Catholics Urged to use Power of Prayer to end Abortion

Armed with a simple prayer, Arthur Maes is an unlikely hero in the conflict between good and evil.

During a weekday visit to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Northglenn, Maes was transformed from being a "typical" Catholic into an apostle of prayer waging a courageous battle to save unborn children from the jaws of death.

When Maes walked into Immaculate Hear of Mary, nothing dramatic happened: he simply found a prayer card that described the 15 promises revealed by Jesus Christ to St. Bridget of Sweden (1304-1373).

The St. Bridget Prayer, approved by Pope Pius IX, opened his eyes to the tremendous power of prayer. He began to pray with great devotion for the needs of his family and friends and he discovered the truth in the words of Our Lord in John 14, "Whatsoever you ask shall be given to you if you ask for it in my name with faith and devotion."

A financial planner, Art and his wife Nancy have five children. He is an active member o Knights of Columbus Council No. 7502 in Northglenn. He is also the director

of the "Peach of Christ Center" which prints, publishes, and distributes free prayer books to youth detention centers, prison inmates and the needy.

"I've always been a 100 percent optimist" Maes stated. "I believe that God will always take care of me and my family all I have to do is keep promoting his word and be faithful. First do the Lord's work and all good things will follow."

"we pray with faith because we know God exists but we must devote ourselves to action," Maes said. As parents, we understand this because we see it working in our families, but we must share this message with other" he insists.

His rock-solid belief in the power of prayer led Maes to join forces with National Pro-Life and Marian organizations, in an effort to end the tragedy of abortion in America. The Knights of Columbus are among the organizations that promote the prayer.

Several years ago Maes came across a prayer of the Image of our Lady of Guadeloupe on one side and the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's "Prayer for the spiritual adoption of an unborn child" on the other.

After receiving permission, to reprint the card Maes contacted a friend in the printing industry who offered to provide Maes with an unlimited supply of cards.

To date more than five million cards have been distributed by countless individuals and organizations.

To help stop abortion in America and the world, the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen encourage the spiritual adoption of an unborn child. This is done by praying a ten second prayer that an unborn baby's life be spared abortion and be allowed to live.

The prayer is: "Jesus, Mary and Joseph I love you ver much I beg your to spare the life of the unborn baby boy/girl that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion."

"What a wonderful gift it would be for Our Lady on her upcoming birthday September 8th and our Lord's birthday December 25th by spiritually adopting that child, you ask God to spar their life," Maes explained, "From then o, you offer prayers for their needs and for the needs of the child's family."