Life
Understanding the Breach
Sister Maris Stella tells of an experience where she was praying outside an abortion facility when a man stopped to thank her for being there.
He explained that years before he was taking his girlfriend to have an abortion, but they changed their minds because they saw people praying outside.
Sister Maris Stella says, “he wanted to be a protector… When he saw others protecting life, he then protected life. He protected the life of his daughter.”
Men tend to have a “protective instinct” in crisis situations, and often it takes just one courageous person to “stand in the breach” and inspire others to take appropriate action. In what real-life circumstances have you experienced this phenomenon, or perhaps have seen or heard of this happening?
What would you say or do in the event your own son or daughter were to be involved in a crisis pregnancy and were considering abortion?
Have you ever prayed outside an abortion facility? What was the experience like?
Bricks For The Breach
“Men, do not hesitate to engage in the battle that is raging around you, the battle that is wounding our children and families, the battle that is distorting the dignity of both women and men. This battle is often hidden, but the battle is real. It is primarily spiritual, but it is progressively killing the remaining Christian ethos in our society and culture, and even in our own homes.” (Into the Breach: An Apostolic Exhortation to Catholic Men)
Sword of the Spirit
You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know. My bones are not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, fashioned in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me unformed; in your book all are written down; my days were shaped, before one came to be.
(Psalms 139:13-16)
The ear that heard blessed me; the eye that saw acclaimed me. For I rescued the poor who cried out for help, the orphans, and the unassisted; the blessing of those in extremity came upon me, and the heart of the widow I made joyful. (Job 29:11-13)