WASHINGTON, D.C., January 13, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – The U.S. Bishops are calling on the faithful to take part in a digital novena to honor the sanctity of human life around the Roe v. Wade anniversary.
“Your prayers matter and your sacrifices make a difference,” states one of the messages from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Pro-Life Committee’s Nine Days For Life campaign.
“Each January 22 our nation marks the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case which legalized abortion during all nine months of pregnancy,” the Bishops explained in their invitation to participate. “Since that tragic decision, more than 56 million children's lives have been lost to abortion, and many suffer that loss — often in silence.”
“As Catholics, we recognize the inherent dignity of every person in every circumstance and at every stage of life — from conception to death,” they continued. “Yet we continue to see many threats to life and violence against it. We cannot look the other way.”
Lasting from January 21 through January 29, the Nine Days For Life campaign offers Catholics resources to pray and take action focused on “cherishing the gift of every person’s life.”
Materials for prayer, organizing local gatherings, and a digital media toolkit are part of the novena, as is the hashtag #9daysforlife. Participants in the USCCB campaign can stay in touch via a free mobile app, text message, email, or social media.
The USCCB observes January 22 as a “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children” and, according to the Bishops, the predominant intention of the novena is the end to abortion.
Anyone can join in as an individual, but the Bishops encourage parish leaders, dioceses, schools, and other organizations to raise awareness and invite others to participate.
Hard copy resources are offered as well, including pulpit and bulletin announcements, a flyer and graphics for bulletins, email, web pages, and newspapers. The resources include daily prayers that also come in Spanish.
New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the USCCB chair for the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, is featured in the promotional video, stating, “Nine Days For Life is a great way to put our faith into action.”
Specifics can be found at 9daysforlife.com.