When the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the Catholic community was horrified. Babies came under attack in the place where they should be the safest – in their mother’s womb. This year marks the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, with over 60 million abortions performed in the United States since the decision.
Today, on January 22, as we observe the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, we invite you to reflect upon these prayers for life – for the unborn, for medical professionals and researchers, and for the advocates for life.
Prayer from Pope John Paul II
Please God you may continue, closely united with one another, to be a force of renewal and hope in our society. May the Lord help you to work ceaselessly to enable all, believers and non-believers alike, to understand that protection of human life from conception is an essential condition for building a future worthy of the human being.
Prayer for Life
Father and maker of all,
you adorn all creation
with splendor and beauty,
and fashion human lives
in your image and likeness.
Awaken in every heart
reverence for the work of your hands,
and renew among your people
a readiness to nurture and sustain
your precious gift of life.
Grant this through our Lord
Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in
the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God forever and ever.
Amen
Prayer for Life and Dignity
Eternal God, creator and sustainer of life,
bless us with the courage to defend all life
from conception to natural death.
Bless us with the strength to respect all peoples
from east to west, from north to south,
so that we may truly follow the call of Jesus to be neighbor.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Novena Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe, we turn to you
who are the protectress of unborn children
and ask that you intercede for us,
so that we may more firmly resolve to join you
in protecting all human life.
Let our prayers be united
to your perpetual motherly intercession
on behalf of those whose lives are threatened,
be they in the womb of their mother,
on the bed of infirmity, or in the latter years of their life.
May our prayers also be coupled with peaceful action
which witnesses to the goodness and dignity
of all human life, so that our firmness of purpose
may give courage to those who are fearful
and bring light to those who are blinded by sin.
Encourage those who will be involved in the
March for Life; help them to walk closely with God
and to give voice to the cry of the oppressed,
in order to remind our nation of its commitment to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people.
O Virgin Mother of God, present our petitions
to your Son and ask Him to bless us with abundant life.
Prayer for Those in the Medical Profession
For medical researchers:
that they may be inspired and strengthened
by a love for every human person,
from the first moment of conception;
We pray to the Lord:
For medical researchers:
that inspired by the beauty of human life
they might seek to be co-workers with God
in fulfillment of his divine plan;
We pray to the Lord:
For doctors:
who in their practice abort unborn children:
that God might give them the grace
to turn from sin and remember the Gospel;
We pray to the Lord:
For those who study medicine:
that they may be driven by a desire
to heal and protect every human person;
We pray to the Lord:
For doctors, nurses and other medical personnel,
especially those tempted by abortion:
that God might change their hearts
and give them the conviction
of the Gospel of Life;
We pray to the Lord:
For doctors who perform abortions,
and for those who assist them:
that by our love, patience,
and unswerving dedication to the truth,
they might be drawn closer to the Lord of life;
We pray to the Lord:
For teachers in schools of medicine and nursing:
that their love for life and healing
might inspire their students;
We pray to the Lord:
For medical researchers,
and all scientists:
that the holy work they do may ever be guided by God;
We pray to the Lord:
For all new doctors:
for the grace of faith, courage, and love of life;
We pray to the Lord:
Prayers for Pro-Life Advocates
For those who pray before abortion clinics,
who march for life,
or who witness to the rights of all human beings:
that God might strengthen and guide them;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who work for an end to abortion:
that they might be strengthened by prayer,
and that God might reward them for their goodness;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who work to defend life:
that God might reward them for their faithfulness;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who work for life:
and especially those who pray at abortion clinics,
that God might reward them for their prayers;
We pray to the Lord:
For those who work to defend the lives of the unborn,
the sick, the infirm, and the aged:
those who defend humanity’s inalienable right to life;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who work for an end to the culture of death,
and especially for our brothers and sisters
from other churches, ecclesial communions, and religions,
that love for the Gospel of Life might draw us closer in Christ;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who work for life:
that they might be assured
of our gratitude and prayers
for the holy work they do.
We pray to the Lord.
Sources:
Prayer from Pope John Paul II
Prayer for Life
Prayer for Those in the Medical Profession
Prayers for Pro-Life Advocates (excerpt)
Prayer for Life and Dignity
Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, USCCB
2021 National Prayer Vigil for Life
We also invite you to join us next week as we celebrate the 2021 National Prayer Vigil for Life on Thursday, January 28, through Friday, January 29. Please note that, due to COVID-19 restrictions, there are significant changes to the schedule and limitations for in-person participation. However, we invite you to participate virtually via livestream.