SMILE

Ella and James Preece are a Catholic couple living in Kingston Upon Hull in Yorkshire in the UK. This is our blog.

What do Catholics believe?

Blogged by James Preece on 4th May 2008

From this month's Middlesbrough Catholic Voice...

Since October 2007 there has been a pro-life group established in St Mary’s College, Hull. The pupils decided to form as a result of a truly amazing and inspirational speaker who came to Hull to address the Hull Faith Forum. Berni Smyth, the foundress of ‘Precious Life’, the major prolife group in Northern Ireland, works with girls and women who want to have an abortion and with those who have had abortions. Berni highlighted the physical, emotional and spiritual consequences that abortion has on women. She urged everyone to attempt to do something to highlight the passing of the 40th year of the legalisation of the Abortion Act in the UK.

Every Wednesday SMILE (St Mary’s Inviting Life Eternally) meets at 3.30 pm. The SMILE group have just finished putting up a display in the School. The display has testimonies from famous women who have had abortions (such as Sharon Osborne) and have regretted their decision. It illustrates foetal development and highlights celebrities and companies who support abortion. SMILE have put together an assembly for the entire school and have already given their first assembly to the sixth formers. SMILE sell the precious feet and give all money to pro-life organisations. In their last meeting the group wrote strong letters of appeal to the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

Sarah Holmes, Diocesan Youth Worker

What can I say? Well done to all involved. You are good eggs one and all.

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To the Blessed Virgin Prayer for England

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy "Dowry" and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee.

By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.

Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the cross.

O sorrowful Mother! intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.

Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home.

Amen.

Couple's Prayer

O God, our heavenly Father, protect and bless us. Deepen and strengthen our love for each other day by day.

Grant that by thy mercy, neither of us may ever say one unkind word to the other. Forgive and correct our faults, and make us constantly to forgive one another should one of us unconsciously hurt the other.

Make us and keep us sound and well in body, alert in mind, tender in heart, and devout in spirit. O Lord, grant us each to rise to the other's best. Then, we pray thee, add to our common life such virtues as only thou canst give.

And so, O Father, consecrate our life and love completely to thy worship, and to the service of all about us, especially those whom thou hast appointed us to serve, that we may always stand before thee in happiness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.