From Our Hearts

In today's Gospel (Matthew 5:17-37), Jesus takes the old law to a new level.  He tells us that obedience to the commandments is more than just external actions.  What really matters, Jesus says, is our true intent and what comes from our hearts.

  

When we stand in witness on the sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood, our external actions are driven by what comes from our hearts.  Our intent is to witness for life and our love of it.  We are there to ask from our hearts that they choose life for their baby.  Our intent is to witness for Jesus and our love for Him.  We are there to bring Jesus' mercy, hope and healing from our hearts to the mothers who have just lost their babies to abortion.  

 

Please bring your witness for life, love and Jesus to the sidewalk this week!  (The weather forecast is looking very favorable!)

 

OPEN HOURS

 

Monday, 2/17 (28 degrees ABOVE zero) - 75% filled; 1 needed at 9a.

 

Tuesday, 2/18 (37 degrees ABOVE zero) - Only 38% filled on this ABORTION DAY - 2 needed at 9a; 2 needed at 10a; 2 needed at 12p; 2 needed at 1p; 2 needed at 4p; and 2 needed at 5p.

 

Wednesday, 2/19 (36 degrees ABOVE zero) - Just 60% filled on this ABORTION DAY - 1 needed at 8a; 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 1p; 1 needed at 2p; 2 needed at 4p; and 2 needed at 5p.

 

Thursday, 2/20 (37 degrees ABOVE zero) - 80% filled - 2 needed at 5p.

 

Friday, 2/21 (32 degrees ABOVE zero) - 75% filled - 1 needed at 2p.

 

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PROPOSED BUFFER ZONE GAG RULE ORDINANCE UPDATE

 

The buffer zone gag rule proposed by the Madison City Council has passed through two committees: the Public Safety Committee and the Board of Health for Madison and Dane County. It now moves on to the Common Council at the end of this month (February 2014) for a vote.  Vigil for Life has given testimony at both committee meetings through one representative and will do the same for the Common Council meeting - only this one representative is speaking for Vigil for Life.

 

Please pray for God's will to be done with the vote by the Common Council.

 

Here is a link to a guest column in today's WSJ regarding this buffer zone gag rule:

 

host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/column/guest/matt-bowman-madison-should-respect-free-speech-for-faith/article_325dc921-7d5a-5b5c-bf8e-e2a25014c70c.html

 

Salt and Light

All gospel reflections and homilies for this weekend's Gospel (Matthew 5:13-16) point to the need for us as followers of Christ Jesus to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" through our deeds and actions in order to more fully give Glory to God.  

"In today's Angelus address, Pope Francis cautioned that if a Christian loses this light, “his life doesn’t make sense.  He is a Christian in name only.”   Departing from his prepared remarks, the pontiff turned to query the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “I want to ask you now, how do you want to live? As a lamp that is lit, or one that is off?”

“I can’t hear your response!” he said, urging the crowd to reply louder.

“A lit lamp!” he affirmed, “This is the Christian vocation!”   

Such a calling extends to all Christians, the Pope explained. “All of us who are baptized are missionary disciples and we are called to become a living gospel in the world: with a holy life we will give ‘flavor’ to diverse settings and preserve them from decay, as salt does.” ("A Christian must give light to the world urges Pope" By: Kerri Lenartowick.)  

In other words, we have not been called to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" unto ourselves but unto others.

Please bring your salt and light to the sidewalk this week.

OPEN HOURS

Monday, 2/10 - 100% filled - Praise God!

Tuesday, 2/11 - Just 50% filled on this Abortion Day - 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 10a; 1 needed at 11a;  2 needed at 1p; 1 needed at 2p; 1 needed at 3p and 1 needed at 4p.

Wednesday, 2/12 - 75% filled on this Abortion Day - 1 needed at 11a; 1 needed at 12p; 1 needed at 4p and 2 needed at 5p.

Thursday, 2/13 - 60% filled - 1 needed at 2p and 1 needed at 3p.

Friday, 2/14 - 100% filled - Praise God!

For love, light and life -

Gwen 

Prayer

Dear Friends of Vigil for Life - 

Prayer Warriors from time to time wonder if their prayers on the sidewalk are helpful and if what they are doing matters and makes a difference.  St. Alphonsus Liguori was (and through his many writings still is today) a great teacher of prayer.  Below is an excerpt from one of his writings that assures us all that our prayers on the sidewalk are indeed very helpful and that what we are doing is very important!

Excellence of Prayer and Its Power With God by St. Alphonsus Liguori (from The Necessity and Power of Prayer)

"Our prayers are so dear to God, that he has appointed the angels to present them to him as soon as they come forth from our mouths. 'The angels,' says St. Hilary, 'preside over the prayers of the faithful, and offer them daily to God.' This is that smoke of the incense, which are the prayers of saints, which St. John saw ascending to God from the hands of the angels (Apoc. 8,3); and which he saw in another place represented by golden phials full of sweet odors, very acceptable to God. But in order to understand better the value of prayers in God's sight, it is sufficient to read both in the Old and New Testaments the innumerable promises which God makes to the man that prays. Cry to me, and l will hear you (Ps. 49,15). Call upon me, and I will deliver you (Jer. 33,3). Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. He shall give good things to them that ask him (Mt. 7,7). Everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds (Lk. 11,10). Whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father (Jn 15,7). All things whatsoever you ask when you pray, believe that you shall receive them, and they shall come to you (Mt. 18,19). If you ask me anything in my name, that will I do (Jn 14,14). You shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done to you. Amen, amen, l say to you, if you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it to you (Jn 16,23)."

Please bring your prayers to the sidewalk this week.

OPEN HOURS 

Monday, 2/3 - 100% filled; Praise God whose love endures forever.

Tuesday, 2/4 - Only 13% filled on this Abortion Day - 1 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 10a; 2 needed at 11a; 2 needed at 12p; 2 needed at 1p; 2 needed at 2p; 2 needed at 3p and 2 needed at 4p.

Wednesday, 2/5 - Just 25% filled on this Abortion Day - 2 needed at 8a; 2 needed at 9a; 1 needed at 10a; 1 needed at 11a;  1 needed at 12p; 2 needed at 1p; 1 needed at 2p; 2 needed at 3p; 2 needed at 4p and 2 needed at 5p.

Thursday, 2/6 - 80% filled - 1 needed at 2p and 1 needed at 3p.

Friday, 2/7 - 100% filled; Praise God whose love endures forever.