FROM THE PULPIT: A TIME FOR PRAYER AND FASTING

"A nation that kills its own children is a nation without hope."

These words of Pope John Paul II came to mind during the recent special session of the Missouri General Assembly. As you will recall, our state legislators came within one vote of over-riding our Governor's veto of the legislation that would have banned the "partial birth abortion procedure" in Missouri. Eight Senators who had previously voted to ban the procedure changed their votes, thus enabling the Governor's veto to stand. Admittedly, the Governor tried to play both sides of the issue by asking the Special Session then to pass a bill according to his specifications. Fortunately, we have enough legislators with strong principles that it was not possible for the Governor to enact his wishes.

For us Catholics, since abortion has become legal in our country. October has become known as RESPECT LIFE MONTH. This year, as we enter into this Respect Life Month, an organization known as the Coalition for the Triumph is inviting all Catholics to participate in an International Week of Prayer and Fasting for the conversion of all peoples and an end to abortion.

The Coalition for the Triumph is an international coalition of Catholic individuals and organizations who have come together for a worldwide crusade of prayer and fasting. This special eight day week starts next Sunday with Respect Life Sunday and concludes on Monday, Oct. 13, 1997. Oct. 13 is the 80th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima in 1917. This miraculous event concluded the series of Mary's apparitions in which she had told the children of many different things that would happen in this Century including the horrors of World War II and the eventual downfall of communism in Russia.

Prior to her death, Mother Teresa of Calcutta had spoken with Coalition members on two occasions and was making plans to attend the conclusion of this International Week of Prayer in Washington, D.C. Her comments about the plans for this week deserve repetition: "This must happen ... this is the answer to all the world's problems."