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 21-22, 2027
The National Prayer Vigil for Life will be held from Thursday afternoon, January 21, through Friday morning, January 22, 2026, with various prayer events taking place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. The Opening Mass begins Thursday, January 21 at 5:00 p.m. in the Great Upper Church, followed by a Holy Hour for Life starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Crypt Church. The Closing Mass begins Friday, January 22 at 8:00 a.m. Please visit the 2027 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 22, 2027
The event will take place at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. 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 22, 2027
The 53rd annual March for Life will take place on Friday, January 23, 2026, 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 2027
· Saturday, January 16 – Sunday, January 24: 9 Days for Life
For more information, please visit: https://www.respectlife.org/9-days-signup.
· Friday, January 22: Day for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
For more information about this day of prayer, go to: www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/resources/january-22-day-of-prayer.cfm.
Life is VERY Good: January 21-22, 2027
Young people from across the nation will be gathering at Life is VERY Good for an Evening of Prayer on Thursday, January 21 and a Morning Rally and Mass on Friday, January 22, and your diocese is invited to be part of these incredible events! Life is VERY Good offers an opportunity for teens to prayerfully prepare for the National March for Life. Everything from the choice of music to the homily, to the speakers, are all designed to help younger generations deeply embrace a greater respect for life. This gives important context for why they march and to helping them to encounter Christ in a significant way! The Diocese of Arlington has been hosting Life is VERY Good since 2009 and has welcomed MANY thousands of participants throughout the years.
If you know of schools or youth ministries within your diocese that are making a pilgrimage to the National March for Life, please encourage them to participate in this meaningful experience. Knowing the challenges group leaders face, this event is designed to serve their needs: seats are assigned so they know where their group will be seated when they arrive, and Friday’s event comes with a Chick-fil-A lunch to go so they don’t need to worry about how to grab lunch on the way downtown to the March.
Tickets are still available! Please visit the Life is VERY Good webpage for more details or go here to purchase tickets for one or both events. If you have any questions, please contact Christine Najarian at christine.najarian@arlingtondiocese.org.