As a Catholic, I am impressed and inspired by the great, consistent, pro-life leadership shown by the Good Counsel Network, a pro-life group founded on devoutly Catholic spirituality. As Fr Tim Finigan, the well-known Catholic blogger, has pointed out, their work is "solidly based on a life of prayer".This Tuesday, 12th January, they commemorate the 13th anniversary of their foundation - a truly historic date for the ever-growing number of mothers and babies they've saved from abortion. The Good Counsel Network is marking this anniversary with a day of prayer and fasting. I am delighted to commend this initiative to Catholic and to non-Catholic readers alike.
Such Catholic pro-life leadership is sorely needed particularly in a country in which the Catholic authorities shamefully co-operate with a government which provides schoolchildren in Catholic schools with confidential access to abortion and contraception. This is a result of the Catholic Education Service's ambiguous policies.
Instead of such co-operation with the pro-"choice" culture of death, " ... what is urgently called for is a general mobilization of consciences and a united ethical effort to activate a great campaign in support of life ... ", as Pope John Paul II put it in Evangelium Vitae (95).
Personally, I believe strongly in fasting - but I believe (like the Good Counsel Network) that this can be from giving up a favourite food or drink, to more serious fasting. Please read their appeal below. I will be joining them - in reparation for the government's policy in promoting abortion amongst schoolchildren and for the actions of those who co-operate with that policy.
The Good Counsel Network writes:
On Tuesday 12th January, the eve of the 13th anniversary of the founding of The Good Counsel Network in the UK, please pray and fast for the end of abortion and euthanasia. Your prayer and fasting is urgently needed.Comments on this blog? Email them to johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk
A great prayer for life is urgently needed. Pope John Paul II
Join us each month in prayer and fasting:
And He said to them; This kind (of demon) can go out by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (Gospel of Mark 9:29)
- fasting: Fast from all food except bread and water for the day or fast from a particular food or luxury, e.g. chocolate, alcohol, cigarettes, TV. Fast from whatever you can given your state of health etc, but make sure it is something that involves a sacrifice to yourself.
- prayer: We are asking people to say a Rosary (or an extra Rosary if you say it daily already). You could also offer an extra effort such as going to Mass (or an extra Mass) on the day, or going to Adoration. You can even pray before a closed tabernacle if Adoration is not available near you.
For information on the day of prayer and fasting contact The Good Counsel Network on 020 7723 1740.
And the people of Ninevah believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least…God saw their efforts to renounce their evil ways. And God relented about the disaster which He had threatened to bring on them, and He did not bring it. (Jonah 3:5,10)
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