Washington D.C., Oct 12, 2016 / 16:26 pm
In the closing weeks of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Catholics should pray and fast for "a culture of life," one Catholic member of Congress has said.
"Like in the time of Queen Esther, the faithful and faith-filled need to pray and fast for God's mercy, healing, justice, humane laws and policies and conversion. An outpouring of the Holy Spirit," Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, told pilgrims on the International Day of Prayer and Fasting on Monday.
"For a time such as this, the urgency now is for persevering prayer including the Rosary and Chaplet of Mercy, asking God in Jesus' name for protection for the weakest and most vulnerable – unborn children, persons with disabilities, and the frail elderly," he continued.
The 24th International Week of Prayer and Fasting took place from Oct. 2-10. It culminated in an all-day prayer vigil on Monday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington, D.C.