Prayer of a Friend Who Was Complicit in an Abortion
Lord Jesus,
You told your apostles
That you no longer called them servants,
But rather your friends,
Because you made known to them
What you heard from your Father.
Today, Lord Jesus, you call me your friend as well,
And I rejoice that you are close to me.
I thank you also for all the other friends I have,
And I entrust them to your care.
I thank you for the ways I have been good to them,
And I ask your forgiveness for the ways I have failed them.
In particular, Lord, I ask forgiveness for my friend’s abortion.
Forgive me for my role in that sin.
Forgive me for not trying to save that child.
Help me and my friend to grieve that child
And to entrust that child to you.
Not even you can change the past, Lord,
But you can give us peace and strength for the future.
Wash us in your blood,
Fill us with your grace,
And enable us to save other lives from abortion,
And to heal the hearts of all who suffer.
I pray with confidence, for you live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of a Friend Who Could Not Stop an Abortion
Father in heaven,
You have entrusted us to the care of one another.
Our lives are in Your hands,
And you call us to do our best
To protect one another.
Receive, Lord, my pain and grief
Over my friend’s abortion.
Console her, and console me.
Accept my efforts, although they did not save that life,
And receive that child into your everlasting embrace.
Enable my friend to find the healing and forgiveness you promise
To all those who turn to You in faith.
And enable me, Lord, to be present to my friend,
To provide a sign of your presence
And a channel of your peace.
Make me alert, Lord, to the future opportunities I will have
To save lives from abortion,
And to heal those who are wounded by abortion.
I ask all this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of an Abortion Survivor
Lord, Author of Life,
I come before you with thanks and praise.
You made all things out of nothing,
And created us without our asking or earning it.
You guide and protect all you have created
And your love knows no measure.
You brought order out of the ancient chaos
And calmed the stormy seas.
Day by day, you calm the storms of our lives
And bring to our hearts the peace
That passes all understanding.
Lord, I praise you today
For my own being.
You love and welcome me,
Without reservation, without conditions,
And without end.
You do not make mistakes,
Nor do your actions come about by accident.
Rather, you have loved me from all eternity.
And have chosen me to live as your child.
Lord, renew within me
The joy and gratitude that life brings.
In life and death, I belong to you,
And today I entrust myself again to your care.
Bless my family, and give us your protection.
Bless my present and my future,
And give me the gift of your salvation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for all Abortion Survivors
Father of life,
How marvelous is your care for us.
You have made us little less than the angels,
And have given us the call to eternal life.
We cry out to you as a wounded people,
Daily carrying the scars
That abortion has unleashed upon us.
We pray in particular for abortion survivors.
We pray for those who were almost aborted,
For those who lost siblings to abortion,
For those who survived an abortion procedure,
And for those who are simply aware
That their lives were not protected
When they were in the womb.
We ask you today
To ease any anxiety or sense of guilt they may have.
Lift their minds and hearts to you
And let them know that
You welcome and protect them
With infinite and unconditional love.
Bless their families and bless their futures.
Strengthen their love for their parents
And unite their families in service to your Kingdom.
Show these sons and daughters of yours
That your love is stronger than death.
Reveal to them your plan for their lives
And strengthen them to live their calling
With faith, eagerness, and perseverance.
May we be witnesses to them
Of the care and welcome you provide for all your people.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.