Recently in Against Abortion Category

My cousin was in the Army in the mid-80’s. For about eight months, his unit was stationed on the inner-German border – the border between West Germany and communist East Germany. He was close enough that he could, at times, see Russian and East German soldiers on the other side of the line. They were so close to the enemy that he described his unit as “the point of the spear”.

The Culture War is fought in a lot of different ways by a wide variety of people. Some feel that it’s enough to vote pro-life. Some people write and argue in favor of pro-life causes. But on Saturday morning, my two oldest daughters and I stood outside an abortion clinic and prayed the rosary with about 375 other people.

On that day we were the point of the spear.

Stalin once said, “One death is a tragedy, 20 million is a statistic”. Most of the time we see the culture wars from Stalin’s perspective. 50 million is a big number. 50 million is so big that it’s easy to let it slip into the abstract. The abstraction is a defense mechanism – it helps us deal with a number so large that we can’t truly wrap our heads around it. 50 million abortions is a statistic that we know intellectually to be a tragedy, but emotion is kept at a happy distance.

When you stand in front of an abortion mill, you see the culture wars from a different perspective. Two women walked in while we were there. Two. Suddenly, abortion is more tangible. The statistic evaporates, and you’re left with nothing but tragedy. You see the Sidewalk counselors approach someone that doesn’t want to listen, and it’s no longer a story on the news or something we talk about on the internet. Your heart pulls harder. From your lips comes, “…pray for us now and at the hour of our death,” while your head is saying in the background, “Please, oh please, Lord, let them hear.” But they walk on.

Sure, we have to fight the culture wars in the courts and legislatures. Both are vital to eventual success. But the point of the spear is just as important. We will not win the hearts and minds of our opponents in the courts or legislatures. We will win them on our knees in front of places like the Fairmont Women’s Clinic, begging God to let them hear.

Just a quick note. I’ll post some further thoughts on the March for Life either later today or tomorrow. I’m having some computer problems today.

It was great meeting up with Julie and Laura at the March on Saturday. (Though I was disappointed that they didn’t have their carnations clenched between their teeth.) Julie’s husband Tom was there, as was their fellow parishioner Heather.

My own parish was well represented. Our priest, Fr. Morris, was there. One of our lectors did the first reading. And I know I saw at least one person on the refreshments line. Unfortunately, I didn’t see anyone from our previous parish.

We rather informally decided to continue our First Friday Fast against Abortion. As the big day approached, I decided that it was the least I could do. It seems Julie was thinking along the same lines.

So…same time next year?

As has been mentioned a time or two, the Dallas March for Life is scheduled for next Saturday, January 19th, rain or shine.

Next Saturday, we hope that anyone reading these words will join us in praying the rosary at 9:00 in the morning Central Standard Time. (That's 7:00 on the west coast, 10:00 on the east coast, 4:00 in the afternoon in Europe, 2:00 in the morning in Auckland...you get the idea.)

Confirmed in attendance will be Julie Davis of Happy Catholic, Laura Hughey of ...and if not..., and me. We hope for an appearance by one or both of the Summa Mamas as well, but we've heard that they may have a schedule conflict.

If you're going to be in the Dallas area, feel free to join us. We plan to meet in front of the Meyerson Symphony Center at 8:00 (across the street from the Cathedral). We will be identifiable by the wearing of red carnations (though Julie and Laura have promised to have the carnations between clenched teeth). Let one of us know if you're going to be in town so we can keep an eye out for you.

If you can't come to Dallas, that's ok too. Just let one of us know your name and your location, and we'll march for you. Even if you're outside the US, feel free to join us and let us in prayer. When the time comes, we'll join you in prayer when your country tries to end abortion.

Don't be shy. By comments or e-mail, let one of us know and we'll include you in the March where abortion in America began.

Here's the link to the original statement.

Here's the official handout.

Ok, we’re in the final stretch!

Next Friday is the final First Friday before the Dallas March for Life. Join us in fasting and prayer for the end of abortion this Friday. To anyone reading these words – we need your prayerful support – even if you can’t be here in Dallas for the March.

The March itself is scheduled for the 19th of January, rain or shine. Here are the schedules and details.

I’ll be there. I know Laura and Julie will be there too. I haven’t heard from the Summa Mama’s yet. We’re still working out a meeting place, but we’ll all post it when we have the details.

IT BEGAN HERE, LET IT END HERE!

No, this won’t be the end of abortion in the US. We want to turn this into the beginning of the end. That won’t happen without a great deal of prayerful support. Let one of us know if you’re going to be in town. If you can’t come to Dallas, that’s ok too. Just let one of us know your name and your location, and we’ll march for you. If you can, try to say the rosary at the same time we do (regardless of the time zone differences).

Don’t be shy. By comments or e-mail, let one of us know and we’ll include you in the March where abortion in America began.

I’ve been especially impressed by the people from outside the US that have expressed support for this project. Please let us know where you are and whether you’ll be with us in prayer on the 19th. When the time comes, and your country is dealing with abortion in this way, we’ll be there for you as well.

Here’s the link to the original statement.

It's First Friday again, and the Dallas bloggers are fasting against abortion. Please join us in prayer, even if you can't fast.

"It all began here in Dallas - in our home town, where we raise our families, where we go to church, where we live, and love, and learn, and work.

"We are three bloggers who also live in the Dallas area. We are deeply committed to ending abortion in this country. To that end, we have committed ourselves to the following: On each First Friday for the next eleven months, we will fast and pray before the Blessed Sacrament for an end to abortion. This will culminate at the annual Dallas March for Life in January of 2008, where we will join our bishop and the faithful of this city in marching to the courthouse where Roe was originally argued."

The original joint statement of the Dallas area Catholic bloggers

I am 46 years old. About 15 months ago my wife and I had a charming baby girl we named Frances Grace. I was 44 at the time.

Now, we have never been what you would call well-to-do. In fact, I live paycheck to paycheck and am carrying more debt than is wise. Our house is too small. By the grace of God, we get by. When we found out that my wife was pregnant, it threw us for a loop. We were completely unprepared.

Because we were so unprepared, more than one voice suggested that we consider abortion. It was never a consideration for either my wife or myself, but there were four such suggestions based on purely practical matters. We shouldn’t have kids at our age, we don’t have the money, and we don’t have the space.

Frances Grace is now a wonderful little girl that loves to laugh when her daddy tickles her. Her older sisters dote on her. Her mother worries endlessly. She’s off to a good start.

But the very first reaction of several people who know us well was abortion. They didn’t think that we could possibly go through with the pregnancy (one that was terribly hard on my wife). Abortion was the very first reaction – not even “Congratulations, but…” When I said that it wasn’t even a consideration, the reaction was either surprise or resignation.

Our culture has come to see abortion as logical. The acceptance of God’s blessing in the form of a child is met with shock and surprise.

Frances' story is part of why I wanted to take a stand against abortion. It seemed logical to make that stand here in Dallas – where Roe was originally argued. So today we fast. Today we pray. Today we ask others to join us in these things to end the scourge of abortion.

Today the battle is joined, not with guns or swords but with prayer and self denial - two weapons our opponents will never understand.

It began here. Let it end here.

The post beneath this will have a list of prayers for the First Friday devotions we’re starting this Friday. These are the prayers that I use myself, so if anyone else would like to join in, I heartily encourage them to do so.

If you prefer not to join us direclty in the First Friday devotion, or if you can't make it to Mass, then these should be considered optional. Some people prefer the Rosary as their prayer against abortion anyway, and that is entirely up to the individual. I do think, however, that the prayers below are the most appropriate given what we’re trying to accomplish.

But I do want to include a word of caution.

The First Friday of every month was designated by Christ as a special day of consecration to His Sacred Heart. His will was made known to us through his visitations of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th Century (click here and here for references).

The object of this devotion is to strengthen us in our love of Christ, to force us to focus more on God and his way of living this life, and to make reparations for the sins and outrages committed by mankind. This is my own personal list of devotions that I use on each First Friday. The prayers are said during a period of Eucharistic Adoration, either before or after Mass. Specific to the End of Abortion, I add a private prayer at the end for God to accept my fast and my prayers for the intention of ending abortion in this country.

First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Perform an Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Perform an Act of Reparation to Jesus
Perform a Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Act of Consecration
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, filled with infinite love, broken by my ingratitude, pierced by my sins, yet loving me still – accept this consecration that I make to You of all that I am and all that I have. Take every faculty of my soul and body. Draw me, day by day, nearer and nearer to your Sacred Heart, and there, as I can bear the lesson, teach me Your blessed ways. Amen

Act of Reparation
O Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer, Son of the living God, behold, we kneel before Thee and offer Thee our reparation; we would make amends for all the blasphemies uttered against Thy holy name, for all the injuries done to Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, for all the irreverence shown toward Thine immaculate Virgin Mother, for all the calumnies and slanders spoken against Thy spouse, the holy Catholic and Roman Church. O Jesus, who hast said: "If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you," we pray and beseech Thee for all our brethren who are in danger of sin; shield them from every temptation to fall away from the true faith; save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss; to all of them give light and knowledge of the truth, courage and strength for the conflict with evil, perseverance in faith and active charity! For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus, in Thy name, unto God the Father, with whom Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Ghost world without end. Amen.

The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the Virgin Mother by the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, united in substance with the Word of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of divinity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, rich to all who invoke Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, saturated with our infamy, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, crushed for our iniquities, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord,
Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Jesus, meek and humble of Heart.
Make our hearts like unto Thine.

Almighty and everlasting God, look upon the Heart of Thy well-beloved Son and upon the acts of praise and satisfaction which He renders unto Thee in the name of sinners; and do Thou, in Thy great goodness, grant pardon to them who seek Thy mercy, in the name of the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, world without end.

Amen