Novena for Life: Day Eight

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 6:54
Jesus said to the Jews who were present: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day."

SILENT PRAYER

REFLECTION
On that last day we will stand before the Lord in glory and be judged. And all who have eaten the flesh of the Son of man will be raised up to eternal life. For that last day is not unlike the first day we spent in our mother's womb. It is a day when God reaches down into our human condition and brings light from darkness, eternal life from eternal death. Good and gentle Jesus, who will raise us up on the last day, look upon the little child in his mothers womb and protect that life you have planted. Nourish him for many days with your body and blood and raise him up on the last day.

LITANY
On judges who struggle with justice,
--Lord, have mercy.
On lawyers who seek to speak truth,
--Lord, have mercy.
On judges who love life,
--Lord, have mercy.
On the judges of our Supreme Court,
--Lord, have mercy.
On those who argues before them,
--Lord, have mercy.
On the unborn child who rests in their hands,
--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 wombs,
and who call us home to heaven,
are God, for ever and ever.
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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