A Personal View of 40 Days for Life in Ealing

Sometimes we do something and we don’t know why. But then it makes sense afterwards. This sounds like a weaker description of what I have heard faith defined as - of believing in advance what only makes sense in reverse. With 40 Days for Life I have had this experience; of it making sense in reverse. There are so many good reasons to support this incredible group not least for the important work they do. In my case though I didn’t think, I just knew to go, gave up plans previously made and have been going ever since. In going I have been blessed to meet very special people there. This group seems to be a magnet for such people and each time I have really enjoyed it and found it a special experience in many ways.

This time every year the organiser, Sarah, gives up her Lent in order to make this happen; eight in the morning until eight in the evening everyday with at least two people outside the abortion centre. Sarah also organises several vigils throughout the night. The final vigil that went on for thirty-three hours and included one lady that inspired many. She used her one day off in the week to pray the whole night through, for this cause. This lady is among many that I have found truly inspiring in giving up their time and putting so much into this Lenten movement. Such people are the reason for many babies being born who would not have been without this group.

The power of this group is palpable given the number of mothers both this year and in past years who have chosen life for their children and been given help precisely because of this group – without which those same children may not be here today.

Sarah told me that she always finds it such a joy and still such a surprise when volunteers get so much out of it. She later suggested that perhaps it is because we often think we could do a bit more in Lent, but 40 Days for Life has all three Lenten disciplines - prayer, fasting and almsgiving (of time).

This is something that may seem to the world as something equivalent to hanging round in street corners or possibly something more insidious. But the truth is very different. The truth is that defending the unborn is an essential part of our Faith and anything against that is a direct attack on the dignity of human life made in the Imago Dei. To take part in this is to take part at the forefront of the spiritual warfare of our times, against the dangerous and growing culture of death that we have been previously warned about. This quote from Catholic philosopher Peter Kreeft brings to light the weight of what is at stake, “Abortion is the Antichrist’s demonic parody of the Eucharist. That’s why it uses the same holy words, “This is my body,” with the blasphemous opposite meaning.” 

I was also told about the history of the abortion centre that 40 days for Life, which set a fire inside of me in support of 40 days for life. I was sent the blog that goes through that history in detail. It used to be a chapel house that was set up by a woman called Dorothy Kerin who, was mortally ill. Yet on her deathbed she experienced miraculous healing in order that she may carry through her mission, that included prayer and ministering to the sick.

Alan Hopes, formerly Bishop of East Anglia and Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster said “The fact that Chapel House was founded as a house of prayer and healing, and is now home to an abortion provider is a tragic betrayal of the life and mission of Dorothy Kerin”. But things could have been very different, Dorothy was in the process of selling the building to a friend until that was blocked by the Middlesex County Council who forced its way into buying it with the threat of a Compulsory Purchase order. They subsequently sold it to Marie Stopes International in 1993. On MSI’s website they claim to provide “reproductive healthcare services”, which is possibly the most opposite description of something I have ever heard. Moreover, they provide this “healthcare” largely using our own tax money.

Dorothy, the same woman who experienced visions of angels and adopted nine children would likely be distraught that the house of healing has become a house of bloodshed. The building to this day still bears the plaque of Christ surrounded by a choir of angels with Saint Michael the Archangel below. This is such a profound insult to our Faith and what it stands for that I can hardly believe it. However, just as the crown of thorns was used by his executioners as a form of humiliation; we must remember that Christ (as only He can) used what they thought to be the ultimate insult, as His glory and final victory. In their vituperative outburst they crowned him king. More than that, it was the crown that Christ chose in order to display to the world His kingship. So too in this plaque remaining where it is, it signals hope of what is to come; as 40 Days for life holds on to that hope in prayer for the final victory in this place here. In Christ all is made right and the story of this “abortuary” is not over, as this very insult inspires hope for what is to come, for this abortion centre and all such clinics throughout the whole of England.

I’d like to end this post on one question - one that I invite you to ask others around you. A question that is essential to the mission of 40 Days for life and all those who take part in it. The answer will either, by implication, praise recent legislation to decriminalise abortion up until birth, or cause mourning for the deaths of the one third of children who were created by God to live a full life in this good country of ours.

The question: who are the unborn? This one question cracks open and defogs the entire landscape surrounding abortion. For if the unborn really are people, then this country will have to join a long list of those countries that have dehumanised and killed those that are inconvenient.

Thank you to this group and all the work that goes into it. It is something special and important and I very much looking forward to taking part in my own small way next year. I am and will continue to pray for this group and all its members, thank you again for all you do.

Tim

For details of other Pro-Life vigils see here