DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE UNBORN 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 prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion The liturgical celebration for this day may be the Mass “For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life (no. 48/1 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions) . . . or the Mass “For the Preservation of Peace and Justice (no. 30 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions) . . . (373).
Readings for the Mass of the day or these or other 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
Justeice Shall Flourish (Della Pica) PMB 762
Justice Shall Flourish (Guimont) GC2 943/RS 101
Justice Shall Flourish (Marchionda) PMB 557
Justice Shall Flourish (Schiavone) WOR 769
Justice Will Flourish in His Time (Armstrong) CBW III 20
Justice Will Flourish in His Time (Dohms) PMB 154/WC 418
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 GC2 852/GP 340/JS 374
Before Thy Throne, O God, We Kneel CH 600
Beloved Son and Daughter Dear CH 234
Change Our Hearts GC2 414/GP 349
Come, Ye Disconsolate LMGM 255
Forgive Our Sins CBW III 620/GC2 848/JS 556/PMB 324/RS 952/WC 684/WOR 754
God Made from One Blood RS 824
Grant to Us, O Lord CBW III 621A/CH 465/PMB 329/WC 683
Healer of Our Every Ill GC2 854/WC 686
Help Us Accept Each Other WOR 656
Hold Us in Your Mercy GC2 398/GP 350
Holy Darkness GP 477
If I Have Wounded Any Soul LMGM 312
Lead Me, Guide Me GC 574/GC2 555/LMGM 168/PMB 397/RS 712/WC 791
Lord, I’m Coming Home LMGM 178
Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace CH 612/GC2 602/RS 751/WC 780/WOR 602
Our Father, by Whose Name CH 621
Our Father, We Have Wandered CH 401/GC2 849/JS 554/PMB 326/RS 955/WC 678/WOR 755
Pardon Your People GP 470
Perdón, Señor FYC 359
Perdona a Tu Pueblo FYC 345
Remember Your Love GC2 851/GP 474/JS 561
Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling GC2 850/JS 557
Te Pedimos Perdón FYC 353
The Church of Christ in Every Age CH 613/GC2 665/WC 940
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/PMB 322/RS 742/WC 682/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