Day of Penance & Prayer 2008

Just a reminder that today is the day that the Catholic Church has set aside for people to pray & do acts of penance in reperation for the sin of abortion in the USA. Mass is a part of it. But each of us are expected to do something else in addition to Mass. This could include fasting of some sort (a favorite food or drink, a meal, TV, cell phone etc), praying an extra rosary, or spending some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle (at least 15 minutes to a half an hour) or at an Adoration Chapel, give alms (esp to a Pro-Life organization like Birthright or your local Right to Life group), spend extra time reading Scripture, or pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. These are just a few of the specific things you can do. But we are expected to do something.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has some resources for prayer on their website. They include: Rosaries for Life (meditaions for the Luminous, Sorrowful & Glorious Mysteries), A Holy Hour for Life: Prayers Before the Blessed Sacrament (There is also A Holy Hour for Life that is intended for a liturgical exposition but the Scriptures, etc are good for personal reflection as well.), Litanies for Life, & Intercessions for Life (These are mainly for Mass but can be adapted for your personal prayer time.). So, now you have no excuse not to do something.

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 penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass “For Peace and Justice” (no. 22 of the “Masses for Various Needs”) should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373

(Image:Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus by Guido Reni)