“He will destroy death forever” (Is. 25:8).
“Our savior Christ Jesus…destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tm. 1:10).
“Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? … Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:54-57).
Lord Jesus, what words can there be
To praise You for what You have done
In conquering death and opening for us
The way to eternal life?
Your prophets heralded the end of the Kingdom of death,
And Your own death and resurrection
Brought those prophecies to fulfillment.
As when the ground swallowed the blood of Abel,
The first human being to die,
So by Your own Paschal mystery,
Death itself has been swallowed up in victory!
When You rose from the grave,
You did not simply conquer Your own death;
You conquered ours.
You robbed death of its power,
And therefore You robbed abortion of its power.
Now we live as the People of Life
Sharing in Your own Divine Nature
And looking forward to the resurrection of the dead.
Bless us, Lord Jesus, as we fight to protect
Our most vulnerable brothers and sisters
From the violence of abortion.
Help us to realize that although the battle is real
And violence and death still do their damage,
They do not and cannot have the last word.
Remind us, Lord, that we are not just working for victory;
We are working from victory!
Victory is our starting point!
You have Risen and are alive forevermore!
Death has no more power over You,
And because we are members of Your Body,
Death has no more power over us!
May You be praised, O Jesus,
For You are the Lord of Life,
Forever and ever. Amen! Alleluia!!
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life