There has been much talk about the recent announcement that the Beatification of Fulton Sheen has been restarted. I have a very personal story about Fulton Sheen that is very relevant to 40 Days for Life.
Six years ago, I committed to praying the Fulton Sheen Prayer for the Protection of the Unborn. I started on March 25th, the Annunciation of our Lord’s birth, and pledged to pray every day for nine months, through Christmas Day. Shortly after beginning the prayer, we received word of a save at Planned Parenthood. At the time I only considered it a coincidental blessing. During the Fall Campaign, I arrived at Planned Parenthood for my regular shift, and Nikki showed me a picture of the newborn baby that was saved during the Lent Campaign. It was then that I drew the connection to the Fulton Sheen Prayer, and was filled with joy and amazement. I asked Nikki for a copy of the photo, as the family was asking for support, because they were struggling financially. I sent the photo to my AOH Brothers in Allegheny County, and a week or so later one of the guy’s wives called me to see if they could get contact information for the family, as the Ladies AOH wanted to make them their “Christmas Family.” So the Ladies AOH provided gifts and dinner for the whole family on Christmas Day, the last Day of my Fulton Sheen Prayer for the Protection of the Unborn.
This prayer is very powerful, and I’m hoping more of us will commit to the prayer this year, beginning on March 25th, and going through Christmas Day. The prayer is very simple. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you very much, and I beg you to spare the life of (give your baby a name), who is in danger of abortion. Amen.” And never underestimate the power of prayer in our mission!
Larry
Keep reading for today’s sidewalk stories…
Bill H & Tracy
(from Tracy) – Our shift started out slowly. There weren’t even that many workers going in. Preston, a local Knight, came for the first time. We were glad to have him. We’ll be down a man for a while until our dear Anthony recovers from a broken elbow. (Prayers for his healing, please😊)
Maybe 3-4 couples went in while we were there, and 2 single clients. I can’t speak for Jackie, but nobody accepted any literature from me. We did check the f-bomb box, though. You feel a tad neglected if you don’t get at least one of those!
The PP booth clerk came out and warned us not to touch clients. (We don’t. Be careful YOU don’t either.) Perhaps a couple entering lied to him about our interacting with them? Later, another employee came out and threatened us about the same issue. (Perhaps this is a NEW tactic PP will be using to put us on our back foot? Harass the harassers?) Eventually, the police came and went in to speak with them. Afterward, they came out to us. We hadn’t done anything wrong and they assured us we were within our legal rights to continue as we were. (But we already knew that since WE are LAW-ABIDING – both civil law and GOD’S law!)
Beth & Linda W
(from Beth) – So many thanks to Keith, Patti and Lisa for joining me and Jacky, who spent an extra two hours with us.
It’s 40 days for life so guessing that PP are instructed to call the police for anything. SORRY, PP, we’re not intimidated and we are not going to stop trying to help women and their babies, especially when the police reminded us that we were allowed to be there. God bless the police.
Sheila & Barb K
(From Sheila) – Seems like the rain brought out some crabby and confrontational behavior in those giving business to the “clinic.” Not a one was interested in alternatives to abortion but several were interested in doing me harm!
One young female passerby very passionately chided us all for being on the sidewalk – “You people should be so ashamed of yourselves.” I reminded her how wonderful it was that her mom chose life for her.
A young woman approached the fetal model display and said she remembers coming for an abortion (using the abortion pill) a couple of years ago and passing “all you people with the signs.” I asked her how she has been dealing with the aftermath of abortion and she said, “Not well.” I gave her a brochure, reviewed the information on post-abortion healing. She was very appreciative. Barb told her how much she was loved, and that we will be praying for her. She asked that we pray together, so we held hands and prayed the Our Father. She hugged us and went on her way looking lighter and brighter!
Sandy, Kim & Mike
Even though it was raining we felt so blessed by the out pouring of good will from passersby. We had so many people stop to pray with us. One shared with us that he was Muslim and prayed to Mary too. He prayed an Our father with us. Another stopped to pray a Hail Mary with us Another stopped to thank us and gave us granola bars. One person asked us questions about what we were doing there and if people really pledge money against picketers. I said the $ number hasn’t changed in years.Lol. We shared that we really don’t picket but lovingly pray for everyone and offer another choice and support to woman in need. We asked if he needed any prayers and he asked us to pray for the healing of his arm. So Mike and I prayed over him. Several people were receptive to talking with Sandy. For it being cold and rainy, we were kept warm by the outpouring of grace. Praise God for His presence and the intercession of the Blessed Mother, and all the angels who protected us. There was a gentleman who came up to Sandy and stated to her that he really appreciates her for being was here because he was adopted. He came at the right time because it encouraged her.
Kim and Mike
Virginia & Bill
(From John) – It rained hard today. I felt like Jesus was crying with what was happening here today. Bill, Virginia, Ken and John today. We had four young women come out. Let’s pray to Saint Bernadette who saw Mary over a hundred years ago today to end the scourge of abortion. Hail Mary full of grace……
Thank you for all the good, the bad, and the ugly accounts of today. Love reading about the good ones; the others, not so much. So sad that PP sees the 40DFL participants as such a threat to their nefarious business of murdering babies, but maybe during the campaigns they do see a decrease in the number of clients. We can only hope so and continue to pray. Thanks to all who braved the rain to stand for life. God bless you.