The General Instruction of the Roman Missal states that “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.”
With last summer’s Supreme Court ruling that abortion is not a constitutional right, the people of the United States have entered into a new phase of our long struggle to preserve the dignity and safeguard the life of every human person. Confident that God has heard the prayers of those who cry out to him, especially in intercession for the “little ones”, we are grateful for this long-desired outcome. But there is still work to be done. While Christ has brought about mercy and forgiveness, the temporal effects of sin and evil continue. With justice so severely harmed for the past half century, there is much justice to restore through acts of reparation.
Penance is an integral part of the Christian experience. Christ himself has personally demonstrated this by his own trial in the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry. The experience of temptation that is recorded in the Gospels makes it very clear that Our Lord’s mission is to confront evil and sin. This struggle can only be overcome through the discipline of penance.
The Gospel of Matthew follows up the story of the Temptation with the Sermon on the Mount. In this plan of discipleship, Jesus formally teaches that prayer, sacrifice, and charity are the three pillars of penance. Indeed, the Sermon is the great teaching about what constitutes true religion. Not by the hair-splitting of the letter of the Law to accommodate our own priorities and preferences, but by going beyond to enter into the true spirit of law: the spirit of sacrificial giving so that the will of God may be accomplished.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ challenges his disciples to look at our primary relationships and embrace the way of sacrifice. Even for our enemy we must respond in charity and offer prayers for their health and well being.
The political and legislative struggle to protect life continues and needs our prayerful support. And the penance required for the reparation of such a legacy of sins against life is still immense. Monday, January 23 is the day the Church in the United States has designated for special prayers and penance for sins against life caused by abortion. That means that each of us should organize our day around special prayers, sacrificial actions, and deeds of charity.
For many, the 9 Days for Life Novena that began on Thursday, January 19 and concludes on Friday, January 27, will be the core of their daily prayer for life. But even if you haven’t joined in the Novena, you should still at least make a special effort in your prayers on Monday, January 23. Spending an hour in church in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament is a worthy act of prayer and reparation. Praying a Rosary, the Litany of Loreto, the Divine Mercy, or reading the Sacred Scriptures are also ways to pray for life.
In terms of sacrifice, we know that our Catholic tradition prioritizes abstinence and fasting as important ways to deny ourselves for the good of others. We could abstain from meat and alcohol and eat simply for the day. We can also fast from earthly pleasures such as television, technological amusements like games, or even reading for pleasure. Instead of consuming entertainment, we can make a silent room in our hearts to listen for God’s voice, telling us what he wants us to do to protect life.
Alms-giving or charity is the third penitential practice we are enjoined to do. The anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, so close to the beginning of the year, is a great opportunity to discern our options to support pro-life causes through direct charitable contributions or volunteer service. What should our financial contributions be this year in support of life? The most perfect alms to give though is the gift of our time and talent directly supporting life. What are the opportunities available to us to volunteer in support of human dignity. While this day is especially meant as reparation and prayer for the evil of abortion, our charitable service in assisting with food and housing security, or any activity that puts the corporal works of mercy into practice fulfills the requirements of this day of penance.