10/13/1997

Because of my full-time position as National Director of Priests for Life, I have preached on abortion every day since 1993 in every state of the country. I have carefully watched the reaction of God’s people, and have attentively listened to their comments.

The two remarks that best summarize the response of the people to a clear and compassionate homily on abortion are “Thank you” and “We need to hear more of this.”

I cannot count the letters and emails that come into our Priests for Life office from people who want to hear their priest preach more about this topic. These letters come from attorneys, doctors, police officers, judges–in fact, from people of every profession and walk of life. They even come from children.

Priests for Life conducts training seminars for clergy to help them discover their own fears and hesitations about preaching on abortion. One of our publications is Fathers, Let’s Face our Fears about Abortion, and identifies twenty-two of the most common fears.

One of them is the fear of hurting those in the congregation who have had abortions. Yet this fear overlooks the fact that silence hurts them more.
Continue reading “Re-post: Preaching on Abortion- Fr. Frank Pavone” →

Litany of Thanksgiving – Book of Common Prayer

A Litany of Thanksgiving

Give thanks to the Lord who is good.

God’s love is everlasting.
Come, let us praise God joyfully.

Let us come to God with thanksgiving.

For the good world;
for things great and small, beautiful and awesome;
for seen and unseen splendors;

Thank you, God.

For human life;
for talking and moving and thinking together;
for common hopes and hardships shared from birth until our dying;

Thank you, God.

For work to do and strength to work;
for the comradeship of labor;
for exchanges of good humor and encouragement;

Thank you, God.

For marriage;
for the mystery and joy of flesh made one;
for mutual forgiveness and burdens shared;
for secrets kept in love;

Thank you, God.

For family;
for living together and eating together;
for family amusements and family pleasures;

Thank you, God.

For children;
for their energy and curiosity;
for their brave play and startling frankness;
for their sudden sympathies;

Thank you, God.

For the young;
for their high hopes;
for their irreverence toward worn-out values;
for their search for freedom;
for their solemn vows;

Thank you, God.

For growing up and growing old;
for wisdom deepened by experience;
for rest in leisure;
and for time made precious by its passing;

Thank you, God.

For your help in times of doubt and sorrow;
for healing our diseases;
for preserving us in temptation and danger;

Thank you, God.

For the church into which we have been called;
for the good news we receive by Word and Sacrament;
for our life together in the Lord;

We praise you, God.

For your Holy Spirit;
who guides our steps and brings us gifts f faith and love;
who prays in us and prompts our grateful worship;

We praise you, God.

Above all, O God, for your Son Jesus Christ,
who lived and died and lives again for our salvation;
for our hope in him; and for the joy of serving him;

We thank and praise you, Eternal God,
for all your goodness to us.
Give thanks to the Lord, who is good.