Strong Enough…
Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. Luke 13
Here we are, in the final stretch of our 25th 40 Days for Life campaign. For 25 consecutive campaigns, we have maintained a prayer vigil in front of Planned Parenthood, day in and day out, from morning till evening…for 40 straight days. We have faced many challenges, including sometimes frightening situations…along with hardships in bad weather and the ever present danger of succumbing to discouragement.
But we have persevered. We have not given up, and we will not give up, even though Planned Parenthood continues to kill more and more unborn children than ever.
Do you ever wonder why God is allowing this to happen? Why does He want us to persevere through suffering, when it appears that our suffering is not doing any good?
Could it be that He is preparing us for a coming battle? Something that is going to be difficult? Maybe He wants us to be ready…to be accustomed to suffering when we aren’t forced to…so that we will be able to endure it when we are.
Many of you have been praying this week for my husband, who has been in the hospital because of a collapsed lung. Thank you very much! I knew that many very holy people, including priests and nuns, were praying for him…and so I was completely confident that when they clamped off the chest tube on Monday that his lung would stay inflated. I mean, with all those prayers, how could it not? So, when the doctor came in later that day, we were expecting good news and thought we would be going home. When he told us that the lung had collapsed again, we were discouraged. Why didn’t God listen to our prayers?
Could it be that sometimes God allows trials in order to bring about a better good? I know that He is bringing good out of our personal trials right now, and so I also believe that He is bringing about a greater good in Pittsburgh by allowing us to continue in our 40 Days for Life vigils.
I know from our experience in the hospital this week that when the trials happen, that is not the time to begin to practice perseverance. If we are not already strong when the trials come…we will not be able to withstand them. We have to be ready. As Our Lord says in today’s Gospel…the gate that leads to salvation is narrow and difficult. Many will try to enter but will not be strong enough. Let us pray that we will not be one of those who are not strong enough. Let us continue to persevere through the challenges of witnessing to the sanctity of all human life, in the face of discouragement and a hostile culture…knowing that God is using it to build up His Body in faith and strength, so that we will be able to withstand the challenges that may be just around the corner…and be counted among those who are strong enough to enter into His Narrow Gate.
May God bless you all!
Nikki
Update on Nikki’s husband, Joe: Was released from the hospital tonight, but still has the leak in his lung so is still connected to a chest tube. The hope is that the lung will seal itself before next Tuesday. If not, surgery will be done to fix the lung. Thank you for continuing to pray!
UPDATE ON FR. TIM DEELY: From his mom, Diane: Surgery went well…please pray for his continued recovery!
Please also pray for PP Security Guard, Stacie, who is suffering from pneumonia right now.
Note from Jen: If you would like to join in praying a novena for the healing of Joe’s lung, here is a link to one asking for the intercession of St. Bernardine of Siena, the patron saint of chest problems. You can visit the site daily for nine days or have the prayers sent to your inbox so you don’t forget. https://www.praymorenovenas.com/st-bernardine-of-siena-novena
7:30-9:00 – Cathy, Peggy & Mary L
Another busy Wed. By 8:05 3 had gone in. One group (man and two women seemed a bit suspicious). As the shift continued 6-7 more entered. No one wanted to talk or take info. A couple parked their car there. I put a Rachel’s Vineyard brochure, with the page with list of symptoms after (sadness, etc) showing. A sad day.
9:00-11:00 – Conrad
The prayer warriors from Saint Thomas the apostle parish benefited the many souls who had already entered or did enter during the 9 to 11 shift. We are grateful. Margie (white sweater), who is also a Sidewalk advocate, and I apologize for forgetting her name approached one young man, who had earlier brought in a woman for an abortion during the first shift. He was standing outside, waiting. She spoke to him about postabortion healing.
Susan B spoke to and offered literature to those entering. She is a joyful witness to life in the ugly face of its destruction.
Clearly the abortionist was quite busy today.
11:00-1:00 – Ken & Larry
The shift was pretty busy at Planned Parenthood. We did see Beatrice come out at 11 o’clock. We had many pleasant comments from passersby, and few negative comments. There were some people who took our literature, but nobody had any conversations during the shift. We thank God and enjoyed the beautiful weather, for the last Wednesday 11 to one shift For the fall campaign.
1:00-3:00 – Judy Z, Chris K & Kevin
I was joined today, again, by faithful pray-ers from St. Joseph the Worker Parish- Arlene, Paulette, and Chalice (love that name!). Sidewalk Advocate Judy, also from St. Joseph the Worker Parish, did her best to approach and offer potentially life-saving brochures and resource cards to everyone entering or leaving PP. Kevin, my year-round prayer partner from Regina Coeli Parish, prayed with us. We prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Loretto Litanies, and three Mysteries of the Rosary- the Sorrowful, the Glorious, and the Joyful. For the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and the last Rosary, we were joined by a passerby from out of town, Kirby, who carries his Rosary with him. Kirby’s church is St. Patrick’s. He thought he had heard of 40 Days for Life– I took the opportunity to share the details of what we do and when we do it. He then said, “You’ll be seeing more of me.” Praise God for sending Kirby to us today. Chris
From Judy Z: A lot of PP traffic today. One gal who was talking on her phone took a brochure from Ed who got to talk briefly to her. I added a few comments as she went inside. I watched her go through the security check by a new guard who didn’t make her throw the pamphlet away. When she picked up her things she still had the brochure in her hand as she was let in the second door. Ed said she was tearing up when he talked to her. I was hoping she would come back out on my shift to engage with her but I didn’t see her. I alerted next shift to be on the lookout.
Another passerby today came over to me and leaned close to my ear and said “Keep up the good work “.
Encouraging words for us all.
3:00 – 5:00 – Steve & Eileen
Eventful afternoon! Upon arrival, got into an “animated discussion” with a young man who turned out to be an ex-PP worker. I should have immediately headed up to get Our Blessed Mother, (she keeps me in line!) but when he accused us of being judgmental, and after trying to explain we just are trying to save babies from death, and mothers from pain and regret, he escalated (and I, admittedly, contested), until he stepped toward me with a string of epithets. That’s when our “Guardian Angel” interceded, and I went up to Little Lambs. An unfortunate incident to be sure, but afterwords my protector spent a lot of time sharing personal stories with Eileen and I- he really is a wonderful person- he could be a counselor or psychologist! As we were talking, a young lady came out and Eileen took off after her! I thought she was a worker, but Eileen returned with a big smile; she explained that Judy had described the woman, and asked Eileen to follow up with her when she came out. So, like I said, Eileen sprung into action, and was able to share literature and love- she reported the woman was very appreciative. Shared a lot of Halloween candy with kids and street people, had an interesting interaction with a “starving artist” and many smiles, and cordial greetings- nice weather will do that! A bicyclist made the sign of the cross as he cruised by Our Lady.