Piety and pro-life action coincide in the month of October, which is known both as the month of the Holy Rosary and Respect Life month. For decades, pro-life advocates have embraced the Rosary as a chain of hope for pregnant women and their preborn children.
By Maria V. Gallagher
I will never forget the sting of the wind whipping against my face as I stood shivering on the sidewalk, fingering my Rosary beads. I was part of the crowd of people who would stand before the Hillcrest abortion facility in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania each month, praying for the Blessed Mother’s intervention.
The prayers would prompt some women to escape the abortion center with their babies safely snuggled in their wombs. A few years ago, the Rosaries helped bring about the permanent closure of the facility — a true victory of Our Lady over the culture of death.
Noticeable effect
Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood center director who experienced a conversion and is now pro-life, has said that prayers offered outside an abortion center have a noticeable effect. Cancelled appointments are common when the Rosary is recited in the vicinity of an abortion facility.
Piety and pro-life action coincide in the month of October, which is known both as the month of the Holy Rosary and Respect Life month. For decades, pro-life advocates have embraced the Rosary as a chain of hope for pregnant women and their preborn children.
I recall one of my first activities in the pro-life movement was to participate in a Rosary Walk to an inner-city abortion center. For me, praying the Rosary is synonymous with saving the lives of precious babies and rescuing vulnerable mothers from the tragedy and trauma of abortion. Our Lady of Guadalupe,
Patroness of the Unborn
The Church entrusts the unborn to Our Lady, particularly under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She is considered a patroness of the pro-life movement, and her image is frequently displayed at pro-life gatherings. This is altogether fitting, since she is credited with ending the widespread child sacrifice that haunted Mexico at the time of her appearance to St. Juan Diego in the 16th century.
In my latest Marian Press book, Healing Encounters with Mary, I explain how contemplating the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary can heal our souls, bringing solace in the midst of our suffering.
Each week, I pray the Sorrowful Mysteries on behalf of pregnant women who are tempted to abort their babies because of abandonment, domestic violence, homelessness, or a lack of support from their family and friends. In this way, I entreat Mary to ask her beloved Son Jesus to intervene in the lives of these women so they will choose life for their children.
Rosary after Rosary
I recall when I was lobbying the Pennsylvania legislature to pass a bill that would ensure that no tax dollars would be spent on abortion in the Commonwealth’s health insurance exchange — an exchange created under Obamacare. I recited Rosary after Rosary in the parking garage near the State Capitol, begging the Blessed Mother to intercede on behalf of the babies and their mothers. The bill passed by two votes — votes I credit to Mary’s own lobbying of the Lord.
Since taxpayer funding causes the total number of abortions to increase, it is safe to say that, by blocking tax dollars from funding abortion, we saved many Pennsylvania lives that day. Persistently praying & pro-life
Now that I am Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, the Keystone State affiliate of National Right to Life, the Rosary is constantly by my side as I work to protect the lives of the vulnerable. I have the comforting feeling that Mary is looking out for babies and their moms, and I can commend them to Mary’s protection.
If you are not currently a devotee of the Rosary, I suggest starting small — maybe one decade per day. You can then build up your spiritual muscles to accommodate a daily Rosary. I found that my life took a sudden turn for the better when I began praying the Rosary on a daily basis. It’s a prayer that carries with it tremendous power and hope!
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us!
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn, pray for us!
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