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(Back to Pray for Life)- April 2018: Divine Mercy
- March 2018: No Abortion Coercion
- February 2018: Married Couples
- 2017 (March - December)
- 2016 (March - December)
April 2018
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Intercession:
May we find forgiveness, healing, and peace in God's Divine Mercy.
Prayers:
Our Father,
3 Hail Marys,
Glory Be
Reflection: As we prepare for the Sunday of Divine Mercy this weekend, we can reflect upon the mercy Christ shows us in His suffering, death, and Resurrection. By our sin, we distance or cut ourselves off from the life of God's grace within us. But rather than leave us among the dead, our God wants to wipe away our sins and welcome us in friendship.
His forgiveness, which brings us to life in Him, is possible in the Sacrament of Reconciliation because He first offered Himself for our sake. Trusting in God's mercy and the power of the Resurrection, let us ask His forgiveness for the times we have failed to respect one another or to cherish His gift of life.
Jesus's Passion and death are not the end; they point to the joy of the Resurrection.
"By his wounds, we were healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
Acts of Reparation (choose one):
- On the Sunday
of Divine Mercy (April 8th this year), take some time to learn
about St. Faustina and the message
of Divine Mercy. Then pray the Divine
Mercy Chaplet in reparation for sins against life.
- Reflect on one of the Mass readings for the
Sunday of Divine Mercy. How is God speaking to you?
- Encounter
Christ's ready forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and then
continue to place your trust in God's mercy with a short prayer.
One Step Further:
Read "Bridges of Mercy for Post-Abortion Healing" to learn how to extend God's mercy to those who suffer from involvement in abortion.
Also available to download for free or order:
- Download in Color: English / Spanish
- Download in Black and White: English / Spanish
- Order: English / Spanish
Did You Know?
The Church grants a plenary indulgence for celebrating the Sunday of Divine
Mercy. Learn more!
Copyright © 2018, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.
March 2018 (Subscribe)
Prayers:
Our Father,
3 Hail Marys,
Glory Be
Reflection: Congress needs to hear from us! Health care providers
and trainees, churches, and others are being forced to participate in abortion
or provide coverage for it in their health care plans. Federal conscience laws
prohibit such coercion, but these laws continue to be violated—mostly because
they don't provide victims with the ability to defend their rights in court.
This week, Congress will likely decide whether to improve enforcement of these laws by enacting the Conscience Protection Act. No one should be forced to participate in abortion. Tell your representatives today at humanlifeaction.org!
Acts of Reparation (choose one):
- Urge Congress to pass the Conscience
Protection Act. Send your representatives a message today at humanlifeaction.org!
- Share the action
alert with your friends and family; activate prayer chains
and groups.
- Light up social media to raise awareness and prompt action: Downloadable Images / Sample Tweets.
One Step Further:
View and share a quick video and the link www.bit.ly/support-cpa to invite your friends to stand up for
conscience rights!
Did You Know?Sandra and Cathy are two nurses
who were forced by their employers to choose between their jobs and their
pro-life convictions. Watch their stories!
Copyright © 2018, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.
February 2018
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Intercession:
May married couples experience the fullness of God's plan for their love through openness to life.
Prayers:
Our Father,
3 Hail Marys,
Glory Be
Reflection: "A husband and wife express their committed love not only with words, but with the language of their bodies. That 'body language'—what a husband and wife say to one another through the intimacy of sexual relations—speaks of total commitment and openness to a future together. …Married love differs from any other love in the world. By its nature, the love of husband and wife is so complete, so ordered to a lifetime of communion with God and each other, that it is open to creating a new human being they will love and care for together. …As many couples who have turned away from contraception tell us, living [the Church's teaching] can contribute to the honesty, openness, and intimacy of marriage and help make couples truly fulfilled."
–Married Love and the Gift of Life, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Acts of Reparation (choose one):
- Pray a decade of the Rosary for married
couples, using the pro-life reflections for the
second Luminous Mystery, The Wedding Feast at Cana.
- Participate in the 7-day
virtual retreat beginning on February 7, "Marriage: School of Life and Love." Access online at www.foryourmarriage.org or on social media: www.facebook.com/foryourmarriage / www.twitter.com/foryourmarriage
- Take some time this week to learn about and prayerfully reflect upon the life of a married saint (or more). What speaks to you? How might you be called to follow his or her example? Suggestions: St. Gianna Molla, who ultimately gave her life for her unborn child; Saints Louis & Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux.
One Step Further:
"Marriage,
the Sanctuary of Life" presents, in a fascinating and compelling way, the
Catholic vision of marriage, drawing from Scripture, Pope Saint John Paul II,
and social research.
Did You Know?
National Marriage Week is Wednesday, February 7 – Wednesday,
February 14. Archbishop Chaput, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Laity,
Marriage, Family Life and Youth, wrote: "It is an opportunity to focus on
building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting
marriage and the family."
Visit For Your Marriage, an initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, for blog posts, stories, tips, FAQs, and more for dating, engaged, and married couples.
Copyright © 2018, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.