National Prayer for Life Campaign

Knights, Sisters of Life Urge Prayer for Life

At a Mass on May 3, commemorating the anniversary of the passing of His Eminence John CardinalO’Connor, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York initiated a National Prayer Campaign for Life,which is being co-sponsored by the Sisters of Life and the Knights of Columbus.

Knights, Catholics and all people of good will are invited to join in raising up a great prayer for life acrossthe nation through the daily recitation of this prayer:

The prayer campaign finds its inspiration in Pope John Paul II’s landmark encyclical Evangelium Vitae,No. 100:

“In this great endeavor to create a new culture of life we are inspired and sustained by the confidence thatcomes from knowing that the Gospel of life, like the Kingdom of God itself, is growing and producingabundant fruit (cf. Mk 4:26-29).

There is certainly an enormous disparity between the powerful resourcesavailable to the forces promoting the “culture of death” and the means at the disposal of those working for a“culture of life and love”. But we know that we can rely on the help of God, for whom nothing is impossible(cf. Mt 19:26).

Filled with this certainty, and moved by profound concern for the destiny of every man and woman, Irepeat what I said to those families who carry out their challenging mission amid so many difficulties: agreat prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through specialinitiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from everyChristian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer. Jesus himself has shown us by his own example that prayer and fasting are the first and mosteffective weapons against the forces of evil (cf. Mt 4:1-11). As he taught his disciples, some demons cannotbe driven out except in this way (cf. Mk 9:29). Let us therefore discover anew the humility and the courageto pray and fast so that power from on high will break down the walls of lies and deceit: the walls whichconceal from the sight of so many of our brothers and sisters the evil of practices and laws which are hostileto life. May this same power turn their hearts to resolutions and goals inspired by the civilization of life and love.”