As affiliates of the Sisters of Life, we'd like to share this with you:

Dear Co-Worker of Life-

Please see below for our April Co-Worker of Life meditation and prayer intentions for the women and children we are serving in our Visitation Mission. May God bless you and your families!

In Christ our Life,

The Sisters of Life Visitation and Co-Worker of Life Missions

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Blessed is she who Believed

Josephine had plans for her life: she was working and getting ready to go back to school; she even had a ‘vision board’ with all of her goals for the future. Getting pregnant before marriage was not one of them. When she found out that she was pregnant, one of the first things she did was find a priest to go to Confession. But the pressure from everyone around her was too strong and she made an appointment for an abortion. At the clinic, she saw a sonogram of her baby and received the grace to walk out. Then she remembered that the priest had given her our number and she called us. Now, just 24 hours later, she was kneeling in our chapel and praying this prayer:

“Lord, I do believe that you have a great plan for me and this baby. I know that you will take care of me like you have always taken care of me.  I’m sorry for all of my sins; please forgive me. You know that this is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to face. It’s scary, but I believe everything will be okay.  I thank You, Lord, for all the many blessings of my life, and I thank You for the gift of this baby.”

As she prayed this prayer, I was deeply touched by her courage and her extraordinary faith. It struck me that this simple yet profound prayer could teach all of us so much about the mercy of God and how to receive that mercy.

The first thing we can learn from Josephine and her prayer is faith and trust. She is afraid, but she believes in her heavenly Father’s goodness and trusts in His providential care. Jesus told St. Faustina: “The graces of My mercy are drawn by one vessel only, and that is trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive.” Josephine’s ‘yes’ to this child was and will continue to be an act of pure faith and trust in God. Even though she will be able to continue with many of her plans, her life will nonetheless change dramatically: she now has a little soul entrusted by God to her care. All of her family and friends are telling her she can’t do this, that it will ruin her life, yet by the grace of God, like Our Lady, she has the courage to say ‘yes’. She believes in God’s love and mercy and she trusts in His plan for her life. “Yes, blessed is she who believed, that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled." (Luke 1:45)

It is this great faith and trust that Josephine has in the Lord that enables her to pray the second part of her prayer: “I’m sorry Lord for all my sins, please forgive me. You know this is the hardest thing I’ve had to face ….I know that You will take care of me.” In humility, she knows that she has done wrong, that she has many faults and failings, that she is a sinner. Yet she doesn’t let this discourage her or turn her away from God – rather by acknowledging her weakness, she also acknowledges her need for Him. Once again she trusts enough in the heavenly Father’s goodness and mercy that she knows He will lift her up. St. Peter Julian Eymard says “If you fall, raise yourself up again by humble trust and repentance. Self-abasement that is content to remain in its abjection is the same as pride humiliated and in defiance. Sincere humility flies to God on wings of faith.”

Josephine’s true humility leads her, and us, to the final and possibly most striking and admirable element of Josephine’s prayer, which is praise and thanksgiving – “ ... and I thank You Lord for all the many blessings of my life and I thank You for the gift of this baby.” She is not only grateful to God for the mercy He has shown her by forgiving her failings, she also recognizes the blessings of her life as mercy received from Him. With the eyes of faith and living in a spirit of gratitude, Josephine is able to praise and thank God in this situation of trial and uncertainty. This truly is the greatest and most beautiful expression of her trust in Him.

Blessed Mother, we continue to celebrate in a special way in this Easter season the Passion, Death and Resurrection of your Son, in which He reveals to us the depths of the Father’s love and mercy. Please, journey with us and help us to open our eyes to see and our hearts to receive His fathomless mercy. With great trust, humility and gratitude we join with the whole church in proclaiming that “His mercy endures forever!” (Psalm 88)

Amen.

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For Veronica, that she may receive prudence to make an important decision regarding her family and for the grace to continue to choose life.

 

For Patricia and her children, that she may receive continued grace, encouragement, and hope in the midst of the variety of demands in her life.

 

For Raquel, who is facing family and financial difficulties, and for the healthy growth of her twins.

 

For Maria, who needs to find a safe place to live and a job, as well as inner healing.

 

For Marcela, a college student who needs support to continue with her classes as she embraces her unexpected pregnancy.

 

For Natalia, that her baby may have a safe and healthy delivery.

 

For Monica, who is a college student due to give birth at the end of April, that her delivery and semester may go well.

 

For Jane, who gave birth this past month and is need of prayers.

 

For Ellen, 20 years old, that she may have the courage to move forward in her pregnancy.

 

For Victoria, that she may receive strength and grace to continue to choose life and for the conversion of heart of her family and friends.

 

For Gina, who is in need of prayers for her health and the health of her baby.

 

For a miracle of healing for baby Margaret through the intercession of Blessed Margaret of Costello.

 

For Ashley, who is adjusting to motherhood and is struggling to do it on her own.

 

For Melanie, that she may have the courage to stay away from an abusive husband.

 

For Susan, who is hoping to move toward marriage with the father of her baby, for guidance in their relationship.

 

For Terri, that she may have perseverance in choosing life.

 

For Barbara, age 17, who is vulnerable to abortion, that she may have the courage to choose life.

 

For Elizabeth, a vulnerable pregnant woman who turned around from an abortion clinic, that she may have the grace and courage to continue to choose life.

 

For Mary, age 15, for the grace and strength she needs to choose life.

 

For Freddy and Gianna, for openness as they return to the Sacraments, and clarity as they struggle with decisions about their future.

 

For Sally, that she may find a job and proper housing.

 

For Chiara, that she may be set free from addiction and find a good job and housing.

 

For Stephanie, Yoli, Kenya, Rachel, and Reauchine, as well as their children, for every grace they need as they journey through our RCIA program. 

 

For Beth, for healing in the relationship with her mother, and that she may find proper housing.

 

For Nicole, that she may get into the parenting college program she has applied for.

 

For Diane, that she may find a good job.

 

For Jasmine, that she may have the grace and support to choose life.

 

For Tanya, for her health throughout her pregnancy and that she may find steady work.

 

For Judy, for the courage to choose life.

 

For Tess, that she may have the grace and support she needs to choose life.

 

For Diana, that she may find a job.

 

For Jodie and Carrie, for spiritual healing.

 

For Yolanda, for healing for her marriage and for her discernment.

 

For Fred, for healing from addiction.

For Olivia, Georgia, Susan and Nancy, for their strength.

 

For Rose, for the grace to choose life and for healing of her insomnia.

 

For Brenda, for the grace to choose life.

 

For healing for Terry and Layla.