Every year, Catholics in the United States commit to pray for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children on January 22, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision in the Supreme Court. “In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.”1
We can participate in this day of prayer in any number of ways.
Gather with your local community
Many parishes and dioceses organize special events on or around January 22 to share in this communal day of prayer. For example, my parish is having an afternoon holy hour that includes the students at the grade school. Check with your parish or diocese to see what might be happening near you.
Pray
Mass and the Rosary are always great opportunities to pray for a special intention. Consider attending a daily Mass today or offering a Rosary for the intention of “the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life."
The USCCB also has a webpage dedicated entirely to pro-life prayers. It includes stations of the cross, intercessions, a guide to a Holy Hour for Life based on the reflections of St. Pope John Paul II and a very beautiful Litany for Life based on 1 Corinthians 12 and 13. Consider using these aids in your prayer today.
Fast
In Mark 9, the disciples encounter an especially entrenched and insidious demon; it will not leave the boy and worse it is “bent on killing the child.” When Christ intervenes and casts out the demon, the disciples wonder why they could not do it themselves. The reply from the Lord: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.”
Fasting has been a mainstay of the Church’s prayer from the very beginning. Consider fasting today through any of the usual means: one normal meal and two smaller ones; giving up technology, entertainment or sweets; abstaining from meat. You might also get more creative and devise your own suitable penance like taking the bus to work instead of driving or coming up with a penance to do as a family.
Give Alms
To give alms on a day like today, consider something related to the occasion. Most of us have pregnancy or maternity resource centers in our community. Give them a call and see what they need. It may be something adorable (onesies!) or something mundane (wet wipes?). In any case, resolve to do your best to help in the way that they ask before you make the call.
In all this, remember to offer your prayers, fasting and almsgiving for "the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life.”
