Everything we do seems to be just a drop in the ocean, when what we want is to turn the tide. We have done everything we can, and got nowhere! - Or have we! Perhaps at this point we should re-examine what Our Lord has said to us through the Scriptures.

One of my favourite Old Testament characters is Gideon. He was told by God to lead the Israelites against the Midianites and destroy them, and his immediate response was "Lord give me a sign". Having got his sign his next comment was, "OK, but just to make sure give me another sign." I can relate to Gideon. That is exactly my reaction every time God ask me to do something. But the real point of interest in Gideon is that although more than thirty thousand Israelites answered Gideon's call to fight, in the end the Lord chose only three hundred, and with this minute army routed countless enemies. - Are you begining to get the idea?

The people who work in the various pro-life organisations are few against the apparantly countless numbers who support the "culture of death", but as St Paul says, "If God is for us, who is against us?" (Rom Ch 8:31) So let us " Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." (Eph 6:18).

Which is, of course, what I am getting round to. After many years working at the sharp end of the pro-life movement, I find myself, for reasons I will not bore you with, unable to continue doing active pro-life work. I am sure there are vast numbers of people in exactly the same boat as me, and others who - despite spending all their spare time, and a lot that isn't spare as well, doing active pro-life work - feel that they should be doing more. Well here is what you can do - and how you can do it!

"There is certainly an enormous disparity between the powerful resources available to the forces promoting the "culture of death" and the means at the disposal of those working for a "culture of life and love". But we know that we can rely on the help of God, for whom nothing is impossible (cf. Mt 19:26).

"Filled with this certainty, and moved by profound concern for the destiny of every man and woman, I repeat what I said to those families who carry out their challenging mission amid so many difficulties: * a great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God, the Creator and lover of life, from every Christian community, from every group and association, from every family and from the heart of every believer. Jesus himself has shown us by his own example that prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil (cf. Mt 4:1-11). As he taught his disciples, some demons cannot be driven out except in this way (cf. Mk 9:29). Let us therefore discover anew the humility and the courage to pray and fast so that power from on high will break down the walls of lies and deceit: the walls which conceal from the sight of so many of our brothers and sisters the evil of practices and laws which are hostile to life. May this same power turn their hearts to resolutions and goals inspired by the civilization of life and love."

Evangelium Vitae Para 100

When we started the Pro-Lifer Magazine in 1990, things went very slowly. Many times I felt like giving up because we could not make ends meet. Nor could I find anyone to help me with the general day to day running. Finally I did get one very able assistant, but we were still floundering, and finally after only six issues it died for lack of support. However over the two years that we managed to drag the publication out - before I would finally admit to it's demise - we built up a base of supporters, and before we started on our next venture, which was the Pro-Life Action Network (in England) we decided that we needed someone praying for us constantly if it was going to work. So we contacted our supporters and asked them to commit themselves to fasting and praying one day a month for the work that we intended to do - namely prayer pickets outside abortion 'clinics' or as we call them abortion 'mills'.

To our delight many people responded and we managed to set up three rotas. From having little or no support at all in the prayer pickets, suddenly we had people praying at three of the six London death camps, and two and a half years later one of them had closed. We spread the news, encouraging others to set up rotas. One was set up in Leeds and within a year the only 'private' (non National Health Service) death camp in Leeds was refused its licence and had to close. This is not to mention the vast increase in the effectiveness of our group, which is still going under the name of 'Helpers of God's Precious Infants'.

I feel very strongly that God is calling us to develop these fast and prayer rotas worldwide. The first question that is going to be asked is "What does it involve". To which the answer is as much - or as little - as you are able to do. There are obviously various levels of involvement.

1. Fast and Pray one day a month - joining the central prayer rota.
2. Start up a prayer rota in your area supporting your local pro-life organisation.
3. Promote the starting up of rotas throughout your district/diocese/country.

The next question generally asked is "What constitutes a fast?"
This is important enough to get its own page.
And so is the next question "What prayers should I say?"

"Christian prayer draws its dignity from its sharing in the filial relationship of the Only-begotten Son to the Father. The prayer he expressed in his earthly life with his own words in the name of and for the salvation of the entire human race, he continues to address to his Father in the whole Church and in all her members."

"By offering praise to God in the Hours, the Church joins in singing that canticle of praise which is sung throughout all ages in the halls of heaven."