All it takes is a simple “YES”

I first joined the 40 Days for Life vigil three years ago, just after graduating. I had more time, but more than that, I had a growing desire to live my faith more intentionally. A friend invited me to one of the initial pro-life events, and from the moment I arrived. It didn’t feel forced or unfamiliar it felt like I had stepped..... into something I was meant to be part of.

At that time, my prayer life was very active. I was praying multiple rosaries a day and had a strong desire to be bold in my faith. I’ve always been someone who is drawn to challenges, and this felt like a spiritual one something that would stretch me, but also root me more deeply in Christ. So I said “yes.”

Now, three years later, I can say that each year has been completely different. The first year was new and unfamiliar. The second brought more understanding. And this third year has felt more grounded I’ve noticed that I’m less affected by what people say. That doesn’t mean it has been easy. There have been moments of what I can only describe as spiritual warfare, where before anything good seemed to happen, there would be accusations and hurtful words. Some people would film us or call us names. Yet, after these moments, there was also visible good fruit especially in seeing many young people becoming open to receiving rosaries. What started with resistance would sometimes completely shift, with hearts opening in ways we didn’t expect, and that was a powerful reminder of God at work.

But over time, I’ve learned something important: not every word spoken over you is truth. One of the most powerful things I began to practice was consciously rejecting those lies in prayer renouncing them in the name of Jesus. That shift has been transformative. It not only changed how I experienced the vigil, but also how I approach challenges in daily life.

Another thing I’ve come to appreciate is the different ways people serve during the vigil. Some prefer to pray the rosary continuously, others stand in quiet prayer, and some engage by offering leaflets and sacramentals. Over the years, I’ve learned the beauty of this balance how each role matters and contributes to the overall presence.

This year, however, something shifted for me personally. I felt a clear prompting from the Lord to step out and offer rosaries to people passing by. It wasn’t something I had planned it just grew naturally. I found myself going beyond my usual commitment, coming on extra days!

What stood out most was the response. In the first few days, every single rosary we gave was taken. After this, while many people declined or responded negatively, some were genuinely touched. Some would ask, almost surprised, “Is this really for me? For free?” And in those moments, something deeper was happening.

It became clear to me that this was more than just a pro-life witness it was also about encountering people where they are. These small interactions, even just a few seconds long, had the potential to reach someone’s heart.

During a time of prayer and Adoration, I had a moment that has stayed with me deeply. We were reflecting on how God sees us individually, and I had a strong sense of being seen as a child completely known and loved. I even had a brief image of myself as a baby. That moment connected so powerfully with the mission I was part of. It reminded me that every life begins like that small, vulnerable, yet deeply precious and fully seen by God.

That realisation strengthened my conviction. If God sees each of us with such care and intention, then every life truly matters “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11  

This year in Ealing, I’ve seen a range of responses some people uninterested, some opposed, but many open in quiet and unexpected ways. And those moments of openness are enough. They remind me that this mission is not about forcing anything, but about offering something with love, gentleness, and dignity.

For me, these three years have been a journey of growth not just in action, but in understanding. Learning to stand firm, to remain peaceful, and to trust that even the smallest act whether a prayer, a rosary, or a brief encounter can carry lasting impact. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple “yes.”

Riona

To sign up for hours at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Ealing, West London contact Sarah on 07776256838, or email her at london40daysforlife@hotmail.com

The 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil in Brixton will run for 12 hours a day, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday. If you could spare an hour or more to come and pray with us, it would be of great help. The vigil takes place at the corner of Brixton Water Lane, London, SW2 5BJ. For more details or to book to attend please contact Gabriella on 07745711064 or 02077231740

For details about 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigils in Reading, Southend, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Bournemouth and Sheffield see here and for the rest of the World see here 

Saving Lives This Lent

During Lent we often struggle with Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. Yet these Lenten duties aren’t given to us as a punishment but as a means to help us overcome our own spiritual weakness, our greed and selfishness and even our lack of self-control and our lack of vigour in attaining holiness. In other words, Lent is a kind of spiritual workout for the soul. It can be hard sometimes to feel that giving up chocolate and saying an extra prayer or two is making much difference. Sometimes it is even harder to just keep doing the penances or spiritual extras we have taken on, or knowing where best to give alms!

Pro-life work provides an opportunity for all these things. Firstly, in order to try to help women considering abortion, we have to have hope ourselves – abortion is an act of despair, so if we don’t have hope, we have nothing to offer women in need. So we need to keep our own faith alive and active through a deep prayer life. Secondly, some demons can only be cast out through prayer and fasting, as Our Lord told the apostles. And sometimes it is very clear that abortion is one of the issues that requires both prayer and fasting for us to overcome it. Finally, almsgiving. The women we see come to us with every kind of problem: homelessness, trafficking, abuse, illegal immigration, poverty, drug and alcohol addiction, imprisonment, prostitution, depression, marriage breakdown, and so many other difficult situations. Money is not the answer to every problem, but money can often buy help, keep food on the table and a roof over someone’s head. With your support, we can reach and help many more Mothers, so they can choose life and we can support them as they do so.

The women who choose abortion come from every walk of life, rich and poor, black and white and every race and colour. We can use Lent to profit our own soul as well as to help save the lives of others by deepening our prayer, fasting and almsgiving for those tempted to abort.

A young Mother, Joanna, who we helped recently, changed her mind as she was going to the Ealing abortion centre. The thing that made her feel able to choose life was our offer to help with part of her rent for the months she would be off work because she did not qualify for maternity pay. That promise has been honoured and she is now the delighted Mother of Jennifer, who is the apple of her eye. It’s amazing that a relatively small amount of financial help can save a life, but it is true! Not just has it saved Jennifer’s life, but it has also brought Joanna to the point where she recognises that abortion would have been wrong, and a terrible mistake. Something she would never want to consider again, no matter how difficult the circumstances.

So, this Lent, please join us and spare some prayer, fasting and almsgiving for the pro-life movement.

Prayer

Why not join us in prayer during Lent? See the options to join our Rosary or Adoration Rotas, or join us at 40 Days for Life – see GoodCounselNetwork.com for details. And follow the daily updates here on our blog, which includes details of the Bishop, Archbishop and Cardinal who have attended 40 Days for Life vigils in London this Lent.

Fasting

Can you offer your fasting and any suffering you have for the end of abortion, the closure of abortion centres and for particular Mothers considering abortion?

Almsgiving

Can you support our work and help the Mothers we are assisting by donating during Lent? Or could you start making a regular (e.g. monthly) donation to our work? See our bank details below.

Clare

DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR WORK

Donate by Bank Transfer to:

The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel

Sort Code: 40-06-30                       

Account Number: 13994678

By Credit Card over the phone:

Call 0207-723-1740

Monday to Friday, 10.30-6pm

Via Paypal: Paypal.me/SaveLivesGCN

Ending Abortion with the Rosary!

At the end of October, we mark the Anniversary of the National Buffer Zone which came into effect on the 31^st October 2024, and which bans prayer and offers of help or support to expectant mothers within 150 metres of every abortion centre. Although we have had to move  down the road, we are still there seeing women who turnaround and need your prayers and financial support.

October is also the month of the Rosary, and as we move on towards the end of the year, we are asking all our supporters to deepen their devotion to the Rosary, to pray it daily for the end of abortion as well as for each and every Mother who considers abortion to choose life. Here are some of the reasons why we think it matters.

A Way to End Abortion: The Rosary

“Oh no not the Rosary!” – the inward, or sometimes outward, groan of children – and, sad to say, adults, for many generations.

How can it be that a prayer so beloved of our Blessed Mother, which honours her and causes us to dwell on the events of her son’s life can be found so burdensome, boring, hard to concentrate on and dry? The Rosary takes us on a pilgrimage through the earthly life and the glorious deaths of Jesus and Mary, in joy and in sorrow, with Jesus as the Light of the world and as its glorious Redeemer. The outward words spoken in the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory be echoing the words of Holy Scripture – the voice of the Holy Spirit – as we strive to focus our minds and hearts on the Mysteries.

St Louis Marie de Montfort wrote of the Rosary, ‘If you say the Rosary faithfully until death, I do assure you that, in spite of the gravity of your sins, you shall receive a never fading crown of glory. For even if you are now on the brink of damnation, even if you have one foot in hell, even if you have sold your soul to the devil…sooner or later you will be converted and will amend your life and save your soul. If–you say the Rosary devoutly every day of your life.’

Miracles of the Rosary

In the year 1214, Our Lady appeared to Saint Dominic, giving him her Holy Rosary. Through the Rosary, the Albigensian heresy was completely defeated, and the heretics returned back to the fold of the Church.

In 1571 all of Christian Europe was saved from the threat of a Turkish invasion at the Battle of Lepanto. Pope Saint Pius V, the reigning Pontiff at that time, implored all of Catholic Europe to pray the rosary. It was prayed continually, round the clock. The Catholic forces in that battle were greatly outnumbered but the Turkish invaders were soundly defeated. The Holy Father referred to it as a great Rosary Victory. Pope Saint Pius V proclaimed October 7, as the feast of the Holy Rosary.

In 1683, the Turkish forces again threatened to overrun Europe. As the army of King John of Poland marched to Vienna they prayed the rosary. Catholic Europe was once again saved from the threat of a Turkish invasion. The date of that battle was September 12, 1683 - the feast of the Holy name of Mary.

Various Rosary Campaigns in History and Their Outcomes

Fr. Peter Pavlicek, organized a Rosary crusade in Austria in 1948. Fr. Peter asked for a “tithe” of Rosaries; he asked that ten percent of all Austrians pledge to say the Rosary daily until the Soviets left the country. The people of Austria responded generously. They prayed for seven years, and then on May 13, Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, 1955, the Soviets mysteriously just packed up and peacefully left.

Brazil was spared a communist dictatorship in the 1960’s through a Rosary Campaign led by a Dona Amelia Basto. Something similar happened in Portugal in 1975.

On March 25, 1984, Pope John Paul II called for a Rosary crusade because of the grave danger to world peace at that time. In response to his request, a major "Rosaries for peace" crusade was launched by the Blue Army and other Marian organizations. There was a magnificent response. And on May 13, 1984, one of the largest crowds in Fatima’s history gathered at the shrine to pray the Rosary for peace. And that very day an explosion at the Soviets’ Severomorsk Naval Base destroyed two-thirds of all the missiles stockpiled for the Soviets’ Northern Fleet. Western military experts called it the worst naval disaster the Soviet Navy had suffered since WWII. Four years later during the night of May 12, 1988, as thousands prayed the Rosary at Fatima, another mysterious explosion wrecked the only factory that made the rocket motors for the Soviets’ deadly SS 24 long-range missiles, which carry ten nuclear bombs each.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen was once asked to describe the power of the rosary. "Describe the power of the rosary, there are just no words to describe the power of the rosary!" He went on to further state, "The trouble with the world today is that there are not enough rosaries being prayed!"

In 2004 A group of pro-life pregnancy centres in Austria were engaged in praying the Rosary for some years, both outside abortion centres and in front of the Blessed Sacrament. 3 abortion centres closed in Austria, one of which the pro-lifers then bought and used as a centre for post-abortion healing. When asked how these abortuaries had come to close the Director of the pro-life centres stated “By the power of the Rosary”.

Save Yourself and Save the World!

There are many things which are powerful and necessary for us as Catholics, especially the Holy Mass, the Source and Summit of our faith. But the Rosary is a simple everyday meditation on the life of Our Lord, accompanying Our Lady, and we have been requested to say it by Our Lady repeatedly, and by many Popes. If there was ever a time to take up the Rosary with your whole heart it is now, as threats of abortion up to birth and euthanasia are so close to becoming law.

Please consider joining our once-a-month Rosary Rota if you haven’t already email us at info@goodcounselnetwork.com

Pope Paul VI said, "Do you know what the world needs today? Saints! Thousands upon tens of thousands of Saints!". We can be the saints that Pope Paul VI said the world needed. We are the people who have to take our rosaries in your hands and start praying. Until we have thousands upon tens of thousands of people praying the rosary, we are not going to have those Saints and nor are we going to defeat the culture of death.

Donate to Support Our Work

Bank Details

Name: The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel

Sort Code: 40-06-30
Account Number: 13994678

By Credit Card over the phone: Call 0207-723-1740 Monday to Friday, 10.30-6pm

Paypal.me/SaveLivesGCN

Or send a cheque payable to, The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel and post it to PO Box 46679, London, England, NW9 8ZT.

Clare McCullough

Please Say One Million Rosaries 4 The Unborn This Weekend

The Saint Michael the Archangel Organisation, based in Memphis, Tennessee, has launched a drive for one million rosaries for unborn babies between this Friday 4th May and this Sunday 6th May, from people all around the world. We urge all Catholics to join this wonderful pro-life campaign and spread the word among their contacts. For more details visit http://www.saintmichaelthearchangelorganization.org/

HT John Smeaton

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

Have a Blessed Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

Prayer To Our Lady of the Rosary

O Virgin Mary, grant that the recitation of thy Rosary may be for me each day, in the midst of my manifold duties, a bond of unity in my actions, a tribute of filial piety, a sweet refreshment, an encouragement to walk joyfully along the path of duty. Grant, above all, O Virgin Mary, that the study of thy fifteen mysteries may form in my soul, little by little, a luminous atmosphere, pure, strengthening, and fragrant, which may penetrate my understanding, my will, my heart, my memory, my imagination, my whole being. So shall I acquire the habit of praying while I work, without the aid of formal prayers, by interior acts of admiration and of supplication, or by aspirations of love. I ask this of thee, O Queen of the Holy Rosary, through Saint Dominic, thy son of predilection, the renowned preacher of thy mysteries, and the faithful imitator of thy virtues. Amen.

One Million Rosaries for the Unborn this weekend

On May 6th, 2011 a 3-day spiritual battle begins for an end to the surgical and non-surgical killing of unborn human persons. It is anticipated that people from various places throughout the world will be praying the Rosary for this intention. (Last year, people from more than 40 nations registered for the ONE MILLION ROSARIES FOR UNBORN BABIES.)

Within the last 50 years, hundreds of millions of unborn human persons have been killed surgically and non-surgically. No other group of people has ever suffered such a massacre.

Please, do for the unborn babies that which they can not do for themselves: Pray at least one Rosary from May 6th - 8th for the intention listed above. ( You may register by clicking here. Remember: Each Rosary you register will get us one Rosary closer to the goal of one million Rosaries.)

Also, please help get the word out so other people will know about the ONE MILLION ROSARIES FOR UNBORN BABIES prayer event.

Stuart McCullough

Rosary Crusade of Reparation Procession in Central London Today

We filched this blog in it's entirety from Ecumenical Diablog here

The Rosary Crusade of Reparation, which is in it's Jubilee Year, takes place this year TODAY- Saturday, 16th October.

The Abbot of Farnborough, the Rt Rev Dom Cuthbert Brogan OSB, will lead this year's event.

The Procession starts at 1:45 PM on Saturday, 16th October outside Westminster Cathedral in Central London (nearest underground station is Victoria).

The procession makes its way through Westminster and Knightsbridge to South Kensington, ending at the the Brompton Oratory (nearest Underground Station: South Kensington).

At the Oratory, following prayers and hymns, there will be Solemn Pontifical Benediction and an opportunity to enroll in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.Do support this wonderful event in honour of Our Lady!

If you would like to help, the organisers can also use some Stewards, Servers (please bring own Cassock & Cotta) and Flower Girls! Please let us know(Francis Carey (01494) 729223 – Mathias Menezes (020) 8764 0262 or 07950 384515).

Please also pass the word, through emails, word of mouth etc.

Let's get a good crowd for Our Lady!

October, Month of the Holy Rosary

October is a month in the Church's calender dedicated to Our Lady's Rosary. The 7th of October marked the feast of Our Lady of The Rosary. If we want the world to come to it's senses and see the evil of Abortion we must fast and pray the Rosary. At the battle of Lepanto, Europe was being threatened by invasion from the Moors. It was through the Rosary that the Moors were defeated and Europe remained Christian.

Today,the 13th October is the anniversary of the final apparition of Our Lady at Fatima, where she came to remind us to pray the Rosary daily, to consecrate ourselves to her and to do penance.

We will not defeat Abortion without the Rosary. Let's take up our Rosary beads and Our Lady will present our prayers to her Son and He will ensure that Abortion is vanquished from the world.

James Coulborn

In A Moral Vacuum We Can Still Pray

Recently we celebrated the feast of St. Monica and the following day, the feast of St. Augustine. St Monica is a great saint, who never wearied in praying for the conversion of her son. St. Augustine, prior to his conversion was living with his girlfriend, and fathered a child with her. He was also vehemantly anti-Catholic, and had lost his faith.
St. Monica lived in a time not so disimilar to our own, where sexual immorality was rampant. Through her prayers, her son was converted, and is now venerated as one of the great Doctors of the Church. She also converted her pagan husband.
We live in a world, which has lost its moral compass; tossed by the tide of relativism, it has adopted a moral vacuum, where lawlessness and immorality rule. Young people are tragically losing their faith, barely having recieved the Sacrament of Confirmation; cohabitation has become more prevalent than the Sacrament of Marriage, and the abortions that have resulted because of this are numerous.
It is easy for us to despair if we look at the evil in the world, or see our own children lose the Catholic Faith we have taught them. However, let's take great courage and faith from St. Monica's example, who patiently suffered and continued to pray for her son's conversion, when from a human perspective all seemed hopeless. God hears our prayers and tears for those who have lost their faith, and are not leading good Christian lives, and He forgives His prodigal sons and daughters and there is great rejoicing in Heaven.
Let's pray the rosary every day for our loved ones who have lost their faith, and for all sinners, that Our Lady will wrap them in Her Immaculate Mantle of protection, and lead them to the Most Merciful Heart of her Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

James Coulborn

Blessed Rosaries Are A Powerful Weapon to Bear

In case you didn't see this in the news last week:
A British soldier was saved by his rosary beads in Afghanistan when he stooped to pick them up and saw that he was next to a landmine. Glenn Hockton, 19, was on patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when bent down to pick up his prayer beads after they fell off, Daily Express reported Tuesday.
It was then that he realised that he was standing close to a mine.
“As he (Glenn) bent down to pick up his rosary to see if it was broken, he ­realised he was near a landmine.
“He had to stand there for 45 terrifying minutes before his colleagues managed to get him,” Glenn’s mother Sheri Jones was quoted as saying.
Nearly 65 years back, Glenn’s great-grandfather’s life was saved during the World War II, thanks to rosary beads. He survived a blast, which killed six of his platoon.
Joseph “Sunny” Truman was with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
“Grandad (Truman) was walking across a field with half a dozen of his platoon. He bent down to pick something up and was the only one to survive a sudden bomb blast. He had picked up a rosary,” said Truman’s grand-daughter Sheri.
She said she was shocked when Glenn told her about the ­coincidence.

Coincidence? My foot! God-incidence. It is nice when Jesus and Mary intervene in our lives in such a clear way.
This story should remind us of the importance of praying our Rosary, and the indulgences which apply to even carrying a blessed rosary beads.
Of course they are not a lucky charm but as sacramentals they are a witness to our requesting Our Lady's protection and prayers.
St Louis de Montfort said that when he got a blessed Rosary into someone's hands he considered them saved. Of course, he did no doubt pray and sacrifice a lot for them beforehand.
But it should remind us too of why we try to give blessed miraculous medals and rosaries to girls considering abortion. And it should strengthen our resolve to do so in the future.

Clare McCullough

The Importance of Prayer in Pro-Life Work

I opened my bible with the intention of writing about prayer after praying for inspiration from God and thanks be to God I believe it was the right page to start off with.
First Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy Chap 2:1-6; "I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men: For kings, and for all that are in high station: that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all piety and chastity. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus: Who gave himself a redemption for all, a testimony in due times."
We know that prayer is vital to our pro-life work and that Jesus in the only mediator who stands in need of no other to recommend His petitions to the Father. But this is not against our seeking the prayer and intercession, as well of the faithful upon earth as of the saints and angels in heaven for obtaining mercy , grace, and salvation through Jesus Christ. And we of course know the importance of praying the Holy Rosary for Our Lady’s intercession for all our needs and the needs of others.
Our Lady has revealed many promises to those who devoutly say the Rosary. Also it has been revealed that the Divine Mercy is a vital prayer to say in the fight against abortion. Monsignor Reilly recommends it for praying outside abortion clinics. We witness the power of prayer when we hear that so many abortion clinics have been closed down in America with ‘The Helpers of God’s Precious Infants’ led by Monsignor Reilly.
We need to pray for those mums who are being tempted by satan to abort, we pray for the graces to resist temptation and for them to be directed to our Centre or some kind of help so that they can keep their babies instead so that they will turn against abortion and to pray also for their conversion and salvation of their souls. We know that God will intervene if we pray fervently and have faith in Him.

Lorraine Coyne