Members of Dundee’s local pro-life groups keep a prayer vigil along the road to the city’s Ninewells Hospital.
40 Days for Life is a growing movement which aims to promote respect for unborn children and their mothers.
The choice of 40 Days in the title chimes well with the 40 Days of Lent (a time of renewed focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving). The Rosary and associated prayers are said.
Justice
Fasting takes the theme of hungering for justice. Almsgiving involves reaching beyond ourselves to those most in need and giving of our time to protect the unborn. And Lent of course points us beyond this life to the joy of the Risen Lord.
Statistics
The latest figures produced by the Information Services Division of the NHS in Scotland show that in 2017 12,212 unborn children were killed by abortion in Scotland. That is 235 every week.
The vigil acts as a witness against these figures. If approached and asked, participants are able to point mothers-to-be in the direction of supportive agencies such as the Sisters of the Gospel of Life where counselling and practical help are available.
Abortion recovery
We can also direct women who have had an abortion to agencies such as ARCH (Abortion Recovery, Care and Helpline) which also provides counselling and practical advice. This prayerful and essentially silent witness seems to be bearing fruit.
Perhaps instead of (or as well as) giving up sweets or whatever for Lent next year we could consider giving time to this movement recalling the words of Jesus: “Could you not watch one hour with me?”
The vigil continues – from Noon until 2pm – 7 days a week AND Mondau – Thursday evenings from 6-7pm.
If you can offer your support please contact – Philip Kearns – Pjkearns15@gmail.com