Prayer offered by Fr. Frank Pavone at Proudly Pro-life Banquet

April 30, 2002

[Note: This prayer can be adapted to various circumstances. The original occasion on which it was used was a banquet honoring Dr. Dobson and Archbishop Martino. The portions in italics and brackets below would be omitted for other occasions, and other adjustments can be made.]

Almighty Father, we gather here tonight in repentance, in resolve, and in rejoicing.

We gather in repentance, because we, Your people, could long ago have ended child-killing in this nation.

We gather in repentance, for so many of Your people rightly call on You to act to save the unborn,
but fail to realize that You call them to act to save the unborn.

We gather in repentance, for so many of Your people rightly lift up their hands and say "Lord have mercy,"
but fail to lift a finger to have mercy on the unborn.

We gather in repentance, because not one drop of innocent blood is shed upon the land, without every person on the land sharing responsibility for it.

We gather, Lord, in resolve.

We are resolved to reach our goal, not just to fight abortion, but to end it.
We will stop at no sacrifice and count no cost in defending the unborn.

We resolve that we will continue to challenge public servants
who fail to serve the public yet unborn,

and will continue to challenge voters
to elect only those who will advance a Culture of Life.

Finally, Lord, we gather in rejoicing.

We rejoice that You have called us to do pro-life work,
not as some "hobby" to be squeezed in when we have time,
but as the very heart and soul of our quest for justice in this world.

[We rejoice in the work of the National Right to Life Committee and its affiliates, and in every pro-life group and individual represented here tonight.

We rejoice that You have given us the gift of the two men we honor tonight,
Archbishop Renato Martino, and Dr. James Dobson.
We thank you for their example, their fidelity, and the fruits of their labor.]

Bless this gathering tonight, bless this food, and bless this movement.

We pray in the saving Name of the Author of Life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.