Remembering the unborn
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops invites all Catholics to pray the 9 Days Novena for Life starting Thursday, Jan. 16. Subscribe for reminders via email or text message in English or in Spanish. The novena runs Jan. 16-24.
A novena consists of prayers over nine consecutive days. This novena offers prayers and penance in observance of the annual Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Jan. 22.
Find out more here. The date is the anniversary of the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion through Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. Although the decision was reversed in 2022, with Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Church continues to pray for reparations, and for the protection of life.
In their statement, the bishops note, “While God, in His mercy, ended the nearly fifty-year nationwide regime of abortion on demand, right now state and federal laws, in many instances, are still hostile to pre-born children. So, great prayer and advocacy is very needed.”
January 22 is designated as the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children” by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), no. 3731. The conference’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities is inviting Catholics to join a focused effort of prayer for the end of abortion and the protection of women and preborn children. The faithful are encouraged to participate in the celebration of Mass on Jan. 22.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Join the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity in prayer Jan. 18-25, 2025, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Jesus did not intend for there to be thousands of Christian churches, but for one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
Begun in 1908 by a small Episcopalian church, Pope Pius X gave his blessing to the Church Unity Octave, and in 1916 Pope Benedict XV extended its observance to the universal church. This recognition by papal authority gave the octave its impetus throughout the Roman Catholic Church. This years’ theme is “Do you Believe?” drawn from Jn 11:26. Spiritual ecumenism, according to Vatican II, is the “soul” of the ecumenical movement, according to Graymoor Father James Loughran, of the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute. In his article on this year’s theme he said, “It is our common faith in the Risen Christ that brings us together for prayer. In turn, the prayer itself is effective in nourishing and confirming our unity.”
Resources for prayer can be found here.
The Church celebrates 1,700 years of the Nicene Creed
After the development and battle against more than 300 heresies, Roman Emperor Constantine called church leaders to the Council of Nicaea (in present day Turkey) in 325 A.D. Seeking to clarify Catholic belief, the Nicene Creed was written, stating the nature of God as Trinity and the two natures of Jesus, human and divine. The council hoped the creed would clarify Catholic belief and unify understanding and teaching. It was the first general council of the Church. In the year 2025, the Church celebrates 1,700 years since the council and all Christians East and West will have a common date for Easter, something Nicaea tried to agree upon. In 2025, Easter will be celebrated April 20. Today, more than two billion Catholics around the world pray the Creed at Mass, celebrating a unity of belief and profession of faith.