So throughout the United States today, U.S. Catholics are engaged in prayer for the restored legal protection of the unborn. Many brave people have traveled to our nation’s capital, in the middle of a blizzard expecting 18 to 24 inches of snow, to witness to and pray for life. We certainly support them in our prayers and celebrate today a Mass for justice.
Justice demands the right to life. From the moment of conception, a human being has a God given right to life no matter the attitude of his mother or father or the state. We pray that soon “a people who walk in darkness will see a great light,” as we read in our first reading. Darkness covers this land, the darkness of error, of selfishness, and the devaluation of human life.
Pope Francis recently said, “All too often, as we know from experience, people do not choose life, they do not accept the ‘Gospel of Life’ but let themselves be led by ideologies and ways of thinking that block life, that do not respect life, because they are dictated by selfishness, self-interest, profit, power and pleasure, and not by love, by concern for the good of others.”
This liturgy for life and justice calls for the wearing of purple vestments: purple, the color of grief and prayerful penance. We grieve the abundance of sin and murder occurring on a daily basis for 43 years. And we do penance even for those who do not repent. And we commit ourselves to praying and working for authentic justice for the unborn. For we trust in the Lord's words from our Gospel today, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied."
Pope Francis, speaking of the defense of life said, “Defend the Unborn against abortion even if they persecute you calumniate you set traps for you take you to court or kill you.” For, “The right to life” he wrote, “is the first human right. Abortion is killing someone that cannot defend him or herself.”
We also know, that the Holy Father has taken special measures during this year of Mercy, to announce God’s forgiveness to all those who have procured abortion. For though our sins be abhorrent, often vile, God’s mercy is greater.
We hope and pray today, in the words of our Psalm, that “Justice shall flourish in our time, and fullness of peace forever”. For the glory of God and salvation of souls.
---Petitions---
That the leaders and members of the Church may fulfill with joy their calling to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life, we pray to the Lord…
That the Church, the People of Life, may bear joyful witness that each human life comes from God, belongs to God, and is meant to return to God, we pray to the Lord.
That Court decisions which permit the destruction of innocent life may be resisted and ultimately reversed, we pray to the Lord…
In thanksgiving for the many children who have been saved from abortion through the efforts of the pro-life movement, we pray to the Lord…
That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, we pray to the Lord...
That all medical professionals involved in the practices of abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia, may experience conversion of mind and heart and cease these activities, we pray to the Lord…
For all women who have had abortions, that they may seek out and experience God’s tender mercy, we pray to the Lord.
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