The other night, we were blessed with the opportunity to go to our local pregnancy crisis center's fundraising gala. We were both so excited, the friends who offered us tickets are so great and we were thrilled to go! The keynote speaker for the evening was Cardinal Raymond Burke and we were both touched so deeply and profoundly by being there listening to his affirmation for life. It was quite a different place to be, expecting a baby in the next few weeks. I don't know how to explain my reaction or my husband's reaction, but we were both so saddened, in a new level of our being that abortion is taking away precious lives while we have done everything possible to sustain and nurture the little one growing in me.
I have a copy of the Cardinal's keynote address, so email if you are interested in it.
Anyway, our local bishop, prayed the following prayer for Benediction and my heart just swelled with thankgiving - feeling like finally - no one is forgotten in this prayer for life!
THE HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER FOR LIFE
Lord Jesus, You who faithfully visit and fulfil with your Presence the Church and the history of men; You who in the miraculous Sacrament of your Body and Blood render us participants in divine Life and allow us a foretaste of the joy of eternal Life; We adore and bless you.
Prostrate before You, source and lover of Life, truly present and alive among us, we beg you:
Reawaken in us respect for every unborn life, make us capable of seeing in the fruit of the maternal womb the miraculous work of the Creator, open our hearts to generously welcoming every child that comes into life.
Bless all families, sanctify the union of spouses, render fruitful their love.
Accompany the choices of legislative assemblies with the light of your Spirit, so that peoples and nations may recognise and respect the sacred nature of life, of every human life.
Guide the work of scientists and doctors, so that all progress contributes to the integral well-being of the person, and no one endures suppression or injustice.
Gift creative charity to administrators and economists, so they may realise and promote sufficient conditions so that young families can serenely embrace the birth of new children
Console the married couples who suffer because they are unable to have children and in Your goodness provide for them.
Teach us all to care for orphaned or abandoned children, so they may experience the warmth of your Charity, the consolation of your divine Heart.
Together with Mary, Your Mother, the great believer, in whose womb you took on our human nature, we wait to receive from You, our Only True Good and Saviour, the strength to love and serve life, in anticipation of living forever in You, in communion with the Blessed Trinity.
Amen.
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