Mary Magdalene
Detail from The Vision of Saint Thomas Aquinas, 1593
Santi di Tito (1536-1603)
San Marco Museum, Florence, Italy
C Domingie & Rabatti
https://us.magnificat.com
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned. The Confiteor
Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord; though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool. Isaiah 1:18
“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them [that], “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Mark 2:16-17
Christians know about sin. At Mass Catholics always tell on themselves. “I have greatly sinned.” We go to Confession. As we make our next Confession and the next, we learn that evil is a dangerous, persistent and clever enemy. It has tricked and lied to us since the beginning. We know God readily and completely forgives us when we are sorry for our sins. Some people refer to our struggle with sin as our happy fault.
In spite of what we know about evil, America’s complete embrace of legalized abortion is stunning. After cash is paid, abortion penetrates a mother’s womb, kills her child, and either throws her killed infant’s body into the trash, or sells it to be experimented on by people in a lab. This simply cannot be the American way!!! The abortion establishment routinely attempts to stifle, vilify and stamp out pro-life efforts.
We had to expose the evil of abortion because the other side has been so clever in putting the veil over our eyes to hide the reality of what it is. That’s how evil works.
Patricia Sandoval interviews Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBDRry131MI
Abortion seduces, disappoints and tortures people. Read these two testimonies. One writer was a co-founder of NARAL. The other owned an abortion empire that was about to make her a millionaire. Notice God’s role in their recovery.
Bernard N. Nathanson MD
I had performed many thousands of abortions on innocent children, and I had failed those whom I loved. Of my second and third marriages, I cannot write in any detail – it is still so painful for me. Suffice it to say that both of my spouses, though neither were churchgoers when we met, had retained a core of innocence from their Protestant childhoods that kept them pristine and curiously innocent – at least until I got my hands on them.
I went through a ten year “transitional time” – when I felt the burden of sin growing heavier and more insistent.
I have tried the traditional panoply of secular remedies: alcohol, tranquilizers, self-help books, counseling. I had even indulged myself in four years of psychoanalysis in the early 1960s.
I would awaken each morning at four or five o’clock, staring into the darkness. With no St. Monica to show me the way, I was seized by an unremitting black despair. As a physician, I had the ability to write the necessary prescriptions to end my life. Was I up to the task?
I despised myself.
Then I attended an action by Operation Rescue against Planned Parenthood in New York City in 1989. I saw the spirit put to the test on those bitterly cold demonstration mornings, with pro-choicers hurling the most fulsome epithets at them, the police surrounding them, the media openly unsympathetic to their cause, the federal judiciary fining and jailing them, and municipal officials threatening them – all through it they sat smiling, quietly praying, singing, confident and righteous of their cause, and ineradicably persuaded of their ultimate triumph. I began to seriously question what indescribable Force generated them to this activity. Why, too, was I there?
And for the first time in my entire adult life, I began to entertain seriously the notion of God.
Bernard N. Nathanson, M.D. The Hand of God: A Journey from Death To Life By The Abortion Doctor Who Changed His Mind. 1996.
Carol Everett
In 1973, when abortion was legalized. I found myself pregnant. When I told my husband, I was excited. But his initial reaction was, you’ll just have to have an abortion. I went to my friend, my doctor. “Oh, that’s easy. We’ll do the abortion.” We did it. I was looking for someone to tell me not to have the abortion and I ran into an abortion salesman.
When I woke from that abortion, I picked up the telephone, and literally started working from my hospital bed, not realizing that I was already running from that decision. Within a month I was having an affair, and that had not been one of my patterns prior to that time. Very soon I started drinking; I’d not ever drunk in my life and I would go out and just get drunk once a month. It was almost like on target; once a month I had to do it. Very soon I asked my husband to leave, and then I started seeing a psychiatrist daily.
In 1983, with two clinics open, I was well on the way to $250,000, with plans to open three more clinics. With five clinics open … my income would have been $1,000,000 annually! With this goal in mind, I called in a business counselor to handle the problems between the partners. During my second meeting, I realized this man was surrounded with a peace I didn’t see in my world, and I started questioning him! For some reason, I asked if he was a minister. His reply was, “Yes.” Incredulously, I asked, “What are you doing in this situation?” “God sent me.”
I had my answer; he was crazy! After all, I was a Christian. I had a Bible in my desk drawer. I tithed on all my abortion income, and I prayed daily about the abortions!
As the minister shared the Gospel and we prayed a prayer of salvation, I didn’t think anything in my life would change.
I fell to my knees inside that abortion clinic and prayed, “Lord-if there is a Lord-if this is not where you want me, hit me over the head with a two-by-four.” My prayer was answered within a few days.
The man and woman who led me to Christ spent some part of every day with me for 18 months. They weren’t using psychology. They were using Scripture. And every day I’d say, “I’m scared.” And every day they’d say, “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
Then I found Psalm 139. And as I read how each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made, knit together inside the darkness of our mother’s womb, I recognized that I’d been involved in the murder of 35,000 babies.
The sin I did not think I could be forgiven for was taking the life of my own child by abortion.
I read those scriptures over and over again: 1 John 1:9 If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing; Romans 8:1 Hence, now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus; Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.
I read them until I actually believed that I could be forgiven. And one, by tens, by thousands, I started confessing.
I didn’t want to talk about my own abortion. Then when I finally did deal with it, I cried nonstop for five months because, you see, I killed my baby (Heidi), and I’m still not through that. And how difficult it is for all these women because, you see, I believe that every woman, even if she’s not physically harmed, is harmed by abortion.
Testimony of Carol Everett, Priests for Life, EWTN
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The Celtic Blessing | Celtic Worship & Friends, featuring Steph Macleod, sung in English and Scottish Gaelic. “The Lord bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Our wish for everyone we meet on the sidewalk downtown in front of pp.
DEE
FUEL: The religious communities fill our prayer tank!
THE PASSIONIST NUNS
Dear Dolores,Thank you for informing us about the “40 Days For Life”. We are always happy to participate. We will be praying for this intention every day, especially during our time of adoration 5pm to 6:30pm every day. We fast every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, so will offer it for “Life”.
We are also praying that many hearts will be converted and for safety and strength for those who stand and pray at Planned Parenthood. Other abortion mills have closed, but, this one in our city has deep roots in evil. But Jesus has overcome the world.
I have always felt that some big devil was holding on to 933 Liberty Avenue. One of those devils is PITT and its organ harvesting and NIH funding.
God bless all of you.
Sister Mary Ann, CP, The Passionist Nuns
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The Sisters of Saint Joseph
We, the Sisters of Saint Joseph, send you our prayers during these 40 days for life.
Blessings,
Sister Sharon, The Sisters of Saint Joseph
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The Carmelites of Latrobe
Dear Dolores and Team for Life,
Thank you and God Bless you for all your efforts to save the Babies! Yes, we will pray and fast with you and for you. You all will hold a special place in our Novena to Saint Therese, September 23 – October 1st. We also offer special prayer to Saint Joseph for you during this year of Saint Joseph to honor him. He protected the Baby-Child, Jesus and Mother Mary. He took perfect care of them. We believe he is taking perfect care of you in your vital ministry. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide you and sanctify you as you do His Most Holy Will to save the Babies. May He sustain you with His Infinite Love.
Most gratefully yours, in Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
The Carmelite Nuns of Latrobe
NOTES FROM THE SIDEWALK
JEN McD. SHIFT MANAGER 7-9
Beautiful, sunny morning for the first Sunday of the campaign! With the Great Race and the Steeler game, the city seemed more alive than I’ve seen it in some time, and the many passersby were upbeat and kind. It was really nice to catch up with Diane and Tom as they graciously provided for all our sidewalk needs. Bill stopped by to offer his heartfelt prayers. Shift Buddy, Vince, and I were able to pray the Scriptural Rosary with Rich and George, and the three of them stayed past 9 to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, too. Ken kindly “took the baton” from me to keep the vigil going.
Ken (9-11 Shift Manager), Vince (7-9 Shift Buddy), Rich and George
KEN B. SHIFT MANAGER 9-11
The sun was shining brightly this morning on Liberty Avenue for the first Sunday of this fall campaign. Even though there were obstacles to traffic and parking because of the Great Race and Steelers game still we had no negative comments from the larger volume of foot traffic. Added to the fact that apparently there were no abortions at Planned Parenthood yesterday and I think we are all ready for a season of hope. I joined Jen, Rich, George and Vince in the Glorious mysteries of the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy when I arrived. Thanks to Rich and George for praying with me in that first hour of my shift. In the second hour Pat and Eileen prayed until Rich and Roseanne arrived. What a blessing to have faithful prayer warriors to bring grace and hope to the sidewalk.
Jen, Rich, George, and Vince
Eileen and Pat with 11-1 Shift Managers Roseann and Rich
RICH AND ROSEANNE K. SHIFT MANAGERS 11-1
What a way to start the new 40 days campaign, we were late our first shift back. It took us about 20 minutes from the time we got to downtown until we got to 933 Liberty Avenue. When we arrived, Ken was kind enough to say that he hadn’t even noticed that we were late. John from St. Agnes Parish came early to witness even though his parish wasn’t scheduled until 1:00 because we had no one signed up for our shift. Thank you, John. There was more than usual foot traffic for a Sunday due to the Steeler game and the race that took place. We had a couple of negative remarks but for the most part it was peaceful. We prayed Rosaries and The Divine Mercy Chaplet. Then the parishioners from St. Agnes started arriving.
Saint Agnes Parishioners Witness and Pray
Rich, Roseann, John
ANDY L. SHIFT MANAGER 1-3
Great turn outs from Saint Agnes and Most Precious Blood Parishes. Many Rosaries were said today. We also had a few distractions from displaced persons. One joined us for a Rosary and came to tears. The other was working the street for income. And the third may have been an attempted demonic distraction to keep us from our goal … witness, prayer, and shutting down that murder mill. We must stay focused and faithful. God will do the rest.
Andy
JOE W. SHIFT MANAGER 3-5
I’m so privileged to get to participate in giving a voice to the voiceless with such inspiring, loving, joy filled Christians, who are walking the walk. You all have my respect and appreciation. Please pray for Alex to allow Jesus back into his life, and for healing for Stacey.
All glory and praise be to God!!!
Joe W
Tom, Cathy, Saint Michael the Archangel Parishioner, Jim
Saint Michael the Archangel Parishioners
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And God saw that it was good.
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