The Visitation (Detail), Master Heinrich of Constance, c. 1310-1320

Please consider spiritually adopting an unborn child 

In the face of the horrific murder of unborn babies around the world, please consider spiritually adopting an unborn child at risk of abortion and making a very short prayer for this child each day for nine months. The prayer only takes about 15 seconds.  

Spiritual Adoption Prayer

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion. Amen. 

Mary, our Mother in Heaven, pray for us, and especially for your little ones in danger of abortion. Amen. 

History

In 1973 when the United States Supreme Court decision of Roe v Wade opened up the floodgates of abortion, the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979) wrote a "Spiritual Adoption" for families to pray in their own homes, in private, to call for God’s protection of unborn babies – the most powerful protector of all. This was the 'Jesus, Mary and Joseph' prayer above. Ven. Fulton Sheen wanted the faithful to know that we are not powerless against anti-life forces, and it is something we can do against the growing tide of the culture of death. Since 1973 the spiritual adoption prayer has been prayed by thousands of the faithful and families, and in parish programs. 

The prayer is often prayed from 25 March (the Feast of the Annunciation) to 25 December (Christmas Day) but it can be prayed over any nine month period. Spiritual Adoption is an opportunity for us to intercede on behalf of a child in danger of abortion who may not have anyone else to pray for them. While this child will remain unknown to his or her “spiritual parent”, God knows each of them. 

While the decision of Roe v Wade was overturned in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022), abortion remains widespread in the United States and throughout the world. In the United States there were 1,026,690 abortions in 2023, and at least 44 million abortions worldwide in 2023, possibly 56 million worldwide. In Ireland, after abortion was legalised,  since 2019 there have been 28,802 abortions. In Australia there were 75,135 abortions in 2023, and in New Zealand 14,164 abortions in 2022. This terrible slaughter of innocent babies continues every day.

In relation to the passage in Saint Mathew's Gospel - "Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me" (Matthew 25.40), Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997) said: “Who is the least? Is it the poor and the marginalized right here in this archdiocese? Do we have to go to a third world country to really find the least? Or is it true that no one is “more” least than the unborn child, a child who depends on someone else 100% of the time for 100% of their needs?"

Baby Leo David Hargreaves (sonogram 13 May 2014, born 30 June 2014)

Other Prayers for Life - Prayers for the ending of the murderous evils of abortion and euthanasia here.

Immaculate Queen of Peace, pray for us.