DAY OF PENANCE FOR ABORTION Lectionary #887–891
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal notes that “in all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life” (373). The Mass “for peace and justice” should be used.

Suggested Lectionary texts:

Isaiah 32:15–18 (887-2). The prophet’s vision of a peaceful society is one built on right and justice.

Responsorial Psalm (71) 72 (889-1)
In the reign of the ideal king, the lowly and the poor will find justice.

Every Nation on Earth (Joncas), Refrain II  GC 72/GC2 46/RS 102
Justice Shall Flourish (Cooney)  GP 220/JS 57
Justice Shall Flourish (Guimont)  RS 101
Justice Shall Flourish (Schiavone)  WOR 769
Justice Will Flourish in His Time (Armstrong)  CBW III 20
Justice Will Flourish in His Time (Dohms)  WC 413
Se Postrarán ante Ti/Every Nation upon Earth (Cortez), Respuesta II  FYC 219

Philippians 4:6–9 (888-1). Paul offers a “household code”—a simple set of rules to live by. For the Christian, this code requires fidelity to truth, justice, beauty, and excellence.

Matthew 5:38–48 (891-2). This section of the Sermon on the Mount contains some of the most challenging moral prescriptions in the New Testament: Offer no resistance to one who is evil; pray for your persecutors. On this day, these texts point us toward practices that will make our penance effective and our defense of life successful.

Songs of Penitence

As a Fire Is Meant for Burning  GC2 643/RS 779
Ashes  GP 340/JS 374
Before Thy Throne, O God, We Kneel  CH 600
Beloved Son and Daughter Dear  CH 234
Change Our Hearts  GP 349
Come, Ye Disconsolate  LMGM 255
Forgive Our Sins  CBW III 620/JS 556/RS 952/WC 663/WOR 754
God Made from One Blood  RS 824
Grant to Us, O Lord  CBW III 621A/CH 465/WC 661
Help Us Accept Each Other  WOR 656
Hold Us in Your Mercy  GP 350
Holy Darkness  GP 477
If I Have Wounded Any Soul  LMGM 312
Lead Me, Guide Me  GC 574/GC2 555/LMGM 168/RS 712/WC 777
Lord, I’m Coming Home  LMGM 178
Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace  CH 612/RS 751/WC 764/WOR 602
Our Father, by Whose Name  CH 621
Our Father, We Have Wandered  CH 401/JS 554/RS 955/WC 666/WOR 755
Pardon Your People  GP 470
Perdón, Señor  FYC 359
Perdona a Tu Pueblo  FYC 345
Remember Your Love  GP 474/JS 561
Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling  JS 557
Te Pedimos Perdón  FYC 353
The Church of Christ in Every Age  CH 613/WC 930
The Cry of the Poor  GC 48/GC2 33/GP 203/JS 847/RS 69
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy  CBW III 443/CH 535/GC2 603/GP 639/JS 748/RS 742/WC 660/WOR 595, 596
We Will Journey in Faith  JS 552
What Does the Lord Require  RS 785/WOR 624
Your Love, O Lord, Has All the World Created  JS 841