40 Days For Life - Prayers Day 36 to Day 40

Day 36

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12: 21

Dear Lord, today I lift before you Leroy Carhart and his colleagues who perform late-term abortions. He does not know your truth. Believing a lie, he has spread deception and death through his words and deeds. I pray for your truth to invade his life and the lives of other abortionists. You have us all surrounded, Lord! Your truth will win in the end. Build my confidence in you, and help me to not only see you at work but to be part of the work you are doing. Amen.

Day 37

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43: 19

Lord, forgive me of my sins and give me the strength to repent, accept your forgiveness, and work to amend this world. As the world finds new ways to sin against life, remind me that there is no heart you can’t turn and no conscience you can’t penetrate. Help me to bring your joy and love into the wasteland so that life may be restored. I ask this through Christ our Lord, amen.

Day 38

Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above— what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below— what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. Job 11: 7– 9

Almighty Father, give me the humility to accept any persecution or discomfort for your sake. The sufferings your followers experience here on earth are so small compared to what you endured for us on the cross. Help me to seek your holy perspective to look beyond myself and see the injustice of abortion as a worldwide crisis and you as the worldwide answer. I praise you for the many faithful leaders around the world whom you have lifted up to protect your innocent children in the womb. I ask this through Christ our Lord, amen.

Day 39

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3: 20– 21

Heavenly Father, you can do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine. I offer myself to you completely, no holding back. Show me what to do, Lord. I open myself to your power at work in my life and through my life to others, as you will. Give me your strength and perseverance to do whatever you would have me do— and to do it anyway, no matter the challenges. Lord, I am willing. Amen.

Day 40

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15: 5,12,13

Heavenly Father, thank you for inviting me to join you in this great work you are doing around the world. I may not have been a “near miss” like David Arabie, but I recognise that abortion personally affects every one of us. Friends and family members have been scarred. Children have been lost. Families have been torn apart. Our cities and nations have been ravaged. Lord, I can do nothing apart from you. I lay my life down for you to use. Show me what you want me to do in response to this crisis. And may my commitment to love others— the unborn, their mothers and fathers, abortion workers, legislators and my fellow pro-life advocates— pour from my life in such a way that they are all drawn closer to you and personally experience your sacrificial love for us all. Use me, Lord, to help make this moment in history the beginning of the end of abortion. Amen.



Bereit, David; Carney, Shawn (2013-01-17). 40 Days for Life: Discover What God Has Done...Imagine What He Can Do (Kindle Locations 4447-4454). Cappella Books. Kindle Edition.

Holy Michael Archangel Defend Us In The Day of Battle

Notes of meeting on 5 March 2012

A hill with a holy city shining we journey toward it - but there are many obstacles  - angels help us to overcome those obstacles on our journey to the holy city.

Picture of cross on the hill - light from the Cross - the power of the Cross

Revelation 12  Woman Clothed with the Son

1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, robed with the sun, standing on the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
2 She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth.
3 Then a second sign appeared in the sky: there was a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet.
4 Its tail swept a third of the stars from the sky and hurled them to the ground, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was at the point of giving birth, so that it could eat the child as soon as it was born.
5 The woman was delivered of a boy, the son who was to rule all the nations with an iron sceptre, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne,
6 while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had prepared a place for her to be looked after for twelve hundred and sixty days.
7 And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels,
8 but they were defeated and driven out of heaven.
9 The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had led all the world astray, was hurled down to the earth and his angels were hurled down with him.
10 Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, 'Salvation and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the accuser, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down.
11 They have triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word to which they bore witness, because even in the face of death they did not cling to life.
12 So let the heavens rejoice and all who live there; but for you, earth and sea, disaster is coming -- because the devil has gone down to you in a rage, knowing that he has little time left.'
13 As soon as the dragon found himself hurled down to the earth, he sprang in pursuit of the woman, the mother of the male child,
14 but she was given a pair of the great eagle's wings to fly away from the serpent into the desert, to the place where she was to be looked after for a time, two times and half a time.
15 So the serpent vomited water from his mouth, like a river, after the woman, to sweep her away in the current,
16 but the earth came to her rescue; it opened its mouth and swallowed the river spewed from the dragon's mouth.
17 Then the dragon was enraged with the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, who obey God's commandments and have in themselves the witness of Jesus.



The Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel


The Chaplet of St. Michael is a wonderful way to honour this great Archangel along with the other nine Choirs of Angels. What do we mean by Choirs? It seems that God has created various orders of Angels. Sacred Scripture distinguishes nine such groupings: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Powers, Virtues, Principalities, Archangels and Angels (Isa. 6:2; Gen. 3:24; Col. 1:16; Eph. 1:21; Rom. 8:38). There may be more groupings but these are the only ones that have been revealed to us. The Seraphim is believed to be the highest Choir, the most intimately united to God, while the Angelic Choir is the lowest.

The history of this Chaplet goes back to a devout Servant of God, Antonia d'Astonac, who had a vision of St. Michael. He told Antonia to honour him by nine salutations to the nine Choirs of Angels. St. Michael promised that whoever would practice this devotion in his honor would have, when approaching Holy Communion, an escort of nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs. In addition, for those who would recite the Chaplet daily, he promised his continual assistance and that of all the holy angels during life.

The Chaplet of St. Michael

O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc.

[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following nine salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels]

1. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity. Amen.

2. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim may the Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the paths of Christian perfection. Amen.

3. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility. Amen.

4. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominations may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome any unruly passions. Amen.

5. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation. Amen.

6. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.

7. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.

8. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works in order that we may attain the glory of Heaven. Amen.

9. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted in the life to come to Heaven. Amen.

Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and our Guardian Angel.

Concluding prayers:

O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.

Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael Prince of Your Church, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into Your Presence.This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Amen.


Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/chaplet-of-st-michael.htm#ixzz2MkornT00
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40 Days For Life - Prayers Days 29 - 35

Day 29

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17: 20

Lord, so often I commit my actions to you but do not trust what you promise to do with them. Too often I doubt the results you will provide from my tiny faith and simple actions. Please give me the humility to trust you with my small efforts and the courage to overcome my doubts. Amen.

Day 30

He said to them: . . .“ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1: 7– 8

Dear Lord and Saviour, Earth is a huge planet, with billions of people, and it’s easy to be daunted by the prospect of combating abortion in all the places where it’s practised around the world. Remind me, when I feel overwhelmed by the task, of people like Carolyn Rice. There is a motivated, energetic army already on the ground, waiting for the call, everywhere this battle must be waged. Help more people in every nation answer that call. Where the need is greatest, that is where you have provided most abundantly, and I thank you. Amen.

Day 31

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139: 13-14

Heavenly Father, thank you for knitting me together in my mother’s womb, and for doing the same for every member of our human family. Never let me take for granted the gift of children, all of whom are fearfully and wonderfully made in your image. Make me a faithful steward of these precious lives so that each generation might be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Amen.

Day 32

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 118: 5– 6

Lord, thank you for the grace to defend life and to stand strong when others may ridicule or oppose me. May your peace fill my soul, especially when I am called to endure the opposition of others, and may I become more like your crucified and risen Son. Amen.

Day 33

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4: 9

Lord, you alone are the giver of life. Your Word tells me that you know every single hair on my head, and that you take my life, and all of our lives, personally. You became one of us to save us. Help me to empty myself and take all attacks against human life personally, because the littlest and least of these are my brothers and sisters in Christ. Give me the grace to see you in everyone and to not judge the value of human life based on the circumstances of worldly judgements. Help me to take abortion personally and to trust you to give me the strength to be my brother’s keeper. Amen.

Day 34

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1: 7

God Almighty, you mark my path, but often I don’t know where that path will lead. Give me a spirit of power to trust you as I walk that path toward destinations I don’t know. Why you put me in certain positions at certain times I don’t know, but lead me, your child, with love so that I may be used for your greater glory. Amen.

Day 35

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” Mark 11: 23

Dear heavenly Father, help me to see my effort on behalf of the unborn as part of a grand tradition of fighting injustice. You ask your followers to intercede for the widow, for the fatherless, for the oppressed, and I strive to follow that exhortation when I intercede for the unborn. Empower me to invest my time and energy in that battle. Bless my effort, and that of my co-workers on behalf of the unborn, so that today’s worldwide pro-life movement has a lasting and profound effect on saving lives. Amen.



Bereit, David; Carney, Shawn (2013-01-17). 40 Days for Life: Discover What God Has Done...Imagine What He Can Do (Kindle Locations 3862-3864). Cappella Books. Kindle Edition.

Be fruitful

Notes from meeting of 19 February 2013

Rest in my love.

I am the vine, My Father is the gardener, you are the branches. Be fruitful.

Romans 15
1 It is for us who are strong to bear with the susceptibilities of the weaker ones, and not please ourselves.

2 Each of us must consider his neighbour's good, so that we support one another.
3 Christ did not indulge his own feelings, either; indeed, as scripture says: The insults of those who insult you fall on me.
4 And all these things which were written so long ago were written so that we, learning perseverance and the encouragement which the scriptures give, should have hope.
5 Now the God of perseverance and encouragement give you all the same purpose, following the example of Christ Jesus,
6 so that you may together give glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one heart.
7 Accept one another, then, for the sake of God's glory, as Christ accepted you.

2 Chronicles 1 v1 - 12
1 Solomon son of David then made himself secure over his kingdom. Yahweh his God was with him, making him more and more powerful.
2 Solomon then spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of families.
3 Solomon, and the whole assembly with him, then went to the high place at Gibeon, where God's Tent of Meeting was, which Moses, servant of God, had made in the desert.
4 The ark of the covenant, however, David had brought from Kiriath-Jearim to the place which he had prepared for it, having pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.
5 The bronze altar which Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made was there, in front of Yahweh's Dwelling, where Solomon and the assembly consulted him.
6 There Solomon presented a burnt offering before Yahweh on the bronze altar of the Tent of Meeting, making on it one thousand burnt offerings.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said, 'Ask what you would like me to give you.'
8 Solomon replied to God, 'You showed most faithful love to David my father, and you have made me king in succession to him.
9 Yahweh God, the promise you made to David my father has now been fulfilled, since you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
10 Therefore give me wisdom and knowledge to act as leader of this people, for how otherwise could such a great people as yours be governed?'
11 'Since that is what you want,' God said to Solomon, 'since you have asked, not for riches, treasure, honour, the lives of your enemies, or even for a long life, but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people of whom I have made you king,
12 therefore wisdom and knowledge are granted you. I give you riches too, and treasure, and honour such as no king had before you and none will have after you.'

Isaiah 55 v 6 - 11
6 Seek out Yahweh while he is still to be found, call to him while he is still near.

7 Let the wicked abandon his way and the evil one his thoughts. Let him turn back to Yahweh who will take pity on him, to our God, for he is rich in forgiveness;
8 for my thoughts are not your thoughts and your ways are not my ways, declares Yahweh.
9 For the heavens are as high above earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above your thoughts.
10 For, as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and do not return before having watered the earth, fertilising it and making it germinate to provide seed for the sower and food to eat,
11 so it is with the word that goes from my mouth: it will not return to me unfulfilled or before having carried out my good pleasure and having achieved what it was sent to do.


Lord thank you that we can rest in your love.

However your love calls us to action, to be fruitful in spreading your love to others, to strengthen the weak to support those who are burdened, to teach others to bring them hope and encouragement.
Help us Lord to spread your love to our families, friends, work colleagues and all who we meet in our daily lives.
Amen

Notes from the Year of Faith Mass on 26 February 2013

Isaiah 1: 10, 16 – 20


10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomor’rah! 16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Psalms 50: 8 – 9, 16 – 17, 21, 23

8 I do not reprove you for your sacrifices; your burnt offerings are continually before me. 9 I will accept no bull from your house, nor he-goat from your folds. 16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips? 17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. 21 These things you have done and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you. 23 He who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice honours me; to him who orders his way aright I will show the salvation of God!”

Matthew 23: 1 – 12

1 Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. 4 They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. 11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; 12 whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.


Faith of our forebears

Picture of a table - eat and drink - bread and wine to sustain, strengthen, heal and refresh us

'Taste and see'

Readings challenge us to not judge people by appearances, status, - challenge us as to how we are living our lives - faith is about the lives we lead - do we look out for the widow orphaned those in need around us?

Reach out to my people , love my people, reach out to my people

40 Days for Life - Prayers Day 22 to Day 28

Day 22

The last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20: 16

O Father, fill me anew with your Spirit. Renew my mind, strengthen me in righteousness, help me and all those who join in this battle for the unborn to be people of salt and light. May every human being, from conception to natural death, be treated with the respect due those made in your image. Amen.

Day 23

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4: 7

God Almighty, having accepted your Son’s sacrifice on my behalf, I in turn present myself to you as a living sacrifice. Thank you for deeming me holy and acceptable because of Christ’s shed blood for me. I pray that you would help me to fight the good fight and finish the race. Use me as your vessel to rescue others who are perishing. Amen.

Day 24

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid. Matthew 10: 27– 28

Lord, help me to be faithful and to overcome whatever challenges come my way as I seek to protect the well-being of God’s people. I pray for your continued guidance and protection. May I be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in your work, knowing that my labour will not be in vain. Amen.

Day 25

This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Luke 24: 46– 48

Dear Jesus, what can I say in response to your sacrifice on our behalf? The pain you bore, the anguish of spirit— and you did it all so that we could be reconciled to your father. Thank you for daily reminding me of this, of all the benefits I have in life— and the life to come— because of that sacrifice, and of my privilege to bear witness to the world of all that I have seen. Amen.

Day 26

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1: 5

Father of mercy and grace, thank you for the gift of children. Grant that every fibre of my being may rejoice when a new baby is born into the world. Help me to be, for those newborn, a light shining in the darkness, welcoming them as I would welcome you. For whenever a new baby is conceived, another life to bear your image and another voice to praise and worship you is beginning. Amen.

Day 27

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13: 12– 13

O God, our heavenly Father, give me courage and wisdom. Help me to realise that your divine Spirit alone can change hearts and minds so that all your human creatures may enjoy the fullness of life you intended for them. Amen.

Day 28

Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. John 16: 22– 23

Almighty Father, you are the author of life. It’s easy to become discouraged as I see evil becoming commonplace around me. Remind me, when discouragement takes over, that you have promised to give us what we ask in your name. That gives me, and those of us who serve you, the capacity to change the world and trust you with the results. Let me use that privilege in such a way that the world may see you glorified. Amen.




Bereit, David; Carney, Shawn (2013-01-17). 40 Days for Life: Discover What God Has Done...Imagine What He Can Do (Kindle Locations 3124-3126). Cappella Books. Kindle Edition.