“Kevin had worked in a medical lab at a Catholic hospital, examining organs removed during surgery.  He looked for particular things, depending on where the organ had come from and what its intended use would be now.

One day, due to a mix-up, the Catholic hospital received a package intended for another hospital.  Kevin opened the package, expecting to find an organ of some type, and instead found a Ziploc bag containing the remains of a baby girl who had been in the mother’s womb for twelve weeks when she was killed by a saline abortion.

It was a horrific experience, his hands began to shake so badly that he almost dropped the bag.  But even worse than seeing the body of that poor girl, Kevin said – and he wept even harder as he said it – was how the bag was labeled.  Stunned at seeing the body, he turned the bag to see what the official label said.  Bags containing human medical waste or by-products all have to be labeled in precise medical terms.  His heart fell when, on the side of the bag, he read, “product of conception (POC).”

Kevin had grown up Catholic, but had fallen away and had been away for a number of years at the time of this experience.  But afterward, shaken by that painful experience into a re-evaluation of his whole life, he returned to his faith and vowed to see everyone as a child of God – not as a “product of conception”. …

Kevin’s life had changed.  Not because of an argument about abortion or a political debate on TV.  That would have been easier and cleaner and probably less painful. Instead, he had seen the result of abortion right before his eyes – a dehumanized and discarded “product”‘.

Every abortion ends with the same “product”.

Our lives were not made for Ziploc bags.  They have eternal worth and are destined for heaven.”

(Excerpt from 40 Days for Life – Discover what God has done…Imagine what He can do by: David Bereit & Shawn Carney with Cindy Lambert pp. 134-135)

Come to the sidewalk and witness to the beauty and eternal value of human life this week!

OPEN HOURS

Tuesday, 2/17 – 94% filled – 1 needed at 3p.

Wednesday, 2/18 – Only 45% filled on this abortion day – 2 needed at 10a; 2 needed at 11a; 1 needed at 1p; 2 needed at 2p; 1 needed at 3p; 1 needed at 4p and 2 needed at 5p.

Thursday, 2/19 – Just 67% filled on this busy day at Planned Parenthood – 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 10a; 1 needed at 11a; 1 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 3p and 1 needed at 5p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or call Gwen at(608)393-8545.

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Prayer for the Dignity of Human Life

“If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it!”  1 Corinthians 9: 16

As baptized members of the Body of Christ, we have all been commissioned to preach the gospel.  Come and fulfill your obligation and preach the Gospel of Life this week by adding your peaceful, prayerful witness to the sidewalk.

OPEN HOURS

Tuesday, 2/10 – Only 50% filled on this Abortion Day – 1 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 1p; 2 needed at 3p and 2 needed at 4p.

Wednesday, 2/11 – Just 20% filled on this Abortion Day – 1 needed at 9a; 2 needed at 10a; 2 needed at 11a; 2 needed at 1p; 2 needed at 2p; 2 needed at 3p; 1 needed at 4p and 1 needed at 5p.

Thursday, 2/12 – Only 39% filled on this busy day at Planned Parenthood – 2 needed at 9a; 2 needed at 10a; 1 needed at 11a; 2 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 3p; 1 needed at 4p and 2 needed at 5p.

Friday, 2/13 – 75% filled – 1 needed at 2p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mailinfo@vigilforlife.org or call Gwen Finnegan at (608)393-8545.

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VIGIL CAPTAIN needed for 2nd week of each month during 365 for Life campaign.  Vigil Captain is responsible for ensuring that vigil hours are filled for assigned week.  If interested in volunteering your services for this essential position, please call Gwen Finnegan at (608)393-8545.

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Jennifer Dunnet’s 2015 March for Life Experience

Arriving in Washington D.C. with Pro-life Wisconsin for the 42^nd March for Life, I was happy that our first stop was the Planned Parenthood on 16^th St NW in D.C. I have prayed and counseled outside this abortion center many times while attending the March for Life. This time my happiness was due to the fact that the Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the group for which I volunteer, was able to bring the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the site for the first time during a March for Life. This Image has been touched to the actual tilma in Mexico. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the Unborn and she was definitely there interceding for the women inside.  While we were there praying a woman came out of the abortion center and said she was keeping her baby. What a wonderful way to start our time in D.C.

Later that evening we attended the opening Mass for the March for Life at the Basilica of Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.  This Mass is packed with pilgrims who arrive early to get a good seat. It was the same this year only I feel there were more attendees there than ever. The procession of cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, and seminarians took at least 30 minutes. It was a beautiful Mass and a wonderful homily by Cardinal O’Malley.  Some of the things he said was, “Indifference is our biggest enemy. We must learn to look on people with love. Not judgmental. To change people’s hearts we must love them. Mother Teresa is the model of the pro-life movement.”

The day of the March, on the anniversary of Roe v.Wade, the weather was perfect for marching. You could sense the crowd was big.  The pre-march speakers were motivating the crowd from the stage set up in the library mall. Those of us marching with Pro-life Wisconsin were ready to go! Soon we were on our way with the St Ambrose Academy group marching with us for a time.  After we were on our way Peggy Hamill, Will Goodman, and Dan Miller led the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet until we were almost finished marching.  As we moved further up the hill, I looked back and saw thousands and thousands of people young and old marching for the end of abortion. I have heard there were at least 600,000.  As we reached the Supreme Court building where the March ends we could hear the women and men from Silent No More giving their testimonies on how abortion has affected them.  Next to them was the biggest banner I have ever seen that said “Personhood for All”.  The March for Life is always a whirlwind of days and events but I definitely left the March that day feeling full of hope that we will one day see the end of abortion.  If you haven’t attended the March for Life, I recommend attending. It is one of the most moving and powerful events you will participate in.

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Discipleship Prayer

Loving God,

I thank you for choosing me to be your disciple

and for the gift of your Son, Jesus.

Help me proclaim and bear witness to the Gospel

by word and by deed today and every day.

Open my heart to the outcast, the forgotten,

the lonely, the sick and the poor.

Grant me the courage to think, to choose and to live as a Christian,

joyfully obedient to God.

Amen.

Vigil for Life, Madison, urges you to contact your state assembly person and state senator to OPPOSE physician-assisted suicide (euthanasia) legislation (LRB-0888/1) that is being circulated by Representative Pope and Senator Risser.  Following is a memo released to all state assembly persons and state senators by Pro-Life Wisconsin on this bill’s introduction:

Should you have any questions on how to contact your state assembly person or state senator, please do not hesitate to send an e-mail to info@vigilforlife.org or to call (608)393-8545.

Many thanks and many blessings,

The Vigil for Life Team

Are you hesitant to give the gift of your time?  Do you feel that you are too busy and have no time to give?  Or – are you hesitant to give your time because you feel it won’t be appreciated or that it won’t make a difference?

As reported in a recent article in Psychology Today, research shows that people who give their time actually feel like they have more time.  People who give their time instead of doing something for themselves also end up feeling better about themselves.  As St. Francis of Assisi wrote, “For it is in giving that we receive.”

We have many open hours this week and would most certainly appreciate your gift of time spent in peaceful, prayerful vigil on the sidewalk!  Any hour you stand in witness to life and to Christ always makes a difference even if you are not made aware of it immediately!

OPEN HOURS

Monday, Feb. 2nd – 75% filled – 1 needed at 9a.

Tuesday, Feb. 3rd – 81% filled on this Abortion Day – 1 needed at 2p; 1 needed at 3p; 1 needed at 4p.

Wednesday, Feb. 4th – Only 35% filled on this Abortion Day – 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 10a; 1 needed at 11a; 1 needed at 12p; 2 needed at 1p; 2 needed at 2p; 2 needed at 3p; 1 needed at 4p; 2 needed at 5p.

Thursday, Feb. 5th – Just 61% filled on this busy day at Planned Parenthood – 2 needed at 9a; 2 needed at 10a; 2 needed at 12p and 1 needed at 3p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mailinfo@vigilforlife.org or call (608)393-8545.

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Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is discord, harmony;

Where there is error, truth;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Welcome back to our travelers that attended the 2015 March for Life in Washington D.C.  It was awesome and very inspiring to see the thousands of pro-life warriors “marching” in their peaceful, prayerful and joyful witness to the Gospel of Life.  (We will try to get testimony from some of them to be shared in future e-mails.)

Lend your peaceful, prayerful and joyful witness to the Gospel of Life outside of Planned Parenthood this week!

“…Always be as gentle as you can and remember that one catches more flies (converts) with a spoonful of honey than with a hundred barrels of vinegar.” – St. Francis de Sales

OPEN HOURS

Tuesday, Jan. 27 – 88% filled on this Abortion Day – 1 needed at 3p and 1 needed at 4p.

Wednesday, Jan. 28 – Only 70% filled on this Abortion Day – 2 needed at 12p; 2 needed at 1p; 1 needed at 4p and 1 needed at 5p.

Thursday, Jan. 29 – Just 44% filled on this busy day at Planned Parenthood – 2 needed at 9a; 2 needed at 10a; 1 needed at 11a; 2 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 3p; 1 needed at 4p and 1 needed at 5p.

Friday, Jan. 30 – Only 50% filled – 1 needed at 1p and 1 needed at 2p.

To sign up for hours go to:  vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mail info@vigilforlife.org or call(608)393-8545.

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Vigil for Life, Madison will host a prayer vigil to mark the 42nd anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade decision on Tuesday, January 27th at 10 a.m. The prayer vigil will be led by Fr. Jorge Miramontes and held on the sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Rd. in Madison.

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The Prayer of St. Francis de Sales

Be at Peace

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;

rather look to them with full hope as they arise.

God, whose very own you are,

will deliver you from out of them.

He has kept you hitherto,

and He will lead you safely through all things;

and when you cannot stand it,

God will bury you in his arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;

the same everlasting Father who cares for you today

will take care of you then and everyday.

He will either shield you from suffering,

or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace,

and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

(St. Francis de Sales 1567-1622)

“The Negro cannot win if he is willing to sacrifice the futures of his children for immediate personal comfort and safety. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968

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OPEN HOURS for this week:

Wednesday, 1/21 – 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 10a, 1 needed at 3p; 2 needed at 4p and 1 needed at 5p.

Thursday, 1/22 – 2 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 10a; 2 needed at 12p and 1 needed at 5p.

To sign up for hours please go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or e-mailinfo@vigilforlife.org or call (608)393-8545.

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A Requiem Mass for the Unborn will be held at St. Mary’s Pine Bluff at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22nd, 2015.  It is being held to mark the 42nd anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade decision.  The Roe v. Wade decision was a U.S. Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in all 50 states. The decision transformed America overnight because all but a small number of states had bans on abortion prior to this decision.  There have been over 56 million babies lost to abortions since this tragic decision that was made in 1973.

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Vigil for Life, Madison will host a prayer vigil to mark the 42nd anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade decision on Tuesday, January 27th at 10 a.m.  The prayer vigil will be led by Fr. Jorge Miramontes and held on the sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood, 3706 Orin Rd. in Madison.

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Prayer for Life in Reparation for Roe v. Wade

By: Fr. Frank Pavone

God and Father of Life,

You have created every human person,

And have opened the way for each to have eternal life.

We live in the shadow of death.

Tens of millions of your children have been killed

because of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

Father, have mercy on us.

Heal our land and accept our offering of prayer and penance.

In your love for us, turn back the scourge of abortion.

May each of us exult in hearts full of hope

and hands full of mercy

and work together to build a culture of life.

We pray through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Dear friends of life,

Our web site (including the ability to send out this weekly mass e-mail) has been down for almost 4 weeks!  We are so thankful that it was able to get fixed!  We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused any of you.

This past week – on January 5th – Baby Silas was born!!  Baby Silas’ parents met three of our Sidewalk Counselors outside of Planned Parenthood this past May.  The young mother’s family was pushing for abortion while the young man’s family was not.  Our Sidewalk Counselors spoke with the young couple for many hours and life for their baby was chosen!  Praise God!  One of thes Sidewalk Counselor is still in communication with this young couple.  They are in need of a gas card.  If anyone is able to donate money towards this gift, please send it to: Vigil for Life, P.O. Box 499, Baraboo, WI  53913.

You can see a picture of Baby Silas on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/VigilforLife.  Please keep him and his parents in your prayers.

OPEN HOURS

Wednesday, Jan. 14th – 1 needed at 8a; 2 needed at 11a; 2 needed at 2p; 1 needed at 3p; 1 needed at 5p.

Thursday, Jan. 15th – 2 needed at 9a; 2 needed at 10a; 2 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 3p; 1 needed at 4p and 2 needed at 5p.

Friday, Jan. 16th – 1 needed at 2p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or call Gwen Finnegan at (608)393-8545.

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A Requiem Mass for the Unborn will be held at St. Mary’s Pine Bluff (3673 County Highway P, Cross Plains, WI) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22nd, 2015.  It is being held to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.  The Roe v. Wade decision was a U.S. Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in all 50 states. The decision transformed America overnight because all but 5 states had bans on abortion prior to this decision.  There have been over 56 million babies lost to abortions since this tragic decision that was made in 1973.

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Prayer for the Unborn Child

Almighty God, our Father,

you who have given us life

and intended us to have it forever,

grant us your blessings.

Enlighten our minds to an awareness

and to a renewed conviction

that all human life is sacred

because it is created

in your image and likeness.

Help us to teach by word

and the example of our lives

that life occupies the first place,

that human life is precious

because it is the gift of God

whose love is infinite.

Give us the strength to defend human life

against every influence

or action that threatens or weakens it,

as well as the strength

to make every life more human

in all its aspects.

Give us the grace…

When the sacredness of life

before birth is attacked,

to stand up and proclaim

that no one ever has the authority

to destroy unborn life.

When a child is described as a burden

or is looked upon only as a means

to satisfy an emotional need,

to stand up

and insist that every child is a unique

and unrepeatable gift of God,

a gift of God

with a right to a loving

and united family.

When the institution of marriage

is abandoned to human selfishness

or reduced to a temporary conditional arrangement

that can easily be terminated,

to stand up and affirm

the indissolubility of the marriage bond.

When the value of the family is threatened

because of social and economic pressure,

to stand up and reaffirm

that the family is necessary

not only for the private good of every person,

but also for the common good of every society,

nation and state.

When freedom is used to dominate the weak,

to squander natural resources and energy,

to deny basic necessities to people,

to stand up and affirm

the demands of justice and social love.

Almighty Father,

give us courage to proclaim the supreme dignity

of all human life and to demand

that society itself give its protection.

We ask this in your name,

through the redemptive act

of your Son and in the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

www.nmia.com/~iuzzolin/Eucharistia/Ministries/tidwell.html

The above link is a link to a painting that is called “Mother of the Unborn”.

“Miss Tidwell, an American artist, was inspired to paint this beautiful depiction of our Blessed Mother grieving over the millions of aborted babies.  Normally, a picture like this would take her months to finish.  She completed this in two hours.

The stars around Mary’s head represent the crown of the Woman of the Apocalypse (12.1): “A woman adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown.”  The large star is the “Star of Bethlehem”.  The rose colored ball in the lower left corner is the earth in turmoil. The glow of her most Immaculate heart is an evident sign of the tremendous love for all her children, especially the most helpless of all.

The incessant weeping over this horrendous evil has blackened her lovely eyes.  The baby’s Guardian Angel seems to be saddened over the death of his charge and grateful for the Blessed Mother’s care and concern.

The baby bears the five wounds of our Precious Savior.  Note, both baby and Angel are weeping and the baby’s hands are clasped in prayer.

The reason the Blessed Mother’s hand and fingernails are dirty is because she has to scoop and dig out these precious souls from the trash bins, garbage dumps, and as in Wichita, Kansas, from a pile ready to be burned with dead animals at their dog pound.”  (Rosary Novena for Life, Oct. 28 1992.)

Will you witness for life this week?

OPEN HOURS

Tuesday, 12/9 – Only 56% filled on this Abortion Day – 1 needed at 12p; 2 needed at 2p; 2 needed at 3p and 2 needed at 4p.

Wednesday, 12/10 – Just 25% filled on this Abortion Day – 1 needed at 8a; 2 needed at 9a; 2 needed at 10a; 1 needed at 11a; 2 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 1p; 2 needed at 2p; 2 needed at 3p and 2 needed at 4p.

Thursday, 12/11 – Only 44% filled – 2 needed at 9a; 2 needed at 10a; 1 needed at 11a; 2 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 3p and 2 needed at 5p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or call (608)393-8545 or e-mail info@vigilforllife.org.

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Empty Manger Caroling – Monday, December 22nd – 4p – 3706 Orin Rd., Madison, WI

Bring hope and joy to the sidewalk with Christmas carols.

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7th Annual Respect Life Retreat hosted by Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Vigil for Life – Friday, Dec. 19th & Sat., Dec. 20th.

Go to:www.facebook.com/events/975503229141938/

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Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Litany of Loreto)

“You, Lord, are our father,

our redeemer you are named forever.

Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways,

and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?

Return for the sake of your servants,

the tribes of your heritage.

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,

while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for,

such as they had not heard of from of old.

No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you

doing such deeds for those who wait for him.

Would that you might meet us doing right,

that we were mindful of you in our ways!

Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful;

all of us have become like unclean people,

all our good deeds are like polluted rags;

we have all withered like leaves,

and our guilt carries us away like the wind.

There is none who calls upon your name,

who rouses himself to cling to you;

for you have hidden your face from us

and have delivered us up to our guilt.

Yet, O Lord, you are our father;

we are the clay and you the potter;

we are all the work of your hands.”

Isaiah 63: 16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7

OPEN HOURS

Tuesday, Dec. 2 – Only 50% filled on this Abortion Day – 1 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 1p; 2 needed at 2p; 2 needed at 3p and 2 needed at 4p.

Wednesday, Dec. 3 – Just 35% filled on this Abortion Day – 1 needed at 8a; 2 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 10a; 2 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 2p; 2 needed at 3p; 2 needed at 4p and 2 needed at 5p.

Thursday, Dec. 4 – Only 50% filled on this busy Day at Planned Parenthood – 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 10a; 2 needed at 11a; 2 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 3p and 2 needed at 5p.

Friday, Dec. 5 – 75% filled – 1 needed at 2p.

To sign up for hours go to: vigilforlife.org/calendar/monthview or call (608)393-8545 or e-mailinfo@vigilforlife.org.

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Empty Manger Caroling – Monday, December 22nd – 4p – 3706 Orin Rd., Madison, WI

Bring hope and joy to the sidewalk with Christmas carols.

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7th Annual Respect Life Retreat hosted by Servants of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Vigil for Life – Friday, Dec. 19th & Sat., Dec. 20th.

Go to:  www.facebook.com/events/975503229141938/

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Lord of Life,

You wondrously formed us because

of Your Love and more wondrously

forgave us for falling away from You.

Please help us now as we struggle

against evil destroying your

innocent children.

Guide us to do all we can to defend

and protect life from the moment of

conception until natural death.

Amen.

(Father Groeschel 1933-2014)

A Pro-life Prayer for Thanksgiving Day

By: Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life

Father of mercies,
God of all creation,
Source of life and of every blessing,
We thank you today, and every day of our lives,
For all that you give us!

Our thanksgiving is not only a duty,
But a joy and a source of strength,
Because it reminds us of your faithful love,
And inspires us with the hope of a future filled with blessings!

Lord, we thank you for guiding our fathers,
Who, inspired by the prophets
And by the saving work of your Son,
Founded a nation where all might live as one,
Acknowledging their dependence on you
As the source of their right to life.

We thank you for your blessings in the past,
And for all that, with your help, we must yet achieve.

We ask you to bless us as we thank you,
That our giving thanks may be accompanied by our firm resolve
To proclaim, celebrate, and serve
The gift of human life, born and unborn.

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wishing you all a very wonderful Thanksgiving!

– The Vigil for Life Team