Annual night of prayer calls for end to abortion, protection of sanctity of life
Twelve parishes in the archdiocese will participate in the National Night of Prayer for Life, a time for eucharistic adoration and prayer for the unborn, an end to abortion and protection of the sanctity of human life. Local parishes will join others across the country to ask for the intercession of the Blessed Mother to establish a culture of life.
The evening prayer spans the feast of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday, Dec. 8, and the anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s first apparition to St. Juan Diego on Monday, Dec. 9.
Parishes that will have eucharistic adoration beginning Dec. 8 at 9 p.m. and ending Dec. 9 at 1 a.m.
ST. JOSEPH, 106 N. Meramec Ave. in Clayton.
Parishes that will have eucharistic adoration on Dec. 8 from 8 p.m.-midnight in union with the National Night of Prayer for Life intentions
ST. PAUL, 2267 St. Paul Road in St. Paul (eucharistic adoration chapel).
Parishes that will have prayer at specified times on Dec. 8 or 9 or as designated in union with the National Night of Prayer for Life intentions
HOLY INFANT, 627 Dennison Drive in Ballwin (eucharistic adoration chapel); prayer service from 7-11 p.m. Dec. 8, including the Rosary, Divine Mercy chaplet and litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
ST. CLEMENT OF ROME, 1510 Bopp Road in Des Peres (eucharistic adoration chapel), Holy Hour from 7-8 p.m., followed by quiet prayer in the chapel from 8 p.m.-midnight.
ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON, 2 Seton Court in St. Charles; Mass Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m., followed by Rosary and chaplet of Divine Mercy. Attendance and prayers encouraged in the eucharistic adoration chapel through the night.
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, 4556 Telegraph Road in Oakville; Eucharistic adoration and prayers, including Benediction, from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Dec. 9.
ST. GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL, 6303 Nottingham Ave. in south St. Louis; Mass Dec. 8 at 6 p.m., followed by Holy Hour.
STS. JOACHIM & ANN, 4112 McClay Road in St. Charles; Vespers at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8, followed by eucharistic adoration until 11 p.m.
ST. JOHN PAUL II, 4980 Heege Road in south St. Louis County; Prayer Dec. 8 from 9 p.m.-midnight.
ST. JOSEPH, 1355 Motherhead Road in Cottleville; eucharistic adoration, Benediction, Rosary and silent prayer Dec. 8 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
ST. JOSEPH, 6020 Old Antonia Road in Imperial (eucharistic adoration chapel); Dec. 8 exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 9 p.m., closing with benediction at 12:01 a.m.
ST. PETER, First Capitol Drive at S. Third St. in St. Charles (eucharistic adoration chapel); Adoration Dec. 8 from 8 p.m.-midnight.
>> Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Because the feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) falls on the second Sunday of Advent, the readings for the solemnity have been transferred to Monday, Dec. 9. This year, it is not a Holy Day of Obligation.
The feast of the Immaculate Conception references Mary’s conception in her mother’s womb without the stain of original sin. An essential part of God’s plan for the mother of Jesus was that she be conceived free from original sin. “Through the centuries the Church became ever more aware that Mary, ‘full of grace’ through God, was redeemed from the moment of conception” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #491). The idea was that no sin would touch her, so that she would be a fitting and worthy vessel of the Son of God.
In 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed this dogma infallibly, declaring that the doctrine was divinely revealed and must be accepted with faith by the entire Church.
