January 22: Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
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On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court legalized abortion throughout the United States in its companion decisions Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. Since that time, millions of children have lost their lives, and millions of women and families have been wounded by abortion.
On June 24, 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade, and we praise God for the great opportunity state and federal legislators now have to protect preborn children. While God, in His mercy, ended the nearly fifty-year nationwide regime of abortion on demand, right now state and federal laws, in many instances, are still hostile to preborn children. So, great prayer and advocacy is needed.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), no. 373, designates January 22 as a particular day of prayer and penance, called the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children”:
In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion. The liturgical celebrations for this day may be the “Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life” (no. 48/1 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions), celebrated with white vestments, or the Mass “For the Preservation of Peace and Justice” (no. 30 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions), celebrated with violet vestments.
Resources
NATIONAL PRAYER VIGIL FOR LIFE: JANUARY 23-24, 2025
The National Prayer Vigil for Life will be held from Thursday afternoon, January 23, through Friday morning, January 24, 2025, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. The Opening Mass begins Thursday, January 23 at 5:00 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour for Life starting at 7:00 p.m. The Closing Mass begins Friday, January 24 at 8:00 a.m. Please visit the 2025 National Prayer Vigil for Life website and the Frequently Asked Questions section on the USCCB website for complete information on the schedule and additional details.
LIFEFEST: JANUARY 23-24, 2025
The event will take place at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA. Organized by the Sisters of Life, the Knights of Columbus and the Diocese of Arlington, this event will have dynamic speakers, music, times of prayer, and Mass for those preparing to participate in the March for Life on Friday. For more information, please visit www.lifefestrally.com.
NATIONAL MARCH FOR LIFE: JANUARY 24, 2025
The 52nd annual March for Life will take place on Friday, January 24, 2025, after a Rally on the Mall beginning at noon. For the latest information, please visit the March for Life website: https://marchforlife.org.
OTHER NATIONAL PRO-LIFE PRAYER EFFORTS IN JANUARY 2025
· Thursday, January 16 – Friday, January 24: 9 Days for Life (For more information, please visit: https://www.respectlife.org/9-days-signup.)