Yesterday afternoon, at the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil, four vigilers were swarmed by a throng of disgruntled university students. After this experience I better appreciate the meaning of spiritual warfare.

Here's what happened:

At about 4:45 p.m., shortly after having returned from a break, I heard some ominous sounds getting louder and louder. It didn't sound good.

My fears were realized, as at least 60 to 70 youth appeared walking up St-Laurent Boulevard and on reaching the intersection with St-Joseph crossed over into the park and besieged our prayer site. We were four vigilers at the time - three men and one older woman, and wherever we turned there they were - in front, behind, to our right, to our left.

The crowd was raucous. Led with blowhorn, chants were sung. Many motorists encouraged them on and the mob reacted jubilantly whenever a car horn was blown.

After a while many of the youth began to crowd our banner, leaning on its sturdy yet not unbreakable PVC support frame. My supplication to be cautious seemed to spur many on to do the opposite; these began to uproot the frame and untie the banner. I suspect that had I not stood on the unfurled banner its fate would have been worse than footprints and a twelve inch gash.

The outcome of our other materials was not as kind. Several struts of the frame were stolen. Our enlarged fetal picture despite being broken in two was saved from any further damage by one of the vigil participants.

Unfortunaley the other end piece did not fare as well. Below are before and after pictures of the other end piece - the one advertising our toll-free help line. 

Where were the police in all of this, you may wonder. No fewer than ten police cruisers stood by watching from the sidelines. Sgt. Filion explained later that he did not order an intervention because he did not have the numbers to do so. And so, for over an hour the vigilers prayed and tried to dissuade the youth as much as they could.

For the better part of the hour, we prayed on our own. Then Philip, one of the vigil participants, suggested that he and I pray Saint Patrick's Breastplate Prayer. As we began to do so and throughout its recitation, a young woman protester began howling, trying to break our concentration. To no avail.

Upon finishing, this woman disappeared and what can accurately be described as intelligent conversation began between myself, Philip and five or six of the young folk.

At 6 p.m. the crowd began to disperse and a few of our reinforcements appeared. At this point we decided to resume our vigil and, minus the frame, held aloft our banner.

Police levied fines on three of the young people.

Some pics of the event:

Yesterday I wrote that the 40 Days for Life Vigil site was drawing people from all around the Montreal area to come and give a prayerful presence against abortion. Likewise it is drawing persons opposed to this goal.

This past Thursday, a group of eight men and women in their early to mid twenties converged on the site at the corner of St. Joseph E. and St. Laurent blvds. With homemade signs stating "Pro-Choice", they milled about for about twenty minutes before heading off into warmer climes. During their stay, I was approached by one, a young woman, who wondered about the sign indicating the number of Saved Babies. I explained the source of the number - the national 40 Days for Life web site, and the reporting method - emails sent to the central office from the 256 or so current vigil locations from around the world (e.g., 10 in Canada, 9 Spain, 7 Australia).

After the conversation had ended, we went our separate ways. Shortly there after, I notice that the scarf that had been draped around this young woman had found a new location - spanning the homemade sign indicating the number of saved babies! Does hiding the truth lessen it in anyway?

The vigil runs through to and including Sunday April 1, daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Have you made plans to drop by? Love to see you there.

I'm writing this from an internet cafe on Parc Avenue - I have a two hour break... until noon.

Great day yesterday. Gruelling yet full of grace.

I spent eleven hours at the site yesterday and received many blessings, much positive stuff. Foremost was the trinkling of folks to the site to pray. Some came for five to ten minutes while others stayed for an hour or two. And this went on for the entire day - from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Most came alone - Jean, Gabriel, James, Emilia,..., but others came in groups - a young couple from Verdun with their parents who are visiting from Brazil.

Also, had a couple to registrations. One man has offered to covered two two-hour slots per week and another couple will take an hour block on March 3rd. Slowly that schedule is filling.

Our nieghbours (the counter-protesters) showed up at 4 p.m. and stayed a couple of hours. The same lot we are familiar with. Jovial. Free bagels may have been an incentive from many. I felt hostility by one of the thirty or forty that showed up during this time. They have invested in a new banner, stitching similar to our own. I wonder how they bought it...

The 7th edition of a twice-a-year international prayer vigil for the end of abortion is kicking off this evening at 7pm in Lahaie Park (at the intersection of Saint-Laurent and Saint-Joseph boulevards), across the street from a Montreal abortion clinic.

Along with 257 other cities across the world, this "40 Days for Life" vigil, which will take place at Lahaie Park daily from 7am until 7pm from February 22nd until April 1st, aims to peacefully and prayerfully inform the public at large about the damage abortion has done to society.

Organised in Montreal by the Quebec Life Coalition (QLC), this year's vigil coincides with a new abortion defunding initiative spearheaded by QLC. This initiative will run alongside the 40 Days for Life right up until April 30th, the end of the tax season.

More about the 40 Days for Life >>

The 40 Days for Life are back in Montreal from February 22nd until April 1st. There will be a kickoff ceremony this coming Tuesday at 7pm at Lahaie park in Montreal. Come out and pray with us for the unborn !

I'm writing to invite you all to the "40 Days for Life" planning meeting, this Thursday, January 19, 2011, at 6 p.m. The agenda will be as follows:

• Opening prayer
• Go around - sharing one's vision for the current 40 Days for Life campaign Invitation to prayerfully consider serving in one of the team roles
  • Prayer coordinator;
  • Vigil Coordinator;
  • Outreach Coordinator;
  • Communications Coordinator;
  • Events Coordinator.
• Share my personal commitment to the campaign
• Ask for the commitment of other potential team members - schedule
• Assign team roles
• Determine campaign objectives
• Define the three campaign components;
• Pray together and dedicate your efforts to the Lord

We will also draw an initial vigil schedule. The vigil begins in six weeks, on Ash Wednesday - February 22, 2012, and ends on Sunday, April 1. This meeting will be at the rear of the St. Emile church situated at the corner of Sherbrooke street East and Davidson. The address is 3330 Rivier Street. Parking is available either on the street or in a lot. Hope you can make it!

The current "40 Days for Life" campaign is the largest in the movement's history. Over 300 grass-root groups have stepped forward to host a site where praying for the end of abortion is occurring and this in seven different countries. Information regarding the history of the movement may be found here.

Here in Canada, we are also seeing the greatest numbers of vigil locations occurring in any one campaign since these began back in 2007. From Victoria, B.C., through the prairies, into central Canada, and out east in the Maritime provinces, fifteen organizations have committed themselves to the cause of the unborn through 40 days of praying and fasting and constant vigil.

In Edmonton, Alberta, the prayer vigil caught the attention of the Western Catholic Reporter. In an October 10 story, and found here, the article notes the ecumenical tone to the vigil as both protestant and Catholic groups are participating.

Further, the reporter notes that what had been a once a year vigil - in the spring time, has for the first time become a twice a year event. Karen Richert, office director for Edmonton Pro-Life, says in regard to this change: "...we had a lot of people say to us that the weather is so much more favourable in the fall, so that's why we're doing both now.

Finally, we read how the vigilers are disproving the myth that we are there to judge and condemn the women who wish to procure an abortion. “People just want somebody to talk to, and they want to know that they are not hated for what they’ve done, so that sign of hope and witness is always so important,” said Richert.

Heavenly Father,

Our movement is God driven. Otherwise, we will fail. We know. We have tried to do it on our own and we have failed. We face a colossus. News reports show; the death toll due to abortion – whether surgical, chemical, abortifacients, pregnancy reductions, is huge. These reports reveal that the mountain simply gets bigger.

We pray that the scourge of abortion be lifted from our land,

• Since 1988, Canada has had no legislation regulating the procedure of abortion. Hence, anything and everything goes. At any stage of pregnancy, the child is unsafe – from conception through to delivery.

That those who promote it may be brought to a change of heart;

The shiny red SUV pulled up along the sidewalk. A well-dressed thirty-something man, dark trench coat, unbuttoned, two-piece suit underneath, steps out. Immediately, he spots a solitary figure standing some forty-five feet away. This figure hands clasped is holding a rosary. The driver's stance freezes and stiffens. He glares. The look persists. Fifteen yards separated the two. No words are spoken but the significance escapes neither. He re-enters his vehicle and does a 180, parking on the far side of the busy roadway, a block further away. Re-emerges, brief case in hand and makes his way inside the abortion facility.

That all who are tempted to abortion may be lovingly helped to protect the precious gift of life;

The two women approached the abortion facility unimpeded. One, the younger, a woman in her twenties, drags heavily on her cigarette. The other, an older woman, perhaps in her mid-thirties, walks closely next to the younger. In front of the facility, the younger one stops, again drawing deeply on her cigarette. Her partner's hand goes up, resting on her friend's shoulder. A moment later this same hand gently strokes shoulder and upper arm - consoling her. Another moment goes by. Finally the pair moves, walking up the steps leading into the facility. Again atop, the younger stops. Her cigarette unfinished, she inhales, again deeply. Her friend, always in close proximity, continues her reassuring stroking. The cigarette finished, they walk in.

And that all who have experienced an abortion may be comforted with the healing gift of love.

The young couple walk out. Both in their early to mid twenties. Her gait is unsteady; he provides much support as they walk down the five steps. At the bottom they pause. They continue their walk, she relying on him for support – both physical and emotional.

A dark car pulls up in front of the facility. The driver stays inside but the passenger emerges, springing out and up the steps, into the facility. Moments later two women and two men, the former passenger and another, walk out of the double doors. The younger of the two women is noticeably needy, body hunched and twisted. Her peers offer support, first down the stairs and then into the car. The others pile in and the car drives off.

We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the World.

Heavenly Father,

We pray that the scourge of abortion be lifted from our land,

That those who promote it may be brought to a change of heart;

That all who are tempted to abortion may be lovingly helped to protect the precious gift of life;

And that all who have experienced an abortion may be comforted with the healing gift of love.

We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Here in Montreal, we kicked off the fall 2011 "40 Days for Life" prayer vigil last night in Lahaie Park - Saint-Joseph Blvd., corner Saint-Laurent.

After welcoming remarks, I invited two of the fourteen people present to address the group. First, I asked Georges (Quebec Life Coalition President, Mr. Georges Buscemi) to say a few words. He spoke eloquently about the importance of the present vigil, not only that for Montreal but for each of the 300 other locations worldwide.

The vigil team is packed with many persons who have participated in each of the previous five campaigns - quite a dedication. I invited one of these to speak next. Charlotte (Ms. Charlotte l'Heureux - a.k.a., "La Memère Charlotte") is seen below sharing her thoughts, which are frequently punctuated with "rimettes" - i.e., an expression she has coined to mean a humourous rhyme.

After the two speakers, night prayer was recited, at the end of which we gathered near the banner that had been lain out on the grass next to the sidewalk. Stringing ourselves along and a few of us holding the banner, Gabriel led us in a few closing prayers. Jerry (seen below, third from the left) added to the evening, as he frequently does during the vigil, in a customary fashion, paying his harmonica (not shown).

The evening ended with refreshments in the community hall of a nearby convent.

The vigil continues through until Sunday, November 6.