March 2006

Dear Friend of Life:

Blessings!

On behalf of Fr. Frank Pavone, I want to tell you how pleased we are that you have responded to the recent letter outlining the vision for the Lay Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. You are on your way to membership in this exciting apostolic society for life.

I wanted to be sure that we are united together in the first steps outlined in the previous email and will also mention some further opportunities, as you prepare for the training period which leads to making the promises of the association.

First, the areas you should be working on (some you may have completed).

• Daily praying: The Prayer to End Abortion
• Studying of John Paul II’s Encyclical “The Gospel of Life” with the companion Study Guide from Priests for Life. You may order the Study Guide and Encyclical at our online store.
• Receiving and responding to Fr. Pavone's bi-weekly columns. This will be an ongoing resource for the four overarching disciplines of prayer, study, community and witness.  Request it at subscribe@priestsforlife.org 
• Actively engaging in the Apostolic Witness to the Gospel of Life through your parish, local ministries, work and family witness.

Further Life Steps for growth:

1. Join this *Prayer of Consecration (below) to the daily Prayer to End Abortion. These two unique prayers unite us as Lay Missionaries of the Gospel Monthly of Life.

2. Monthly (First Friday) Examination Of Conscience

3. Read and meditate upon the overview of the vision of the Lay Missionaries. Pray over, and be ready to share the basic components and vision of the Missionaries with others.

4.Participating in some structured form of ongoing daily prayer and study: An abbreviated form of the daily office/breviary like the Magnificat, www.magnificat.net, Living with Christ, www.livingwithchrist.us, or other companions.

5. Order and distribute the Lay Affiliates brochure and prayer booklet.

6. Read the archive of correspondence from Jim.


*Prayer of Consecration

Precious Lord, I consecrate myself to you this day

so that I may love you with all my heart, soul, mind and

strength and love my neighbor as myself.

I promise to live a chaste, obedient, and simple

life of faith and to nurture these promises

through the spiritual disciplines of

prayer, study, community and apostolic witness.

I ask all this through Jesus Christ, the

Author of Life. Amen!

(by Jim Pinto, Jr.)


We are working on coordinating visits and Life Cell gatherings in your area. Please, let me know if you would be willing to assist me or one of our staff with a visit to your State or city? I also ask you to help me spread the word to those you think might be interested in being a Lay Missionary. Please, email a personal invitation to you friends asking them to visit www.priestsforlife.org/missionary and consider inquiring about a personal association with you and the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. It is imperative that they fill out their responses at the end of the document to receive information from us. Also, if you know of someone who has contacted us but has not received a reply, please encourage them to contact us again at the email address listed below.

I look forward to building our relationship and extending the culture of life with you.

Our prayers and work unite us,

Jim Pinto

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