Day for Life 2010
source – www.dayforlife.org
Lord, for your faithful people, life is changed, not ended
Day for Life, initiated by the late Pope John Paul II, is the day of the year the Catholic Church in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales dedicates to celebrating the dignity of human life from conception to natural death.
Day for Life 2010 aims to present the Church’s teaching on death; it will highlight the importance of the sacrament of the sick, of praying for the dead and of accompanying the dying person as they journey towards God. It will also point towards the consoling presence and support of the community of faith and all of those who ‘have gone before us marked with the sign of faith’.
Each year, in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the Bishops’ Conferences work closely together to celebrate Day for Life. In Scotland the Day is celebrated on 31 May – The Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. In England and Wales, Day for Life falls on 25 July and in Ireland it will be celebrated on 3 October.
Cardinal Newman prayer
May He support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done.
Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest and peace at the last.
Oh, my Lord and Saviour, support me in that hour in the strong arms of your Sacraments, and by the fresh fragrance of Your consolations.
Let the absolving words be said over me, and the holy oil sign and seal me, and Your own Body be my food, and Your Blood my sprinkling; and let my sweet Mother, Mary, breathe on me, and my Angel whisper peace to me, and my glorious Saints smile upon me; that in them all, and through the mall, I may receive the gift of perseverance, and die, as I desire to live, in Your faith, in Your Church, in Your service, and in Your love,
Amen.