Each year on Jan. 22, we, Catholics in the United States, observe a day of fasting and prayer for the legal protection of the unborn. This day marks the anniversary of the tragic 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion across the United States. Since then, over 60 million innocent lives have been destroyed — more than the population of entire nations.
At today’s Mass we read, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” (Mk 3:4). These words remind us of our obligation to protect and defend life. While the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 was a monumental moment for life, the fight is far from over.
Laws across many states and at the federal level still threaten the dignity and rights of the preborn. Jennie Bradley Lichter, the president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, told me in an interview in the January issue of Our Sunday Visitor Magazine: “A lot of recent ballot initiatives in the last couple of years haven’t gone our way. But all the things that the pro-life movement is fighting for, our call to action, doesn’t change.” Today, more than ever, we are called to unite in prayer and action for the protection of all human life.
The tragedy of abortion grieves the heart of God, as it rejects his precious gift of life. Each child, lovingly knit in the womb by the Creator, bears his image and is a reflection of his love. The loss of these lives leaves a profound wound — not only in families but in our society. Yet, even in the face of such loss, hope remains. The mission of Jesus Christ was — and is — to redeem our sins, heal our brokenness and offer us his peace.
Healing is possible
The mercy of God is infinite. No sin, including abortion, is beyond his forgiveness. For those who carry the burden of abortion, his arms are open wide, ready to pour out healing and grace. Through the Sacrament of Confession, we are invited to experience this boundless mercy, no matter how deep the wound. If you or someone you know is suffering after abortion, compassionate help is available through ministries such as Project Rachel. Healing is possible because God’s love never fails. I know this firsthand, having served as a chaplain for several Project Rachel retreats.
Today, as we pray and fast, let us remember that the Gospel teaches us that where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. Our prayers and sacrifices today are a powerful means of calling down God’s grace upon a world in desperate need of healing and conversion. Together, we can witness to the unshakable truth of the dignity of every human life, from conception to natural death.
Let us pray,
God our Creator, we give thanks to you, who alone have the power to impart the breath of life as you form each of us in our mother’s womb; grant, we pray, that we, whom you have made stewards of creation, may remain faithful to this sacred trust and constant in safeguarding the dignity of every human life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
