Sidewalk Reflections

Across the street from the vigil site, a lady, who was unable to be out in the cold due to illness, sat in her car praying.  She was inspired to learn that there have been several thousand (over 4,000!) who have already come to pray (and are still coming).  She later shared:

"As I drove up, I felt such a sense of peace ... it must be all those prayers."

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Another person reflected about her first time to pray at the vigil site -- a quiet moment with her own thoughts:

"This is humbling standing out here on the sidewalk, and I thought to myself, 'What if someone I know sees me out here? What will they think about me?' Then I realized, 'So what. This isn't about me!  I'm here to pray and this is not about me."

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With tears in her eyes, one of the "regulars" who comes often to pray at the vigil site commented on the steadfast attendance of priests, clergy and other religious who have become our "sidewalk shepherds": 

"There are people when they see a priest praying out here, slow their cars down and make the sign of the Cross."

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A young woman stopped with joyful tears streaming down her face and said:

 "I saw people praying ..."

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A man passed by those standing outside the late-term abortion facility, slowed his car down to a crawl, turned his lights on as one would do in a funeral procession and turned his palm upwards.

He was praying.

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Late one evening, before one group started to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the leader suggested:

"Let's pray for all those contemplating, participating in, suffering from or affected in some way by abortion. I guess that's the whole world,  isn't it?"

 

Yes, it is.

Abortions in the United States since January 22, 1973: over 52.5 million

Worldwide number of abortions per year: approximately 42 Million*

* as reported by the Guttmacher Institute,
the former research arm of Planned Parenthood

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"If my people, who are called by My Name,

will humble themselves and pray

and seek My Face and turn from their wicked ways,

then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin

and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14

Standing with their brothers and sisters

Last week, 100+ middle school and high school students from The Highlands School came to pray at the vigil site outside Southwestern late-term abortion facility.   Their prayerful presence was a powerful witness for their brothers and sisters in the womb. 

Pictures say it best.   Here are just a couple...

 

We were also blessed by the presence of Knights of Columbus from St. Jude: 

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We know that all things work for good for those who love God...

Romans 8:28 b

Standing Alone...

Was a priest.

It was not his church "adopted day" to come out to the vigil site to pray. They already fulfilled that commitment.

He came to pray ... alone.

One other person was at the site when he arrived, then had to leave.

And there he stood in full cassock with a large pectoral cross shining in the sun.

With him there, a passerby would not be at a loss to understand what 40 Days for Life is all about or question why we are there.

And as he stoically stood there praying, abortion center workers began leaving the building.  The killing inside was over...for the day.

As they left, he commented, "It seems so nice and 'normal' out here on the sidewalk... "  


With the power of your prayers and the prayers of our shepherds, the blessings cannot help but continue on that sidewalk.   Today, 2 more mothers chose life for their children, bringing the lives saved during this campaign to 20 (that we know of).  

Praise Holy Almighty God for His unending mercy and compassion.  

Please continue to remember all of our shepherds in your daily prayers.

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P.S.   Click here to hear the spiritual reflections of one of our sidewalk shepherds.

The wind and rain came ... they stood firm

We weren't sure they were coming, but the Lord knew.  He had called.  And they answered.

Last week, as the Catholic Pro-Life Committee finished its day of adopted prayer, a large number (some say "35 or more" others say "at least 50") of Vietnamese Catholics arrived at the vigil site.  They gathered on the sidewalk as the sun was setting, joined by a nun and led by a priest.

They prayed the rosary together in Vietnamese, which "was beautiful to hear."

As a cold front moved into the Dallas area with strong gusts of wind and heavy rain, they stood firm.

One eye witness reported, "When that rain came in, it was buckets ... you would think everyone would run to their cars or get umbrellas or something.  But they didn't! They just stood right there continuing to pray!  WOW!  They were drenched!  And for some, this was their first time to come pray out here!"

So to these unexpected, but always welcome, prayer warriors:  We thank God for your tenacity and faithfulness. You are a blessing.  May God continue to bless you and your efforts for His precious children.

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"If my people, who are called by My Name,

will humble themselves and pray

and seek My Face and turn from their wicked ways,

then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin

and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14

2 more saves...brings us to 20!!

That's all I know.

Praise God! 

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Unto Ages of Ages...

A sunny, clear, cloudless day outside this dark place (Southwestern late-term abortion facility), as Fr. Jason Cargo of St. Monica Catholic Church joined those from his flock who were praying at the vigil site.  Shortly thereafter, Fr. Seraphim Hipsh, (St. Sava Orthodox Church - OCA) arrived to pray ... and was doing just that. 


As the prayers continued, two small flocks (two different species of white birds) swooped in directly above the abortion facility in a lively spirited orchestration of choreographed splendor.  And above them, large vulture-like birds were starkly silhouetted against the clear blue sky ... ominously circling this place of death.


What happens when there are shepherds with those from several different Christian "flocks"... all faithfully praying, as the blood of human life is being shed, right then and there, only a short distance away?


Two women drove out of the abortion facility parking lot and stopped. This young mother had been inside. She was told that she is pregnant. "Yes" she would like help. "Yes" she wanted to go to either one of the two nearby women's resource centers. And they did just that.

Praise God!  What other spiritual victories were won this day... unto ages of ages?! Praise God in the Highest! 

And thank you Holy Almighty God, especially this day, for these and all your faithful shepherds who bear powerful testimony and witness of the saving grace of Jesus Christ with their presence at these places of death and spiritual destruction. 

May God continue to bless Thy Son's shepherds, who chose them; may Blessed Mother of God continue to intercede for them; and may St. Michael continue to protect them. Amen.  

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May we be one body in Christ  and that through the Holy Spirit.

Lord, have mercy on us all.

Amen.

The Widow

She said, "God's Mercy and Love is so great! We will never fully comprehend it. We will not be able to fully comprehend His great Mercy and Love, even for all of eternity..."

"For all of eternity!"

This lady lead the rosary tonight with slow deliberate firm devotion, announcing above the din of traffic and an occasional shout from a passing vehicle, each mystery and virtue to pray for:

"SORROW FOR SIN" contrite unity with God and His will...

"PURITY" may we have open pure hearts to God...

"COURAGE" be not afraid...

"PATIENCE" ah yes... (funny when we don't pray for this virtue, how little we have of it.)

"PERSEVERANCE" may we never ever falter in the Faith...

Time was suspended.  Peace reigned in our souls.

How long have we been praying? Can we do this all night?

She wishes she could.

Her knees don't work so well anymore, though she kneels before God in her heart much of her day.
Her feet don't have much feeling in them anymore, though she walks in His path most of the time.
Her "core" is wearing out, though the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Trinity dwell in the core of her very being.

So we slowly escorted her from the vigil site outside the late-term abortion facility across the 6 lanes of traffic to her car.

She prayed.  She said "yes" to God.  Noble and dignified, she will continue to pray ... for all of us.

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Awesome is God in His Holy place, the God of Israel, who gives power and strength to His people. Blessed be God!

Psalm 68:36

Thank God for little children

Another three women chose life for their babies this week (and it's only Wednesday!).  Thank you for your prayers and your sacrifices.  God's miraculous grace is working through all of you and raining down on these blessed children and their mothers and fathers!

Thank God for little children,
Bright flowers by earth's wayside,
The dancing, joyous lifeboats
Upon life's stormy tide.

Thank God for little children;
When our skies are cold and gray,
They come as sunshine to our hearts,
And charm our cares away.

I almost think the angels,
Who tend life's garden fair,
Drop down the sweet wild blossoms
That bloom around us here.

It seems a breath of heaven
Round many a cradle lies,
And every little baby
Brings a message from the skies.

Dear mothers, guard these jewels.
As sacred offerings meet,
A wealth of household treasures
To lay at Jesus' feet.

By Frances E. W. Harper

Over 300 Prayed...Another Life Saved!!

On Saturday, hundreds of pray-ers converged outside Southwestern late-term abortion center, including 200 youth holding yellow "LIFE" balloons along with black balloons marking the loss of their brothers and sisters in the womb.  While they were praying, another abortion-minded woman chose life for her baby, bringing the total confirmed lives saved at the Dallas vigil site to 14! 

And only God knows the countless more who have chosen life, unbeknownst to us, as a result of the 24/7 prayerful witness!!

To the Dallas Police Department... to all 24-Seveners

Thank you.

Thank you for ensuring the safety of all Dallas citizens.

Thank you for your courtesy and kindness.

Thank you for putting your lives on the line everyday.

Thank you.

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Please continue to remember in your prayers all those who are on call 24/7 (Police, fire department workers, ambulance teams, city workers and other services) for our benefit and protection.

Please continue to remember in your prayers all those who are vulnerable and in harms way... especially the unborn children.

God's continual merciful blessings,

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24 Hour Club

In the course of making runs to the vigil site around midnight, there have been a handful of times (3 to be exact), when the same person is still there from the midnight before. This is the 24 Hour Club.

These 3 people (there may be others) have made personal commitments to be at the vigil site from midnight-to-midnight. One of those faithful prayer warriors has done this mmmmmm... for about six years now; i.e. just about every year that there has been a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil in Dallas. 

Each year he said that he thinks, "I am getting too old for this."  Each year he is out there again.

There is another 24 Hour Club.  But these members are only women. These are the mothers who, according to Texas law, must wait 24 hours after the first consult with the abortionist before having an abortion. 

Please continue to keep in your prayers all those mothers, fathers and families... in the 24 Hour Club(s).

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God's continual merciful blessings,

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Elbow to Elbow...

There was a consistent presence of at least 40 or 50 people last night (Saturday) and into this late Sunday afternoon of those coming to pray outside the Southwestern late-term abortion facility.

A man played his guitar as midnight approached, while some softly sang. Some prayed the rosary or the Divine Mercy chaplet together. Others prayed privately with the Holy scriptures or silently.

There were a few naysayers who passed by on the weekend evenings.   But those standing vigil were undaunted as they lined the sidewalk, toes at the grass, elbow to elbow, facing the facility, offering their prayers.
That devotion spoke to something else "in the air"... something.

One person arrived, reporting she felt nudged to go to the vigil site: "Take Holy Salt", that which priests have blessed and recommended for use at the abortion centers along with certain prayers:

"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen..."


And then it began to rain... gently at first.

One would expect everyone to make mad dashes for their vehicles. But they didn't. Plastic (umbrellas ponchos) was hurriedly distributed. Signage was converted to make-shift umbrellas. The rain came harder. Some gave up their own umbrellas.  A young mother protected and kept warm her tiny one in her arms.  Others were still getting wet, even though all shared what little plastic covering there was to be shared.  Everyone stayed.  And the music continued...

Then someone exclaimed to the guitar player, "your guitar!!!"

He shrugged and said something in Spanish.  There was no need for interpretation.  Those who did not speak Spanish understood what he said when he nodded towards the late-term abortion center.  Everyone understood him.

A man knelt down in the mud...

... and there was Peace.

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pax vobiscum 

Thank you to all those who continue to faithfully come to the abortion facilities to pray.

Thank you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for your merciful loving kindness to us and to all men.

Amen.

Christian Conduct

And pray ye without ceasing in behalf of other men.  For there is in them the hope of repentance that they may attain to God.  See, then, that they be instructed by your works, if in no other way.  Be ye meek in response to their wrath, humble in opposition to their boasting: to their blasphemies return your prayers; in contrast to their error, be ye steadfast in the faith; and for their cruelty, manifest your gentleness.  While we take care not to imitate their conduct, let us be found their brethren in all true kindness; and let us seek to be followers of the Lord (who ever more unjustly treated, more destitute, more condemned?), that so no plant of the devil may be found in you, but ye may remain in all holiness and sobriety in Jesus Christ, both with respect to the flesh and spirit.  

St. Ignatios of Antioch

Day 8: Eleven Chose Life!

Day 8:  2

Day 7:  2

Day 4:  2 

Day 3:  2 

Day 1:  3

11 lives saved!!

... that we know of.

May all creation magnify and praise His Holy Name

who hath created heaven and earth and all that therein is.

"Do I have a choice?" she asked.

The mother turned around and her daughter was no longer there.

As sidewalk counselors at the vigil site were preparing to leave, a young girl approached and went directly to one of the men with the remaining group who were still praying.

She was petite, young (a Sidewalk Counselor later learned 14 years old), wearing boxer shorts and an oversized clean white t-shirt, and house slippers.  She was wondering... sitting inside that abortion center...

"Do I... um... I was wondering..." barely audible, expression void, big beautiful eyes briefly looked up and then back down at the sidewalk, "I was just wondering... if I have a choice."

Some short minutes later a woman (the girl's mother who had driven this daughter of hers to the abortion facility) walked toward the group on the sidewalk.  The sidewalk counselor was firmly explaining to the girl that she does indeed have a choice and that it is against the law to coerce someone into having an abortion, i.e. no one can "make you" have an abortion.

The counselor urged the young girl, "You need to tell everyone that you do not want to have an abortion..." And as she was saying that, the mother (who later confessed to another sidewalk counselor, that years before she, herself, had an abortion) stopped in front of the group.

The counselor turned towards the woman as she stopped in front of them, and the mother eyes squinted with hardness towards her daughter, "What have you been saying to them...."

The counselor interrupted her, moving between mother and daughter, "Ma'am, she didn't say anything... nothing that was disrespectful...." The mother relaxed a little (not much), "oh,"  registering little emotion other than hard, tired impatience, glarred at her daughter and with a sharp snap, "Git. back 'n ther...."

The girl quickly moved past the counselor and towards her mother. The mother turned, annoyed, sighed and walked toward the facility.

The girl continued to dutifully follow her mother. She shuffled slowly behind her mother as the distance widened several yards between them both. Only the sound of the tiny young girl's slippers could be heard dragging on the pavement.

to be continued...

Day 4: Seven Chose Life!

Day 4:  2
Day 3:  2
Day 1:  3

7 lives saved!!

Director of the Dallas 40 Days for Life campaign (and Sidewalk Counselor) remarked, "... everyone is praying and they [the mothers/couples] just come out!" 

Thanks be to God!

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