Using only the three tools of (1) Prayer and fasting, (2) Constant vigil, and (3) Community outreach, the community-based, nationwide 40 Days for Life campaign currently in progress has so far saved 237 babies and is revitalizing with hope the more than 130 local communities in the United States, Canada, Australia and Northern Ireland, where the vigils are taking place.

“Abortion will end when local communities say it will end—no sooner, and no later,” says Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life and pastoral director of Silent No More Awareness Campaign and Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries. “We have the power to stop abortion, even while it remains legal.  Now is the time to mobilize, sustained by prayer. “

Founded by local pro-life leaders who launched the first 40 Days for Life campaign in 2004 in Bryan/College Station, TX, the initial results were so successful that Planned Parenthood dubbed the town “the most anti-choice place in America.” That local campaign activated 1,000 volunteers and directly resulted in a 28 percent decline in abortions in the community. About six other cities echoed the campaign in their cities over the next two years, each campaign yielding measurable results.

Formally launched nationally in the fall of 2007, with repeated campaigns in spring and fall of 2008,  the national 40 Days for Life campaigns mobilized people of faith and conscience in 204 cities across 49 states.  The direct and documented results of those constant prayer vigils include:

ß More than 175,000 participants joined together to pray and fast to end abortion
ß More than 70,000 participants in peaceful 40-day prayer vigils outside abortion facilities
ß More than 1,100 known lives saved from abortion
ß Three abortion facilities completely shut down
ß Five known abortion workers who quit their jobs and walked away from the abortion industry
ß Many people with past abortion experiences have stepped forward to begin their  post-abortion healing and recovery

“Women and men who have lost children to abortion need to hear the witness of others who have experienced that pain and have found healing,” added Fr. Pavone. “40 Days for Life is an opportunity for a local community to hear that witness…I strongly endorse the 40 Days for Life effort [and] look forward to promoting it nationwide and participating in it in many communities.”

It’s not too late!  The Lenten campaign is still underway!  To find out more about 40 Days for Life, and to locate cities in your community, go to www.40daysforLife.com.