March for Life 2023: When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the Truth

Yesterday Maureen and I went on our annual pilgrimage to downtown Ottawa in defense of preborn children at the annual March for Life. This year we were joined by our friend Jackie, who hopes to join us every year now. 

We took a lot of pictures and you can see them all here on Maureen's blog. Those pictures were a collaboration between Maureen, myself and the Holy Spirit.

As always, we went to St Pat's Basilica to celebrate Mass in Ottawa. There was a wonderful very pro-life homily given by Auxiliary Bishop Yvan Mathieu who inspired all of us to stand firm against abortion and euthanasia.

Next, we went to get something to eat, but not before we visited the abortion site where we said a Hail Mary for the children killed there. Maureen and I showed off our pro-life socks for a picture; mine were of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Maureen's were of St. Joseph and Baby Jesus. Pretty darned pro-life if you ask me. This picture is also on Maureen's site.

A few highlights/lowlights:

• The usual pro-abortions were also on the Hill, yelling their requisite obscenities at us. But that was countered with two awesome facts. A priest prayed over them from where he stood on our side of the fence. You can see his picture at Maureen's blog. I don't know his name, if I did I would send him a thank you note. It didn't occur to me at the time to thank him, but I wish I had. As well, there were some teenage boys on our side of the fence who were praying Hail Mary's as the pro-abortions were screaming. Good job boys.

• On the March itself, I saw two other teenage boys get the finger from a woman probably old enough to be their grandmother. The boys simply waved back at her.

• Then there was the lady sitting on the sidewalk with a megaphone, tattoos, and a pit bull making the usual noises about my body, my choice. The girl, not the dog. I think a pit bull is an appropriate mascot for a pro-abortion.

• I also met Pete Baklinski from CLC. We had never met in person before. Pete sends out an awesome pro-life bits email every week, summarizing the week's pro-life news. I'm pretty sure that there is a lot of effort put into this email and I very much appreciate Pete's work on it.

• Finally, Fr. Rob gave a great homily this morning where he spoke about John 15.12-17 and how God speaks about laying down our lives for one's friends. And he asked us, what about laying down our lives for our enemies, those who are difficult to love? This was a really good reminder for me to pray often, for those screamers we saw on the March yesterday, especially to pray for the doctors who perform abortion and euthanasia. They really really really need our prayers.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pray for us. And pray for the conversion of the pro-abortions, that their hearts will be opened to to the harm they do to women and their children.

Praying for women and for pro-life people

I think this just about covers praying for all people in the pro-life movement. A group of us began praying this today. And we will continue to pray it.

LITANY of LIFE

Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy
Christ, have mercy. Christ have mercy
Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

RESPONSE to the following.
Have mercy on us.

God the Father, Creator of the world,
God the Son, through Whom all things were made,
God the Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life,
Lord Jesus, the Beginning and the End,
Lord Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life,
Lord Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life,
Lord Jesus, Eternal Word of Life,
Lord Jesus, living in the womb of the Virgin Mary,
Lord Jesus, Lover of the poor and weak,
Lord Jesus, Defender of the helpless,
Lord Jesus, Bread of Life,
For every sin against life,
For the sin of abortion,
For the daily killing of innocent babies,
For the bloodshed throughout our land,
For the silent screams of Your children,
For the killing of Your future disciples,
For the exploitation of women by abortion,
For the silence of Your people,
For the apathy of Your people,
For the co-operation of Your people in this tragedy,
For our preborn brothers and sisters killed by abortion,

RESPONSE to the following
Lord, hear our prayer.

For our preborn brothers and sisters threatened by abortion,
For our brothers and sisters who have survived abortion,
For mothers who have had abortions,
For mothers tempted to have abortions,
For mothers pressured to have abortions,
For mothers who have refused to have abortions,
For the fathers of aborted babies,
For the families of aborted babies,
For the families of those tempted to have abortions,
For the conversion of abortionists,
For all who assist and cooperate in abortions,
For an end to contraception,
For doctors and nurses, that they may nurture life,
For government leaders, that they may defend life,
For clergy, that they may speak up for life,
For protection for the vulnerable against euthanasia,
For the pro-life movement,
For those who speak, write, and work to end abortion,
For those who help pregnant women,
For those who promote adoption,
For national and local pro-life groups,
For unity in the pro-life movement,
For courage and perseverance in pro-life work,
For those who suffer ridicule and rejection for their stand for life,
For those imprisoned for defending life,
For those who have been injured and mistreated for defending life,
For legal professionals,
For courts and judges,
For police officers,
For educators,
For media professionals,
In thanksgiving for the babies saved from abortion,
In thanksgiving for the mothers saved from abortion,
In thanksgiving for the mothers healed from abortion,
In thanksgiving for the former abortion providers who have become pro-life,
In thanksgiving for all those who take a stand against abortion,
In thanksgiving for the call to be part of the pro-life movement,
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
O Lord, Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Almighty and everlasting God, You have created all things through Your Son, Jesus Christ. He trampled the power of death by His Paschal Mystery. May all who acknowledge You, promote the sacredness of life, and always serve You faithfully, through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

All the writings of Fr. Jim Whalen here. Maureen saved them all after they were removed from Priests For Life Canada's website.