IMPORTANT PRAYER REQUEST!!
The Supreme Court is hearing Dobbs v Jackson on Wednesday, December 1 at 10:00 AM. Please join us in prayer and fasting for what could be milestone court case that could determine that there is no constitutional right to elective abortions and return the issue back to the states.
The Supreme Court is hearing Dobbs v Jackson on Wednesday, December 1 at 10:00 AM. Please join us in prayer and fasting for what could be milestone court case that could determine that there is no constitutional right to elective abortions and return the issue back to the states.
What is the case about?
Mississippi passed a law to ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The Supreme Court will hear this case to decide whether this law may be upheld fully, partially, or not at all. If parts of this law are upheld, this could allow for states to enforce abortion restrictions before viability for the first time since the Roe v. Wade decision.
(Oral arguments are expected to be heard December 1st but the final decision is not expected until summer 2022 -- so there is an ongoing need for prayer!)
Here are some things you can do:
1. Fast and Pray
At a minimum we ask for all to FAST and PRAY Wednesday, December 1 for the success of this historic challenge to begin to end the scourge of abortion in our land, invoking prayers of St. Joseph, Diligent Protector of Christ, Pillar of Families, Terror of Demons; especially as this year of St. Joseph ends on December 8th which is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
1. Fast and Pray
At a minimum we ask for all to FAST and PRAY Wednesday, December 1 for the success of this historic challenge to begin to end the scourge of abortion in our land, invoking prayers of St. Joseph, Diligent Protector of Christ, Pillar of Families, Terror of Demons; especially as this year of St. Joseph ends on December 8th which is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
A few prayers are included at the end of this FlockNote, which you may find helpful.
2. Mass and Adoration for the Supreme Court Justices on Wednesday, December 1
Participate in our own parish 9:00 AM Mass on Wednesday, December 1 at St. Louise Church, followed by an hour of Eucharistic Adoration (10:00 AM to 11:00 AM) devoted to the intention of this day. This would coincide with the actual court hearings that begin at 10:00 AM.
3. 40-Days for Life--downtown Pittsburgh
2. Mass and Adoration for the Supreme Court Justices on Wednesday, December 1
Participate in our own parish 9:00 AM Mass on Wednesday, December 1 at St. Louise Church, followed by an hour of Eucharistic Adoration (10:00 AM to 11:00 AM) devoted to the intention of this day. This would coincide with the actual court hearings that begin at 10:00 AM.
3. 40-Days for Life--downtown Pittsburgh
Participate in a nationwide 48 hour prayer vigil from Tuesday, November 30 through Wednesday, December 1 for a pro-life outcome (possibly overturning roe v wade) to this court case. The local Pittsburgh 40-Days for Life is planning to hold it's prayer vigil at or near Planned Parenthood in Pittsburgh starting Tuesday, November 30 at 7:00 AM through Wed. Dec 1 at 10:30 PM. Please contact Nikki Bruni ( 412-926-9413, nbruni@40daysforlifepgh.com ) to sign-up or for more details.
A Prayer to St. Joseph, Defender of Life
Dearest St. Joseph,
at the word of an angel, you lovingly took Mary into your home.
As God’s humble servant,
you guided the Holy Family on the road to Bethlehem,
welcomed Jesus as your own son in the shelter of a manger,
and fled far from your homeland for the safety of both Mother and Child.
We praise God that as their faithful protector,
you never hesitated to sacrifice for those entrusted to you.
May your example inspire us also to welcome, cherish, and safeguard
God’s most precious gift of life.
Help us to faithfully commit ourselves to the service and defense of human life —especially where it is vulnerable or threatened.
Obtain for us the grace to do the will of God in all things.
Amen.
A Pro Life Prayer For Our President And Public Officials
Lord God, Author of Life and Source of Eternal Life,
Move the hearts of all our public officials and especially our President, to fulfill their responsibilities worthily and well to all those entrusted to their care.
Help them in their special leadership roles, to extend the mantle of protection to the most vulnerable, especially the defenseless unborn, whose lives are threatened with extermination by an indifferent society.
Guide all public officials by your wisdom and grace to cease supporting any law that fails to protect the fundamental good that is human life itself, which is a gift from God and parents.
You are the Protector and Defender of the lives of the innocent unborn. Change the hearts of those who compromise the call to protect and defend life. Bring our nation to the values that have made us a great nation, a society that upholds the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all.
Mary, the Mother of the living, help us to bear witness to the Gospel of Life with our lives and our laws, through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.
From St. John Paul II:
O Mary,
bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life
Look down, O Mother,
upon the vast numbers
of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women
who are victims of brutal violence,
of the elderly and the sick killed
by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life
Look down, O Mother,
upon the vast numbers
of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women
who are victims of brutal violence,
of the elderly and the sick killed
by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son
may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love
to the people of our time.
may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love
to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace
to accept that Gospel
as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude
throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it
resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will,
the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God,
the Creator and lover of life.
to accept that Gospel
as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude
throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it
resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will,
the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God,
the Creator and lover of life.
Evangelium Vitae, The Gospel of Life, 105
Source: Vatican.va
Source: Vatican.va
Prayer To the Virgin Mary
O Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of us all,
we turn to you today as the one who said “Yes” to Life.
“You will conceive and bear a Son,” the angel told you.
Despite the surprise and the uncertainty about how this could be,
you said yes.
“Be it done unto me according to your word.”
Mary, we pray today for all mothers who are afraid to be mothers.
We pray for those who feel threatened and overwhelmed by their pregnancy. Intercede for them, that God may give them the grace to say yes
and the courage to go on.
May they have the grace to reject the false solution of abortion.
May they say with you, “Be it done unto me according to your word.”
May they experience the help of Christian people,
and know the peace that comes from doing God’s will.
Amen.
Affirming Life
God, you are the Lord and Creator of Life.
You have blessed men and women
with the privilege of bringing new life into the world.
You have blessed men and women
with the privilege of bringing new life into the world.
You have imparted in our hearts
the desire to nurture and protect life at all its stages.
the desire to nurture and protect life at all its stages.
I accept these gifts as a sacred trust.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit
help me to affirm the value of life.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit
help me to affirm the value of life.
Grant me the wisdom and courage
to speak out and defend human life.
to speak out and defend human life.
Give me compassion
so that I may lovingly counsel those who would reject the gift of life,
which is the reflection of Your image and likeness.
so that I may lovingly counsel those who would reject the gift of life,
which is the reflection of Your image and likeness.
Amen.
Intercessory Prayers for Pro-Life Advocates:
For those who pray before abortion clinics,
who march for life,
or who witness to the rights of all human beings:
that God might strengthen and guide them;
We pray to the Lord:
who march for life,
or who witness to the rights of all human beings:
that God might strengthen and guide them;
We pray to the Lord:
For those who long for the equality of all persons:
that their dedication to the unborn, the old, the condemned, and the forgotten,
may grow every day;
We pray to the Lord:
that their dedication to the unborn, the old, the condemned, and the forgotten,
may grow every day;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who work for an end to abortion:
that they might be strengthened by prayer,
and that God might reward them for their goodness;
We pray to the Lord:
that they might be strengthened by prayer,
and that God might reward them for their goodness;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who teach the Gospel of Life:
that they might be driven by love alone;
We pray to the Lord:
that they might be driven by love alone;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who work to defend life:
that God might reward them for their faithfulness;
We pray to the Lord:
that God might reward them for their faithfulness;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who work for life:
and especially those who pray at abortion clinics,
that God might reward them for their prayers;
We pray to the Lord:
and especially those who pray at abortion clinics,
that God might reward them for their prayers;
We pray to the Lord:
For all those who work to promote the Gospel of Life:
that God might reward them for their goodness;
We pray to the Lord:
that God might reward them for their goodness;
We pray to the Lord:
For those who work to defend the lives of the unborn,
the sick, the infirm, and the aged:
those who defend humanity’s inalienable right to life;
We pray to the Lord:
the sick, the infirm, and the aged:
those who defend humanity’s inalienable right to life;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who work for an end to the culture of death,
and especially for our brothers and sisters
from other churches, ecclesial communions, and religions,
that love for the Gospel of Life might draw us closer in Christ;
We pray to the Lord:
and especially for our brothers and sisters
from other churches, ecclesial communions, and religions,
that love for the Gospel of Life might draw us closer in Christ;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who work for life:
that they might be assured
of our gratitude and prayers
for the holy work they do;
We pray to the Lord:
that they might be assured
of our gratitude and prayers
for the holy work they do;
We pray to the Lord: