Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
January 22
Each year on January 22, the Church in the United States observes the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. This date marks the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. For Catholics, this is not a day of anger or politics, but a day of prayer, repentance, and renewed commitment to defend the dignity of every human life.
At the heart of our faith is the truth that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). This dignity is not earned by size, age, strength, or usefulness. It is given by God Himself, from the first moment of existence. The unborn child, hidden in the womb, is already known and loved by God: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). To protect the unborn, then, is not merely a social concern—it is a matter of fidelity to the Creator.
The Church has always taught that human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. This teaching flows from reason, from science, and from faith. Modern biology confirms that at conception a new, unique human life begins, with its own DNA and its own path of development. Faith deepens this truth by revealing that this life is not an accident, but a gift, entrusted to us by God.
Yet the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children is not only about laws and court decisions. It is about conversion of heart. Laws matter because they teach, they shape culture, and they either protect or endanger the vulnerable. But even just laws will not endure unless hearts are changed. That is why the Church first calls us to pray: for mothers and fathers facing difficult pregnancies, for children whose lives are at risk, for those who work in abortion facilities, for lawmakers and judges, and for our own hearts, that we may love more deeply and courageously.
This day is also a day of mercy. Many in our parishes and families carry the hidden pain of abortion—women, men, grandparents, siblings. The Church does not respond with condemnation, but with the healing love of Christ. Through repentance, the Sacrament of Confession, and ministries like Rachel’s Vineyard and Project Rachel, the Lord offers forgiveness and new life. No sin is greater than His mercy.
To pray for the legal protection of unborn children is also to commit ourselves to concrete love. We cannot simply say “yes” to life in words while failing to support those who struggle to welcome it. As Catholics, we are called to accompany mothers in need, to support families, to offer practical help through pregnancy centers, adoption services, material assistance, and compassionate presence. Defending life means standing with both the child and the mother, never against either.
Finally, this day reminds us that the unborn are not someone else’s concern. They are our brothers and sisters. They are members of the human family, even if unseen. When we defend them, we defend our own humanity. When we pray for them, we open our hearts to the God who became small, vulnerable, and hidden in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
On this Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, let us come before the Lord with humility and hope. Let us ask Him to heal wounds, to change hearts, to guide our leaders, and to make us courageous witnesses to the Gospel of Life. May our prayer bear fruit in laws that protect the innocent, in hearts that choose love over fear, and in a world that welcomes every child as a gift from God.
In Christ,
Fr. Joe Connelly