A Day of Fasting and Prayer in Reparation for a Culture of Violence and Disrespect of Human Life will be held across the entire diocese Jan. 22.
Initially organized by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, similar events are being held in other dioceses across the state, beginning in early December. The events were partly inspired by a series of undercover sting videos discussing the sale of human body parts from aborted babies by Planned Parenthood officials. However, the day is meant to encompass the full Catholic teaching on a consistent ethic of life.
Jan. 22 was chosen in the Diocese of Duluth because it is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.
Details of the day are still coming together, but plans as of this writing are for Bishop Paul Sirba to celebrate the 7 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary. Following the Mass, the diocese plans to have chartered buses bound for the annual March for Life in the Twin Cities later that day. The Cathedral will host eucharistic adoration for the rest of the morning, with Benediction at noon. Pastors will be encouraged to celebrate Mass and host adoration in their parishes for the day’s intentions, as well.
All the faithful are invited to offer their fasting and prayers for the intentions, as well. For the fasting, diocesan officials said people could take the fasting and abstinence rules of Ash Wednesday and Good Friday — no meat, and one normal meal with two smaller meals that don’t add up to a full meal — as a guide. However, unlike those days, fasting on Jan. 22 is entirely voluntary.
Watch for additional details as they become available.
— The Northern Cross
