Tonight and tomorrow I have the opportunity to speak after each Mass at St. Justin's about the 40 Days for Life in Toms River and ask people to sign up to participate at the vigil, with 1 hour per week on site at the abortion clinic.
Here is what I think I am going to say:
THIS SPRING, FROM FEB 17 TO MARCH 28, TOMS RIVER WILL JOIN OVER 160 CITIES ACROSS AMERICA IN THE LARGEST PROLIFE MOBILIZATION IN HISTORY, THE 40 DAYS FOR LIFE.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, GOD HAS USED 40 DAYS AS A TIME OF TRANSFORMATION:
NOAH WAS TRANSFORMED AFTER 40 DAYS OF RAIN; MOSES WAS TRANSFORMED AFTER 40 DAYS ON THE MOUNTAIN; THE WORLD WAS AFTER JESUS SPENT 40 DAYS IN THE DESERT.
THIS SPRING, FROM ASH WEDNESDAY TO PALM SUNDAY IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN:
40 DAYS FOR LIFE: 40 DAYS OF FASTING AND VIGIL; 40 DAYS OF PRAYER; 40 DAYS OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH
40 DAYS THAT MAY BRING AN END TO ABORTION HERE IN TOMS RIVER, ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.
I AM HERE TODAY, TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR PRAYERS AND YOUR PARTICIPATION.
ST JAMES TOLD US IN CHAPTER 1 VS 22 TO "BE DOERS OF THE WORD, NOT HEARERS ONLY, DECIEVING YOURSELF."
I AM HERE TODAY TO BRING YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A DOER OF THE WORD, TO PUT YOUR FAITH INTO ACTION, TO TAKE A STAND FOR SOMETHING THAT IN YOUR HEART YOU KNOW IS RIGHT. I AM ASKING YOU TO CONSINDER SPENDNG 1 HOUR A WEEK OF PRAYER DURING OUR 40 DAY VIGIL, ON SITE AT THE ABORTION CENTER ON RT 37 IN TOMS RIVER.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU JOIN US FOR PEACEFUL PRAYERFUL VIGIL?
FIRST, YOU CAN EXPECT TO MEET PEOPLE, WHO LIKE YOURSELF, UNDERSTAND THAT THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION.
YOU CAN EXPECT TO HAVE TIME, EACH WEEK FOR JUST 1 HOUR, TO PRAY. PRAY FOR HEALING, PRAY FOR UNDERSTANDING, PRAY FOR INTERCESSION, PRAY FOR CONVERSION, PRAY TO END ABORTION.
The 40 Days for Life is NOT a protest, not about politics, now about public awareness. It is about PRAYER.
EACH HOUR OF OUR VIGIL, FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, THERE IS A SCHEDULE OF SUGGESTED PRAYERS THAT SOME CHOSE TO FOLLOW….SOME STAND IN SILENCE……SOME HOLD A SIGH THAT SAYS SIMPLY…PRAY TO END ABORTION…AND SOME EMPLOY THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WE HAVE IN THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE AGAINS EVIL…. THE ROSARY.
Who is called to participate? Couples, Families, Individuals, Prayer Groups....Everyone.
YOU MAY ASK, DO MY PRAYERS REALLY MATTER?
WELL THEY MATTER TO THE YOUNG MOTHER WHO IS FRIGHTENED, FEELING ALONE AND NOT CERTAIN WHAT TO DO.
THEY MATTER TO WOMEN, MEN AND FAMILIES WHO SEEK HEALING.
THEY MATTER TO THE YOUNG MOTHER WHO IS ALREADY INSIDE THAT ABORTION CLINIC AND FINDS THE COURAGE TO CHANGE HER MIND….. AND THEN LEAVES ….AND SAYS I CHOSE LIFE FOR MY BABY.
THAT’S THE POWER OF YOUR PRAYERS…. THAT’S THE POWER OF THE INTERCESSION OF THE MOTHER OF THE WORD AND THE MOTHER OF THE ENTIRE WORLD – OUR LADY, THE BLESSED VIRGIN…WHO SAID YES TO GOD, SAID YES TO LIFE.
THAT THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT….TO TOUCH THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE WHO NEED THE COURAGE, FAITH AND VISION TO CHANGE.
THAT’S THE POWER OF THE 40 DAYS FOR LIFE VIGIL HERE IN TOMS RIVER.
SO NOW, YOU HAVE A CHOICE. WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY, SOME WILL WALK RIGHT ON BY, AS IF YOU DIDN’T HEAR A WORD I SAID, AND THAT’S OK.
OR, YOU CAN STOP AT OUR TABLE, LET US ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, AND DECIDE TO JOIN US FOR ONE HOUR A WEEK IN PEACEFUL, PRAYERFUL VIGIL.
AND PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU ARE HERE TODAY, TO MAKE THIS DECISION, BECAUSE YOUR MOTHER CHOSE LIFE.
THANK YOU, AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU.
