40 Days for Life North Dakota continues beyond 40 days

Nov 6, 2007 / 14:00 pm

The 40 days may have ended Nov. 4, but the 40 Days for Life North Dakota prayer vigil outside North Dakota’s only abortion facility is continuing.

At an evening gathering of 40 Days for Life participants Nov. 4 and later, at a midnight Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo, Colleen Samson, committee chairperson, announced that the prayer effort would continue 24 hours a day for an additional 10 days. Upon completion of the 10 days, the prayer schedule will be reviewed again, she said.

The decision was made as a result of prayer and input from participants, Samson said. “God has been speaking in the hearts of countless people that North Dakota will be the first state in our nation to be free of the evil of abortion-on-demand,” Samson said in a written statement. “We are waiting upon his word, his will in our continued perseverance of prayer, fasting and vigilance before the abortion facility to bring an end to the killing of our unborn children.”

At a November 5th midnight Mass, Bishop Aquila encouraged participants to continue in prayers.  “We can never, ever, if we are truly of Jesus Christ, forget to pray for those who do not know the truth.”  Our Lord has told us clearly in the Gospel ‘Pray for those who persecute you and utter all kinds of false slander against you.’ He tells us to love our enemies. Hard words at times to hear and yet he himself practiced that from the cross, when he prayed ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’.”

The bishop continued, “We must keep and place ourselves before the Lord, begging for his mercy, begging for his forgiveness, begging that he act upon the hearts and minds of those who are pro-abortion. We must pray especially for Catholic politicians who have sold out to the Father of Lies and are guided by Satan and not by Christ, that they may come to have their eyes opened to see what they are supporting, because any Catholic politician who supports the so-called right to abortion is putting the salvation of his or her soul in jeopardy. Whether they believe it or not, they are doing it, especially in this day and age when the Catholic teaching is so clearly proclaimed.”

Bishop Aquila recognized those who persevered in prayer during the 40 days, and spoke of the future. “It is important for us to continue to work for life. Just because these 40 days are complete, it does not mean that we give up our fight for life and turn back to the way that we were living. We must be ever more ardent and zealous in our prayer.”

40 Days for Life is an ecumenical effort of prayer, fasting, community outreach and 24-hours-a-day prayer vigils outside abortion facilities across the nation. The North Dakota effort began Sept. 26 and was scheduled to end on Nov. 4.

However, Monday, as people continue to brave the cold November temperatures in North Dakota, the ending date is yet to be determined. “We believe it is God’s desire to continue saving babies, helping mothers and fathers and spreading the truth about the holocaust of abortion,” Samson said.

For more information about 40 Days for Life North Dakota, visit www.40daysforlifend.com or call (701) 284-6601 in Park River or (701) 356-7979 in Fargo.