Across the United States, today is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.
“The pro-life case is both simple and profound: abortion is the intentional killing of an innocent human life, and the intentional killing of an innocent human life is always wrong,” says Jenny Ingles, Diocese of Lansing's Director of Fertility and Life Ministries, January 22.
“In practice, abortion is also a tragic failure of love, imagination and genuine compassion. It fails mothers, fathers, children and wider society. It's always the worst option.”
"Our prayer today is that we continue to chart a better way for all our people including, or especially, the unborn infant. That he or she is loved in life and protected in law.”
It was on January 22, 1973, that the Supreme Court legalized abortion throughout the United States in its companion decisions Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. Since that time, millions of children have lost their lives, and millions of women and families have been wounded by abortion.
On June 24, 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade. While this ended the nearly fifty-year nationwide regime of abortion on demand, right now state and federal laws, in many instances, are still hostile to pre-born children. This includes the insertion of a so-called “right to abortion” into the Constitution of the State of Michigan in 2022.
Today’s Day of Prayer also includes an element of penance with people being encouraged to undertake some form of mortification, such as fasting, abstinence, or giving up entertainments such as television, movies, social media, video games, or something else that makes us “feel the pinch.” The purpose of this day is to:
• Restore the legal guarantee of the right to life.
• Atone for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.
• Pray for the full legal protection of every unborn child.
• Pray that every heart that supports abortion will be changed.
• End the practice of abortion. Let us pray:
“Most precious Lord, you dwelt within the womb of your dear mother, sanctifying the womb, and elevating the dignity of all human life. I pray today for the full legal protection of every unborn child. I also pray that every heart that supports abortion will be changed so as to experience the freedom that comes from living in the Truth. I offer to You, this day, all my sufferings and sacrifices to help atone for every violation against human dignity committed through acts of abortion. Please bring healing, hope, and freedom to all. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.”