World Over - Suffering - Raymond Arroyo with Jeni Stepanek, Ph.D. and Da...

Many of you will recognize Dr. Stepanek's son Mattie. Caution: Sometimes a tear-jerker.

Very pro-life witness of a mother who suffered the loss of all her children.

Please Pray for the Protection of Life!

I will not be on the computer tomorrow.  But I did want to ask you to pray.  As you know the President's health care reform bill may have the votes needed to pass (if you believe Washington and the MSM) so please pray, pray and pray that life be protected.

I would suggest Blessed Mother's express Novena Nine Memorare prayers in a row for this intention.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

Source EWTN

Words and Phrases to Drop from Our Pro-Life Vocabulary

From Rock for Life Be sure to visit their site for the complete article:

...1. Fetus, embryo—These terms are generally used by abortion supporters, but I also notice pro-lifers using these terms often. Fetus and embryo are actually terms referring to stages of development. Their use begs the question, which animal species, during its embryonic or fetal development, are you referring to? For human beings, embryo describes human development from the very beginning of a human being’s life through their eighth week of development. Fetus describes a human being’s biological development from the beginning of their ninth week of development until birth. We should replace these terms with “human embryo,” “human fetus” or “human being during their embryonic (or fetal) development.”

2. Fertilized egg—This is a dehumanizing term used as a form of pro-abortion propaganda. It is not a legitimate term, since it isn’t scientifically accurate. Human women don’t carry eggs; they have oocytes. Upon first contact of a human sperm and a human oocyte, a newly created human person now exists who is in his/her first embryonic stage of development. It has become popular with abortion advocates these days, in response to the state personhood initiatives cropping up around the country. We need to correct this whenever we see or hear it. Use correct terminology in its place, such as “human embryo.”

3. Mistake, accident, unwanted, unplanned— These terms have very negative connotations and are very demeaning, especially for the child who happens to overhear some mention of the circumstances in which he or she came into being. Every child is wanted by someone and no one is an accident. God creates every single person with a special purpose in life. A positive-sounding term such as “surprise” should be used instead of terms or phrases that imply that God’s creation of a baby is an unfortunate event.

4. Pro-choice—This term was developed by a marketing firm employed by the abortion lobby before abortion became decriminalized on January 22, 1973. It has been and still is a very effective term, but still very misleading. It begs the question, what is the choice? The child has no choice when threatened with an abortionist’s suction device, knives and forceps. Replace this term with “pro-abortion” or “abortion advocate.”

5. Pregnant woman—This term takes the child out of the equation and can make pregnancy sound like a disease. Abortion is often referred to as “terminating a pregnancy.” Instead, use terms such as “mother,” “pregnant mom” or “expectant mother.”

6. Health clinic/abortion clinic—Health gives the impression that health is being restored to an individual. Similarly, clinic normally denotes a respectable, morally legitimate health care facility. Abortion is murder, not health care, so we should not dignify it with such dignified terms. Replace such terms with “abortion business,” “abortion mill,” “abortion facility,” “abortion center” and so forth.

7. The abortion issue—Taxes are an issue. Paying for education is an issue. Abortion is not an issue; it’s a tragedy. Abortion is a violent crime that kills a human person and leaves his/her mother scarred for life. You can also replace issue with terms such as “question,” “matter,” etc.

8. It—A baby boy or baby girl is not an it. Yet that is how many of us refer to children in utero or even at the moment of their birth. I hear this so often: “It’s a (boy/girl)!” Instead, say, “He is a boy” or “She is a girl” or “My/our/their/his/her/the baby is a (boy/girl).”

9. I’m going to be a ___!—This phrase usually ends with “mother,” “father,” “grandparent,” “aunt,” “uncle,” etc., But it’s inaccurate and dehumanizes the baby, because actually, it’s a done deal! The person speaking is already a mother (or father, grandparent, etc.). If you catch someone (or yourself) saying this, quickly correct it by reminding them (or yourself) that the child already exists, so they (or you) are already a mother (or father, grandparent, etc.)...

New Video from CatholicVote - Imagine Spot 2

This video was shown at the National Day of Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. this morning.



Catholic Vote

The HEART of the Matter Presidential Pro Life Craft Project

Shared by Cindy S. vs. Seton Yahoogroup

With Valentines approaching, this gets to the heart of the matter.

I received this idea from the Seton Yahoogroup.

By +JMJ+

Get a red envelope. On the front, address it to:

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

On the back of the envelope, write the following message.


This envelope represents one child who died in abortion.
It is empty because that life was unable to offer anything to the world.
Responsibility begins with conception.

Put it in the mail, and send it. Then forward this to every one of your friends who you think would send one too. I wish we could send 50 million red envelopes, one for every child who died before having a chance to live. Maybe it will change the heart of the president?

Another woman wrote, "Good idea but if you get the flimsy envelope then it will not work and it will jam the Post Office's Automated Machines." She suggested putting a blank white poster card or card stock in the envelope.

MY IDEAS -(Sorry for the confusion but these are Cindy S.' ideas)

If you don't have red envelopes, let your littlests [sic] color or paint white envelopes red so they can be involved. The potential of a child......

Another idea for inside the card is a white card stock note saying....

OPEN your heart to the lives of your unborn CITIZENS. Be a President to ALL Americans!

Put in a bunch of prayer cards while you're at it! :) PASS IT ON.

Speak Out Illinois

Here's a report from Faith and Country who actually met Fr. Eunteneuer! Lucky her!

St. Michael Prayer Campaign for the Conversion of Abortionists

Dear Friends,

Catholic pro-lifers naturally turn to Saint Michael, the prince of the heavenly host, in our struggle against the principalities and powers of the culture of death. Pope Leo XIII composed a magnificent prayer to Saint Michael and ordered it to be recited after the celebration of the Mass. Pope Pius XI asked the faithful to pray it for the restoration of religious freedom in Russia, and it was popularly tied to the Fatima prayer intention of the conversion of Russia whose "errors" were spreading throughout the world. Since the Soviet Union was the first country to legalize abortion, we can rightly see in the modern abortion industry an extension of the "errors" of atheistic communism.

Although no longer obligatory, since 1965, an increasing number of parishes and individuals are going back to praying to Saint Michael after Mass. Pope John Paul II himself urged the faithful in 1994 "...to recite it to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and against the spirit of this world."

Human Life International is convinced that invoking Saint Michael's protection is necessary in the Church's victory over the satanic attacks against innocent human life that characterize our modern world. Please join us in reciting the Saint Michael Prayer with the intention of respect for human life from conception to natural death and the conversion of abortionists. We are distributing free prayer cards which can be ordered in English, Spanish, French, Italian or Portuguese. ( Click here)

We also ask you to sign our petition to re-establish the universal practice of saying the Saint Michael Prayer after Mass. ( Click here) It would be most appropriate for the Holy Father to ask Catholics everywhere to unite in a powerful prayer to cast out the greatest evil of our times, the slaughter of almost two billion innocent children whose blood cries out to heaven.

Saint Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ, Pray for us!

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer
President, Human Life International

<*}}}>< <*}}}> Original Version of the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel written by Pope Leo XIII in 1886 Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

Glorious Prince of the Celestial Host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the conflict which we have to sustain against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places (Eph 6:12). Come to the rescue of men whom God has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. It is thou whom Holy Church venerates as her guardian and her protector; thou whom the Lord has charged to conduct redeemed souls into heaven. Pray therefore, the God of peace, to subdue Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive nor do injury to the Church. Present our prayers to the Most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us. Seize "the dragon, the ancient serpent, which is the devil and Satan," bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit..."that he may no longer seduce the nations" (Rev 20:2-3).

Sanctus Míchael Archángelus Prínceps gloriosíssime caeléstis milítiae, sancte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in prœlio advérsus príncipes et potestátes, advérsus mundi rectóres tenebrárum harum, contra spirituália nequítiae in caeléstibus. Veni in auxílium hóminum, quos Deus ad imáginem similitúdinis suae fecit, et a tyránnide diáboli emit prétio magno. Te custódem et patrónum sancta venerátur Ecclésia; tibi trádidit Dóminus ánimas redemptórum in supérna felicitáte locándas. Deprecáre Deum pacis, ut cónterat Sátanam sub pédibus nostris, ne ultra váleat captívos tenére hómines et Ecclésiae nocére. Offer nostras preces in conspéctu Altíssimi, ut cito antícipent nos misericórdiae Dómini, et apprehéndas dracónem, serpéntem antíquum, qui est diábolus et sátanas et ligátum mittas in abýssum, ut non sedúcat ámplius gentes. Amen.

Shared by Sue

Novena to End Abortion

Eternal Father, we, Your unworthy servants approach You.

We ask You to protect the lives of the Holy Innocents of this day and age,the pre-born.

Please bless them and keep them from the moment of conception to natural death.

We ask the guardian angels of the pre-born to watch over and protect these children.

Enkindle the flame of maternal and paternal love in current and future parents,
so they may be open to life and accept children lovingly and willingly according to Your Will.

Enlighten every mind to the horror of abortion
and the evil of artificial contraception,
and give us the courage and strength to fight for the Culture of Life
with truth and love.

We humbly ask You in the Holy Name of Jesus this favor
and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
her spouse St. Joseph, St. Michael the Archangel,
and Your good and faithful servants, Pope John Paul the Great and Pope Paul VI,
please hear and answer our prayers.

For You are our God, The God of salvation and compassion,
And we glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Now and forever, And unto ages of ages.
Amen.

(Say one Our Father, 3 Hail Mary's,
1 Guardian Angel Prayer, and 1 Glory Be)

Holy Jesus, Infant of Prague - HEAR OUR PRAYER
Immaculate Heart of Mary - PRAY FOR US
St. Joseph - PRAY FOR US
St. Michael the Archangel - PRAY FOR US
Pope John Paul the Great - PRAY FOR US
Pope Paul VI - PRAY FOR US

Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
make my heart like unto to yours.
Amen.


This novena was a collaborative project between
Chuck Abraham and Joan Hasselman
Chuck Abraham, privateervideo@yahoo.com

Shared by Sue

The Battle for Life

Quote from Father Benedict Groeschel:

"We did not declare war on Obama; Obama declared war on us."

Father Groeschel was referring to pro-lifers vs. the culture of death on his program today.

Saintly Quote - On the Sanctity of Life

The common outcry; which is justly made on behalf of human rights - for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture - is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights is not defended wtih maximum determination.

- Pope John Paul II

Magnificat January 2009

The Ladies of Cecilia - Prolife

Shared by a fellow parishioner.

Pro-life song "Let Me Be Born" to be sung at March for Life in Washington, D.C.


Ladies of Cecilia

Faces of Pro-Life - Leticia and Christina

AirMaria's Video

I was mesmerized by Leticia's story. It has made me admire her even more, if that is possible :-)

Thank you for sharing Letitica and Christina.

National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2009

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

All human life is a gift from our Creator that is sacred, unique, and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world. We also underscore our dedication to heeding this message of conscience by speaking up for the weak and voiceless among us.

The most basic duty of government is to protect the life of the innocent. My Administration has been committed to building a culture of life by vigorously promoting adoption and parental notification laws, opposing Federal funding for abortions overseas, encouraging teen abstinence, and funding crisis pregnancy programs. In 2002, I was honored to sign into law the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which extends legal protection to children who survive an abortion attempt. I signed legislation in 2003 to ban the cruel practice of partial-birth abortion, and that law represents our commitment to building a culture of life in America. Also, I was proud to sign the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004, which allows authorities to charge a person who causes death or injury to a child in the womb with a separate offense in addition to any charges relating to the mother.

America is a caring Nation, and our values should guide us as we harness the gifts of science. In our zeal for new treatments and cures, we must never abandon our fundamental morals. We can achieve the great breakthroughs we all seek with reverence for the gift of life.

The sanctity of life is written in the hearts of all men and women. On this day and throughout the year, we aspire to build a society in which every child is welcome in life and protected in law. We also encourage more of our fellow Americans to join our just and noble cause. History tells us that with a cause rooted in our deepest principles and appealing to the best instincts of our citizens, we will prevail.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 18, 2009, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. I call upon all Americans to recognize this day with appropriate ceremonies and to underscore our commitment to respecting and protecting the life and dignity of every human being.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

GEORGE W. BUSH

The White House

The Most Grievous Sin

Of all human evils death is the most grievous, by which human life is destroyed....

St. Thomas Aquinas

Shared by Sue

Send a Christmas Letter to a Pro-Life Heroine in Jail for Silently Witnessing to Life

LifeSiteNews Article

Pro-life heroine Linda Gibbons will spend another Christmas in jail this year for her refusal to abide by an injunction which forbids even silent prayerful pro-life witness on the public sidewalk in front of the Scott abortion mill in Toronto.

Rosemary Connell of Show the Truth Canada informed LifeSiteNews.com today that Gibbons appreciates very much the letters and cards she receives from pro-lifers all over the world. She assures them of her prayers as well.

Announcement for Families Who Have Children With Down Syndrome - MARCH FOR LIFE 2009

From Leticia of Causa Nostrae Laetitiae

Please join us in publicizing this

For immediate release: For more information:
November 30, 2008 Eileen Haupt: 802-899-4882
Leticia Velasquez: 860-556-9116

FAMILES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME
TO MARCH TOGETHER IN THE 2009 MARCH FOR LIFE in D.C.
TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF ABORTING
BABIES WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Leticia Velasquez and Eileen Haupt, two mothers who each have a daughter with Down syndrome are organizing a group of families who have children with Down syndrome to march together in the 2009 March for Life in Washington, D.C. We are calling our endeavor KIDS (Keep Infants with Down Syndrome) to raise awareness about the 90% abortion rate of babies with Down syndrome and to challenge the misinformation that often leads mothers who receive a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome to seek an abortion.

WHEN: Thursday, January 22, 2009, 11:30 a.m. to Noon
WHERE: National Right to Life Committee, 512 10th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
WHAT: Meeting place for families who have children with Down syndrome (and other prenatally diagnosed conditions) to walk together in the 2009 March for Life

For more information please contact Eileen Haupt or Leticia Velasquez.

Eileen Haupt Leticia Velasquez
5 Old Pump Road 227 Cemetery Road
Jericho, VT 05465 Canterbury, CT 06331
(802) 899-4882 (860) 556-9116
vteileen@comcast.net marysjoys@yahoo.com

Leticia Velasquez is a mother of three daughters and lives in Connecticut. Her 6-year-old daughter, Christina, has Down syndrome. Leticia has a background in Journalism. She is the creator of several blogs and writes for several publications, including the National Catholic Register and Faith & Family Magazine. Her recent article published in the NCR entitled “Down, Hero Dad, and Palin” reported on the recent passage of the “Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act,” and the influence that Sarah Palin and the late Tom Vander Woude had on the success of the bill becoming law.

Eileen Haupt is the mother of two daughters and lives in Vermont. After her daughter Sadie was born with Down syndrome almost 10 years ago, she was drawn into the pro-life movement when she learned about the high incidence of aborting babies with Down syndrome. She is on the board of the Vermont Right to Life Committee and is the Alternate Delegate from Vermont to the board of the National Right to Life Committee. She ran as a candidate for State Representative in her district in Vermont in the 2008 elections.

Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Novena

First Day

Rose Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my humble prayer offered with heartfelt confidence to beg this favor......
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.

My intentions for this Novena will be for the protection of the unborn babies.

Please join me.

40 Days for Life - Successful Fall Campaign

Even though no photos were shown, Honolulu, Hawaii did participate.
40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life Needs Your Help - Survey

Survey can be found here

As we reflect on last week’s election results, we all recognize the urgency of building on the momentum of this fall’s 40 Days for Life campaign — to save more lives at the local level where together we can make the greatest possible impact.

Even the national media recognizes the fundamental shift that is happening before our eyes.

Yesterday, the Associated Press ran a major story in newspapers across the U.S. stating, “Despite election setbacks on many fronts, anti-abortion leaders sound more defiant than deflated as they brace for a future with fewer friends in high places.”

The article reported that the pro-life movement is now re-focusing on, “street protests, grass-roots activism and state legislation,” and quoted a prediction that, “activists would stage more mass demonstrations and abortion-clinic vigils.”

A political scientist who studies the pro-life movement told the reporter she’d be “shocked” if we didn’t continue in our local efforts because, “that’s been the area where they’ve had success in closing some abortion clinics.” She then added, “If you compromise, you lose the core of the movement.”

For once, the secular media is right.

Now that it’s settling in that we’re facing the most pro-abortion administration in our nation’s history, we must commit to move aggressively forward and work tirelessly to save lives RIGHT WHERE WE LIVE.

With that in mind, I need your advice.

This is the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT request I have sent to you throughout this fall 40 Days for Life campaign cycle, and your response is crucial.

The unprecedented growth and widespread impact of 40 Days for Life is a direct result of the input received from many people over the last year.

Now it’s your turn!

Regardless of your level of involvement in this campaign, please fill out a short survey to let us know your thoughts about 40 Days for Life — AND MORE IMPORTANTLY — to help shape the future of this collective effort!

It’s a simple survey with just a handful of questions that should take you about 5 minutes to complete.

I would really appreciate if you could make the time to complete this survey today — or by the end of this week, if at all possible.

There are enormous opportunities for us all to build on the momentum of this campaign, and your input will be vital in shaping the direction of these collective efforts in the future.

The next few months promise to be exciting, and I truly believe the best days of the pro-life movement are just ahead of us!

In Christ,

David Bereit
National Campaign Director
40 Days for Life

P.S.- Thank you in advance for your willingness to complete this survey, and we promise to read each and every response.

Two New Pro-Life Blogs Being Added to Side Bar

Pro-Life Kids

Filipino Youth 4 Life