The Pro-Life Rosary
by Peggy Bowes | September 28, 2013 12:01 am
Photography © by Andy Coan
“Every child that isn’t born, but is unjustly condemned to be aborted, has the face of Jesus Christ, has the face of the Lord.” (Pope Francis)
October is the Month of the Rosary and the 40 Days for Life campaign began on September 25th. I urge every Catholic to pray the Rosary not only for an end to abortion but also for healing and forgiveness for those who have been affected by abortion. I also ask you to pray that the pro-life community will do God’s will to change hearts and minds through love and prayer.
I often pray the Rosary for pro-life intentions, especially during the 40 Days for Life campaigns. Usually I pray the Sorrowful Mysteries, which somehow seem more appropriate, but recently I was inspired to pray the Joyful Mysteries. As I meditated, I thought of how each mystery gives a wonderful pro-life message.
At the time of The Annunciation, Mary was a young, unwed girl who faced the prospect of death if her impending pregnancy was made known. Yet she trusted in God’s will for her even though it would drastically change her life. An unplanned pregnancy can be very frightening. We can pray that women in this situation will be open to God’s plan and trust in his heavenly aid.
At The Visitation, Mary brought the unborn Jesus out into the world as she journeyed to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Even in the womb, our Lord was able to affect others, causing Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit and her own unborn baby to leap for joy. Let us pray that more people will realize that an unborn child is a unique person who will make an impact on the world.
The Nativity gives us a scene of the joy of new life. Jesus was born in the most humble circumstances, but he was surrounded by love and joy. Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the angels, the animals and even kings from far away bent down to worship the newborn Savior. God chose to be very humble, very helpless, and very little. Pray that expectant parents will see the baby as a gift from God regardless of how desperate and hopeless the circumstances of their lives may seem.
When Mary and Joseph take the infant Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem at The Presentation, they must first offer a sacrifice. Raising a child involves many sacrifices. Unfortunately, our modern culture emphasizes selfishness and comfort and many are not accustomed to sacrifices and selflessness. Please pray that parents will willingly make sacrifices for their children, not to give them everything that they desire, but to teach them the virtue of temperance, or self-control.
At The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, Jesus is becoming a young man with his own ideas and dreams, yet he still obeys his parents. We can pray that parents will encourage their children’s dreams and desires while helping them to discern their vocations through frequent prayer.
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Source URL: https://integratedcatholiclife.org/2013/09/peggy-bowes-the-pro-life-rosary/