Novena for Life: Day Two

God, + come to my assistance.
--Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
--As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

GOSPEL
John 6:32-33
Jesus said to the crowd, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

SILENT PRAYER

REFLECTION
Each time we are hungry, we look for bread. Bread we buy with our pay, bread we are given at a friend's table, bread we take down from the cabinet to make that late night snack. But the bread that truly matters cannot be taken. It can only be given from the altar of the cross, by him in whom we are healed and saved from sin. For when we eat his body, we are filled with his life. And when we walk to the altar today to receive that bread which is communion, may we intercede for all those whom God calls even now from their mother's womb to receive his life. Those little ones who, God willing, will make their first Communion in a half dozen years and receive from him who first gave them life in the womb, the bread that gives them life forever.

LITANY
On all new fathers,
--Lord, have mercy.
On fathers who are alone,
--Lord, have mercy.
On fathers unemployed,
--Lord, have mercy.
On fathers addicted,
--Lord, have mercy.
On fathers who are abusive,
--Lord, have mercy.
On young fathers who are afraid,
--Lord, have mercy.
On fathers who've run away,
--Lord, have mercy.

PRAYER
God our loving Father,
grant wisdom to those who govern us,
compassion and courage
to those who work to defend human life,
and safety and care to every human being.
For you alone who formed us in our mother's womb,
and who call us home to heaven,
are God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Amen.

Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street NE, Washington DC 20017-1194
Phone 202.541.3070
Copyright 2001 by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
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