Day Eight: Nine Days for Life

Prayer, Penance and Pilgrimage Novena: Day Eight

On January 22 our nation will mark the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal throughout the U.S.  Since that tragic decision, more than 56 million children's lives have been lost to abortion, and many suffer that loss -- often in silence.  The USCCB invites us to join thousands of Catholics across the country coming together in prayer for a "culture of life" from January 17-25.  Here's day eight:

Intercession: For an end to all domestic violence.

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be

Reflection: “A correct reading of Scripture leads people to an understanding of the equal dignity of men and women and to relationships based on mutuality and love. Beginning with Genesis, Scripture teaches that women and men are created in God's image.” ("When I Call for Help: A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women," USCCB 2002. See: www.bit.ly/WhenICallForHelp).

Acts of Reparation (choose one):

• Do you love your cup of tea or coffee in the morning? Fast from caffeine today, or try your coffee black.

• Learn how to pray the Angelus prayer, and consider saying it every day— on awakening, at noon, or at 6 p.m. (or all three times).

• Give up your favorite form (or all forms) of social media for the day. Spend some of the extra time meditating upon a Scripture verse or passage.

One Step Further:

Three in four Americans are reported to know a victim of domestic violence. Learn to recognize some of the signs in “Life Matters: Domestic Violence,” which discusses the painful assault on human dignity that is domestic violence. Read the article at www.bit.ly/LifeMattersDomesticViolence. (See also: “Domestic Violence” at www.bit.ly/FYMDomesticViolence. Other resources are available at www.bit.ly/USCCBDomesticViolence.)

If you believe someone you know may be in a troubled situation, you should call a hotline number for assistance, or encourage the person to do so themselves (911, the local hotline, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233/ TTY 1-800-787-3224).
 

Click here to visit the USCCB novena site.