died. From what I had been told he was on death's door and I expected him to be laying flat out in bed, eyes closed, face screwed up in pain, moments away from the coma that would precede natural death. No, he was sitting up wearing a dress shirt and tying his tie 20 minutes before the doctors killed him! I watched my own mother die of cancer so I am not averse to the desire to relieve people of their suffering - but killing someone is not the solution and euthanasia lives (or should I say dies) hand in hand with abortion.
This year during 40 Days a very close friend lost her baby when she had a miscarriage. My sense of loss reminded me that this baby was not a "potential" life until he could breathe on his own, or a bunch of tissue, but a real human life with an eternal soul! And while abortion might seem a short term solution to some people - the souls of those babies live forever. Abortion does not make a woman or girl "un-pregnant." It does not magically turn back time. Life - and death- are forever.
For any atheists that might be reading this - if you truly believe our earthly life is all we have then you should be even more Pro-Life than any Christian. Would you deny a person their only chance at life?
It's my son's birthday today. When I was pregnant with him I thought I was going to lose him early in the pregnancy. I ended up in the hospital and while the doctor was very kind when he examined me he called my son "the conceptus." At the time I was grateful because I didn't want to think I was losing my child, a human person. It would be easier to think of him as a bunch of cells if he died. That experience helps me to understand how a woman can be talked into an abortion. But it begs the question - if it's not a baby - then what exactly is it? Of course it's a human baby!
Soon Motion M-312, which seeks to update a centuries old Canadian law that states a child becomes a human being only at the moment of complete birth, will hopefully become front page news. Anyone that has looked at an ultrasound of a pregnant woman knows she is carrying a human being long before the child is born. You can see more HERE.
Sunday April 1 will be the final day of the Spring 2012 - 40 Days for Life Campaign. Thank you again to all to took part - through your prayerful efforts over 600 lives were saved this spring. Since 2007 over 60 abortion workers have walked away from the industry, over 20 abortion facilities have shut down, and many people with past-abortion experiences have stepped forward to begin post-abortion healing and recovery. Well done, good and faithful servants!
+++
Friday, 30 March 2012
Day 38 - HUGE turnout!
It was the final Friday of the Spring Campaign of 40 DFL. We had a good turn out today - one very hardy Pro-Life angel arrived at 8:15 AM and stayed close to 4 hours and a record-breaking 21 participants prayed between 4:00 - 5:00 PM! Too bad the newspaper didn't show up - it would have been quite a scene!
Enjoy the photos!
Enjoy the photos!
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Day 38 - Big Day Ahead!
Friday should be an interesting day at the vigil - apparently the newspaper has found out about our campaign. I've been reluctant to contact them as part of our community outreach as I am not sure they can do us justice. I've written an information sheet to hand out - feel free to print it off and distribute as needed.
If you are able to make it out to the hospital between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM on Friday, March 30 we can really make an impact! Feel free to bring your own sign - I have a feeling the 10 "official" signs aren't going to be enough. You know where to call me if you have questions.
Q: Is there a code of conduct?
If you are able to make it out to the hospital between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM on Friday, March 30 we can really make an impact! Feel free to bring your own sign - I have a feeling the 10 "official" signs aren't going to be enough. You know where to call me if you have questions.
Question: What is 40 Days for Life?
Answer: A peaceful, prayerful prolife vigil that is taking place at 258 hospitals and abortion clinics around the world from Feb. 22, 2012 to April 1, 2012. The on-site vigil at Mills Memorial is the centre point of the 40 Days for Life campaign in Terrace. A steady presence of pro-lifers at the hospital expresses our level of commitment to ending abortion.
Answer: A peaceful, prayerful prolife vigil that is taking place at 258 hospitals and abortion clinics around the world from Feb. 22, 2012 to April 1, 2012. The on-site vigil at Mills Memorial is the centre point of the 40 Days for Life campaign in Terrace. A steady presence of pro-lifers at the hospital expresses our level of commitment to ending abortion.
Q: When did 40 Days for
Life start?
A: 40
Days for Life emerged in 2004 when a multi-denominational prolife group in
College Station, Texas sought to invigorate their prolife endeavours at the
local abortion facility. This dynamic movement has spread rapidly over the past
seven years to encompass most Canadian provinces, the USA, Australia, England,
Ireland, Spain and Poland. Since 2004 over 5,000 lives have been saved from
abortion, over 60 abortion workers have quit the industry, 21 abortion
facilities have shut down, and many people with past abortion experiences have
stepped forward to begin post-abortion healing and recovery. This is the second
year in a row we have held a 40 day vigil at Mills Memorial Hospital.
Q: Why 40 days?
A: It's a number of biblical significance - Noah was transformed by 40 days in the flood, Moses by 40 days on the mountain, Jesus by 40 days in the dessert, and the Disciples by the 40 days following the resurrection.
A: It's a number of biblical significance - Noah was transformed by 40 days in the flood, Moses by 40 days on the mountain, Jesus by 40 days in the dessert, and the Disciples by the 40 days following the resurrection.
Q. Does someone have to pray at the hospital
every day for 40 days?
A: We aim for a presence at the hospital every day but that does not mean any one individual has to be there every single day. Some people come out for an hour or two each week. Some are there more often. Those unable to join us at the hospital pray from home or at church.
Q: The 40 Days for Life campaign proposes a 3 pronged approach of prayer, fasting and community outreach to end abortion – can you explain how that works?
A: We aim for a presence at the hospital every day but that does not mean any one individual has to be there every single day. Some people come out for an hour or two each week. Some are there more often. Those unable to join us at the hospital pray from home or at church.
Q: The 40 Days for Life campaign proposes a 3 pronged approach of prayer, fasting and community outreach to end abortion – can you explain how that works?
A: The 3 pronged
approach of prayer, fasting and community outreach works like this:
Prayer keeps us rooted in the fact that it is our desire to carry
out God's will. We can pray formal prayers, spontaneous prayers, or meditate on
the daily devotionals that are published at www.40daysforlife.com
Fasting is a sacrifice that helps us reach beyond our
own limitations with God's help. Fasting is not a Christian diet; it is a form
of physical prayer. You can fast from food, TV, alcohol - anything that
separates you from God.
Community outreach is accomplished by our constant vigil. It's the most visible
component of 40 Days for Life. It is prayerful witness to the hospital's
patients and employees, and to the community, that unborn babies are being
killed in a place of healing and care.
Q: Is there a code of conduct?
A: We may walk on the sidewalks of Haugland
Ave. and Tetrault St. but we are not to obstruct them.
Any person acting in a violent or
harmful manner immediately and completely disassociates themselves from the 40
Days for Life campaign.
We are there first and foremost to pray. If passersby or
motorists wish to approach us we will answer their questions, listen to their
experiences, and - if desired - offer comfort or direct them to sources of help
for their particular need (ie; crisis pregnancy help or post-abortion
counselling).
Q: Do you really think this campaign is
helpful?
A: YES. While we may never witness a woman leaving the hospital after cancelling their abortion our presence there is still crucial. For instance, a woman experiencing a crisis pregnancy may be considering abortion and happen to drive by the 40 Days for Life vigil. It's unlikely she would stop to talk to us but she'll probably read one of our signs and hopefully be inspired to visit www.40daysforlife.com. The information she reads there may help her choose life for her baby. Many people expressed their thanks that we are there. Occasionally someone will say something negative to us, or we may receive the occasional rude gesture, but for the most part we have been well received and supported in the community.
A: YES. While we may never witness a woman leaving the hospital after cancelling their abortion our presence there is still crucial. For instance, a woman experiencing a crisis pregnancy may be considering abortion and happen to drive by the 40 Days for Life vigil. It's unlikely she would stop to talk to us but she'll probably read one of our signs and hopefully be inspired to visit www.40daysforlife.com. The information she reads there may help her choose life for her baby. Many people expressed their thanks that we are there. Occasionally someone will say something negative to us, or we may receive the occasional rude gesture, but for the most part we have been well received and supported in the community.
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to
contact us at terrace40days@gmail.com
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
As long as the baby is "healthy"...
Great post over at Calgary 40 Days for Life blog - read it HERE.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Pro-Life - united in single purpose and spirit
During 40 Days for Life there should be one constant factor: unity.
A few nights ago, Shaun Carney, Campaign Director for 40 DFL, spoke at an event in New Jersey and an Evangelical pastor came up afterwards, smiling. “I’m sure glad the Reformation has not stopped us from working together to end abortion,” he said. This campaign against abortion has Catholics, Protestants and Evangelicals in attendance, and his comment reflects the unity that the pro-life movement should be proud of.
This unity is a gift — and the abortion industry sees it as a threat. Let us remain united in single purpose and spirit.
***
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