"Thou shalt not kill"
(Exodus 20:13)
Reflection: God Our Father, Giver of Life, all life comes from You. When You commanded us not to kill, You gave us no exceptions. Yet we, Lord God, even some of us who are against abortion, seem to make exceptions in the case of rape. We seem to think, Dear Father, that the mothers of children conceived in rape should be allowed to abort their children. But why Lord? How can we forget that these children are Your children? How can we think that these children haven't got the right to live? Lord God, it's true that these women are victims who suffer tremendously but remind us Heavenly Father that the child is not the perpetrator. Remind us that the child conceived in rape is an innocent human being who deserves to live.
Today, think of those women who are victims of
rape. Offer a sacrifice or prayer for their needs and
the needs of the innocent children they bear. Pray that
they will choose life for the child and that they may
find the support they need to heal the hurts of rape.*
Prayer:
God and Father of Life,
You have created every human person,
And have opened the way for each
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
We live in the shadow of death.
Tens of millions of your children
have been killed because of the
Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion.
Father, have mercy on us,
Heal our world
And accept our offering
Father, have mercy on us,
Heal our world
And accept our offering
of prayer and penance.
In Your love for us,
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
And work together
to build a culture of life.
We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.
We pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.
(This prayer is from the Priests for Life website,
May God continue to bless us through their work for life!)
May God continue to bless us through their work for life!)
*There is a 25 minute (excellent and free) documentary available online
where two women, Nicole Cooley and Rebecca Kiessling, give their stories about
abortion and rape. Cooley was a victim of rape who sadly, thinking she was
making the right choice, aborted her child and Keissling is a child conceived
in rape. Their stories are different but today, for different reasons, they
both oppose abortion in the case of rape. This short episode http://www.facinglife.tv/episode/season_3/episode_8/episode_308.html
explains why and is definately worth your time. If you can, try to find time to
watch it.
