Dear Friends of Life,

You are all welcomed to join us to kick-off off our 12th prayer vigil for the end of abortion.

This event will be on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius church - 7187 2nd avenue - corner Jean-Talon east, three blocks east of the Iberville metro station (blue line).

Tomorrow evening we at the Quebec Life Coalition will kick-off our tenth prayer vigil for the end of abortion and you are welcomed to join us.

The evening begins at 7 p.m. at Saint-Enfant-Jésus Church (5039, Saint Dominique Street) where prayers will be recited - first, a rosary and then a Eucharistic celebration.

The church is located along the eastern edge of Lahaie Park, where for the next forty days, we will meet and offer prayers of reparation for our culture which clings to its desire to abort the weakest members of our society - the unborn child.

Prayers will also be offered for the young couples who are struggling with the decison to keep or abort their child, as well as for those who have already made the tragic and irreversible decision.

Finally, we will not neglect to pray for the conversion of the abortionists and other facility workers who mistakenly perform this procedure.

Forty Days for Life first began in Texas back in 2004. Since 2007 it assumed its twice annual version and in 2009 it began here in Montreal, organised by the Quebec Life Coaliton's President Mr. Georges Buscemi.

This Fall, Montreal is one of 305 cities worldwide hosting a 40-day prayer vigil 15 of which are occuring on Canadian soil. Altogether ten separate countries are hosting this event.

Here in Montreal, this is our tenth vigil, all of which have been done across the street from the Morgentaler abortion mill.

Paramount to our vigil is the maintaining a prayerful presence. To this end a code of conduct is given below to help to this end.

Code of Conduct

• I will show compassion and reflect Christ’s love to all.
• I understand that acting in a violent or harmful manner immediately and completely disassociates me from this vigil.
• I will not obstruct the driveways or sidewalk while standing in the public right of way.
• I will not block the abortion facility's entrance nor the path of anyone, including passersby, on the sidewalk; I will remain on the north side of Saint-Joseph Blvd.
• I will not litter on the public right of way.
• I will closely attend to any children I bring to the prayer vigil.
• I will not threaten, physically contact, nor verbally abuse anyone.
• I will not vandalize private property.
• I will cooperate with local city authorities.
• I will not picket nor carry any signs, pictures, displays, nor wear clothing bearing any words or images, without the consent of the organizers.
• I will maintain a spirit of prayer and refrain from judgments, debates and quarrels.
• I will refrain from unnecessary discussion with the public and with the other prayers.
• I will maintain a physical distance from others at the site whose tactics would be considered contrary to these guidelines.

Although our purpose is to pray, we are not adverse to talk with persons not associated with the vigil who approach us to ask questions or make comments. The following may help in these exchanges:

How to Share the Pro-Life Message

What is the pro-life message?

At its most basic level, the pro-life message is this:

An unborn child is a human person

whose life has value and deserves to be protected by our society.

But we also have an important message to share about how abortion harms women – and men – and about how committed the pro-life movement is to helping women face untimely pregnancies and choose life for their babies.

Ultimately, our message is a message of hope. We believe that, working together, we can transform our society into a place in which no mother will ever resort to abortion, where every child, regardless of the circumstances of his or her conception, will be welcomed and loved.

10 Guidelines for sharing the pro-life message

1. Listen – and pay attention;

2. Take time to think – and pray;

3. Always be respectful;

4. Seek common ground;

5. Make it personal;

6. Give the benefit of the doubt, and never take offense;

7. Don’t interrupt others’ conversations;

8. Pick your battles and keep it simple;

9. Admit when you lack information; and

10. Always leave the door open.

Your prayers are urgently requested for one of our precious children.

This afternoon I received a call from a faithful prayer warrior, telling me that in one of the Montreal area hospitals, this toddler was removed from water and nutrition last week at the request mother and father.

Death may be imminent. According to Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coaltion, for the given circumstances, a child typically lives between four and seven days.

We pray that Our Heavenly be merciful to this little one and that she may be accompanied on her final journey home to meet Him.

Post-Script (Dec13)

I'm saddened to inform you that the little girl died late this Monday past. May she rest in peace.

Also, we continue to keep her grieving parents in our thoughts and prayers as well as the attending physicians in this ward. May the latter continue to work so as to safeguard the previous gift of life in all of their patients.

I’m writing to solicit your prayers… on three fronts.

First, Denise (I've modified the names in this blog to maintain confidentiality) emailed us with kudos for our toll-free telephone line. She recently came across it and regrets that she had not seen a year ago, when she was pregnant. At time, pressured by family and others, she aborted her child, a decision that she painfully regrets . Please keep her in your prayer intentions.

Also, Jay called our office this morning seeking support. His girl-friend found out yesterday that she is pregnant and aborting their child is a possibility, despite the fact that Jay and his family want the pregnancy to continue. Yesterday she has belligerent with him and has isolated herself. Also, the start of an out-of-province internship is weighing on her. Your prayers for both Jay and his girl-friend are needed.

Finally, we welcome your prayers regarding a larger project. Next Monday the pastoral council at the Marian shrine Our Lady of the Cap – Trois-Rivières, will be convening in a special session to discuss whether to designate itself as a prayer centre for post-abortive women.

Aspects of this ministry include becoming a depository for post-abortive stories and a healing ministry. The agenda also includes sponsoring a national prayer campaign for post-abortive women.

A prayer of the following form will also be discussed:

Prayer for the Respect of Truth and Life

O Most Holy Virgin Mary, your Divine Son Jesus forgave the adulterous woman as the crowd was about to stone her. The Word incarnate protected her with the words “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Blessed Mother, we men and women wish to follow in Your Son's footsteps both in praying and in deed for the cause of Truth and Life. In the image of Our Lord Jesus, with open arms we lovingly welcome all those who have participated in the interruption life at a time when Love and Truth was absent from their lives.

Blessed Mother, this fault afflicts their consciences and causes undue suffering. We humbly ask you to intercede with you Divine Son Jesus that He shed upon them the light of his mercy through reconciliation with your Church.

We solicit your prayers and sacrifices on these three fronts.

Update (20Jan2012):

1. Denise has expressed a desire to do volunteer work with us. Further she has ok'ed the suggestion of sharing her story, whether on-line or elsewhere. Once I translate her testimony, I'll post it.
2. A follow-up telephone call to the young man - Jay, whose girl-friend was thinking of having an abortion did not reveal any hopeful sign. She has remained uncommunicative with him. What news he has is through a mutual friend. The latter informs him that she has gone on her intership and an abortion is most likely. We continue our prayers for her (and him) as she deals with the after-effects of abortion.
3. Finally regarding the marian sanctuary in Cap-de-la-Madeline, the discussion on whether to include in its apostolate a ministry to post-abortive women has been tabled to its next meeting - February 23, 2012. Your prayers in this matter, as in the others, are requested.

Heavenly Father,

Our movement is God driven. Otherwise, we will fail. We know. We have tried to do it on our own and we have failed. We face a colossus. News reports show; the death toll due to abortion – whether surgical, chemical, abortifacients, pregnancy reductions, is huge. These reports reveal that the mountain simply gets bigger.

We pray that the scourge of abortion be lifted from our land,

• Since 1988, Canada has had no legislation regulating the procedure of abortion. Hence, anything and everything goes. At any stage of pregnancy, the child is unsafe – from conception through to delivery.

That those who promote it may be brought to a change of heart;

The shiny red SUV pulled up along the sidewalk. A well-dressed thirty-something man, dark trench coat, unbuttoned, two-piece suit underneath, steps out. Immediately, he spots a solitary figure standing some forty-five feet away. This figure hands clasped is holding a rosary. The driver's stance freezes and stiffens. He glares. The look persists. Fifteen yards separated the two. No words are spoken but the significance escapes neither. He re-enters his vehicle and does a 180, parking on the far side of the busy roadway, a block further away. Re-emerges, brief case in hand and makes his way inside the abortion facility.

That all who are tempted to abortion may be lovingly helped to protect the precious gift of life;

The two women approached the abortion facility unimpeded. One, the younger, a woman in her twenties, drags heavily on her cigarette. The other, an older woman, perhaps in her mid-thirties, walks closely next to the younger. In front of the facility, the younger one stops, again drawing deeply on her cigarette. Her partner's hand goes up, resting on her friend's shoulder. A moment later this same hand gently strokes shoulder and upper arm - consoling her. Another moment goes by. Finally the pair moves, walking up the steps leading into the facility. Again atop, the younger stops. Her cigarette unfinished, she inhales, again deeply. Her friend, always in close proximity, continues her reassuring stroking. The cigarette finished, they walk in.

And that all who have experienced an abortion may be comforted with the healing gift of love.

The young couple walk out. Both in their early to mid twenties. Her gait is unsteady; he provides much support as they walk down the five steps. At the bottom they pause. They continue their walk, she relying on him for support – both physical and emotional.

A dark car pulls up in front of the facility. The driver stays inside but the passenger emerges, springing out and up the steps, into the facility. Moments later two women and two men, the former passenger and another, walk out of the double doors. The younger of the two women is noticeably needy, body hunched and twisted. Her peers offer support, first down the stairs and then into the car. The others pile in and the car drives off.

We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the World.

Heavenly Father,

We pray that the scourge of abortion be lifted from our land,

That those who promote it may be brought to a change of heart;

That all who are tempted to abortion may be lovingly helped to protect the precious gift of life;

And that all who have experienced an abortion may be comforted with the healing gift of love.

We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Hi Folks,

I experienced some very special and blessed moments earlier today.

Charlotte L'H. and I have been meeting twice per week over the summer months in Lahaie Park across the street from the Morgentaler Montreal abortuary.  Usually beginning at around 7:15 a.m. and lasting about thirty minutes, we pray for the cause of life and then attend an Eucharist service afterwards.

Over this period occasionally we have been joined by others. Well, this morning we were blessed to be joined by not one but two other prayer warriors - first, Jean R. arrived on his familiar bicycle and joined us without missing a beat.  Next, though arriving at the end of our pubic prayer, James accepted our invitation to accompany Charlotte and I to Mass and fellowship.

So, all are welcomed to join Charlotte and I weekday mornings - usually Tuesdays and Fridays, for prayer in Lahaie Park at 7:15 a.m. (Call me for details - (514) 344-2686. Next meeting: Wednesday, August 17)