01 February 2013

Life Advocacy Days in Springfield to be held April 8-12

The Bishops of the Dioceses of Illinois are inviting the faithful to participate in Life Advocacy Days, the purpose of which, writes the Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield in Illinois, in a February 1st letter, "will be to make our voices heard regarding legislation in conflict with Catholic teaching and belief."

Sponsored by the Catholic Conference of Illinois, the Life Advocacy Days will begin on the Feast of the Annunciation, April 8th, and run through April 12, 2013.  A special lobby day at the Capitol will be held on April 10th, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

To help mark the Life Advocacy Days, Bishop Paprocki has called for special prayers on the Feast of the Annunciation: "perhaps a Holy Hour, Mass for Blessing Unborn Children, a parish rosary, etc."

Father Stephen A. Thompson has written a written a prayer for the Life Advocacy Days, which His Excellency has asked be printed in parish bulletins during the months of March and April:

Gracious and merciful God, we ask that you send your Spirit among us to guide us and direct us in order to inspire all of our political leaders to advance the culture of life in their duty to uphold the common good for all the people they serve. 
You sent your Son Jesus to teach us how to pray, how to serve you in obedience and how to be the people you are calling us to be. 
You inspire us each and every day to appreciate the gifts you bestow upon us and to use them to change the hearts and minds of all people. 
The most precious gift you have given to us is the gift of life and you call us to be good stewards of all your creation. 
Help us to cultivate a spirit of prayer and of reconciliation for the  lack of due diligence in protecting the most vulnerable among us; the children who are forgotten, abandoned and thought of as an inconvenience to the welfare  of societies. 
Inspire all those in public office to protect the dignity of the unborn and those who are living who are deemed unfit to receive our care. 
Help us to receive your wisdom so that we may know how best to serve you and your people. 
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Bishop Paprocki stresses that "it is critical that all our voices be heard."

Please, join in this important effort and keep an eye on your parish bulletin for more information as the Life Advocacy Days draw closer.

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