Everyone loves the beauty and innocence of a baby. As an expression of that love, St. Joan of Arc Parish Pro-Life Ministry announces an adoption program for young and old alike.
The members of the St. Joan of Arc Parish family are asked to “spiritually adopt” a child who has been newly conceived this month. Not all preborn babies are allowed to be born. In fact, more than 3,288 babies lose their lives to abortion each day. It is these babies you are being asked to “adopt” by praying for them, either individually or as a family.
Please cut out the prayer found below, or pick up a prayer card at the Resource Center. Name your baby and then pray the prayer for him or her each day. You will receive monthly reports through the parish bulletin describing your baby’s development. Watch the bulletin boards in the Link for development posters.
There are millions of preborn babies desperately in need of your prayers. Won’t you please “spiritually adopt” one and share the love for life that God has given you?
Spiritual Adoption Prayer
To help stop the anti-life push in the world the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen encouraged the spiritual adoption of an unborn child. This is done by praying that one particular but unknown child’s life be spared abortion and be allowed to continue to live.
To help accomplish this, it was recommended an individual say the following daily prayer for a period of nine months.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.”
During your earthly life this spiritually adopted child of yours will be known only to God but in the world to come it is hoped that you will meet the souls your prayers saved and spend eternal happiness with them.
Spiritual Adoption Wall
Kelsey and Elliott (twins due Jan. 2011)
William (due Feb. 2011)
Maggie
Annabella
Marcia
Mary Grace
Allyson
Anna Therese and Matthew
Joseph
Kyle
Mary Elizabeth, Brian Scott and Michael John
Anthony James
Veronica
Andramada
Mary Katherine
Mary and Margaret
Grace Lenny
(Send your Spiritually Adopted child's name to prolifesja@gmail.com to be posted on the wall)
Baby's Development
I’m Here! Day 1
From the beginning, it is determined if I’m a little boy or a little girl. I begin my life as a single cell. In about 9 months, I will be born. Follow my progress in future parish bulletins!
First Month
Your spiritually adopted baby has been quite active over the past month. Already your baby is 10,000 times bigger than at conception. Your baby has developed the foundations of his/her brain, spinal cord, and nervous system by the 20th day. The blood type can be different from his mother's. Your baby is most vulnerable during the next month of being aborted. Pray that the Lord of Life might move the heart of his mother to give him the most precious gift of all - the gift of life.
To become active in the Spiritual Adoption program please take a Prayer card from the Resource Center. There is a poster of your developing baby near the Resource Center.
Second Month
Your baby is making progress developing all of his/her external features and internal organs. His brain is functioning at 40 days. His mother can hear his heart beat now on an ultrasonic stethoscope. His milk bud teeth are present at 6-1/2 weeks. He can start to suck his thumb. Everything he needs to survive once he is born is present by the end of the 8th week.
Third Month
Your Spiritually Adopted baby is about 3 inches long. The baby only weighs about one ounce but is fully formed. He or she can suck their thumb. Your baby is quite active right now, though the mother won't feel the movement for another couple of months. Keep saying your daily prayer. What a miracle this baby is!
Fourth Month
Well, your little baby now weighs 6 ounces and is about 6 inches long. He has fingernails and eye lashes. His taste buds are working. His sense of hearing is present at 14 weeks. There are no major bodily developments anymore. Your spiritually adopted baby is already well-formed, internally and externally. All he needs now is time to gain weight and grow strong.
Fifth Month
Your Spiritually Adopted baby weighs over one pound now and is 12 inches long. His mother can feel him moving now. We are mid-way through the pregnancy. Your prayers have helped your baby's mother continue with her pregnancy and seek the help she needs.
Sixth Month
Your spiritually adopted baby is growing quite beautifully now. His weight is approaching 2 pounds. He can hear sounds. Babies born prematurely at this time have a very good chance of surviving.
Seventh Month
Your baby is completely formed now, and has been since 8 weeks. All he is doing now is gaining weight. He can hear, taste, touch, cough, yawn and hiccup. In a short time, the baby will be born. Please continue to pray for your spiritually adopted baby.
Eighth Month
In the last two months the baby continues to gain weight. Your baby is developing a layer of fat that will keep it warm after it is born. Your babies lungs are fully developed and capable of making the transition to breathing air. Thanks to you for your prayers.
I AM HERE
We are concluding the Spiritual Adoption program.
After 9 months of growth and development, your spiritually adopted baby was born this month. The only change at birth is a different way of eating and breathing. Truly a miracle, your baby began its life just like all of us, as a 46 chromosome cell. Nothing was added after conception to make this anything but a human being. Never before in history, nor ever again, will anyone exists who is just like YOUR spiritually adopted child. You may never meet the mother and baby, but know that your prayers saved a life.
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” -Jeremiah 1:5
