Jameson Taylor is a writer at HLI. This article is reprinted courtesy of HLI Reports, a publication of Human Life International.
An all-day Eucharistic prayer vigil inaugurated the week’s activities. The vigil featured an array of international speakers, including HLI president Fr. Thomas Euteneuer, who concelebrated Mass and challenged listeners with a stirring homily.
Topics discussed at the conference ranged from testimonies of personal conversion, like that rendered by Joan Appleton, a former abortion clinic nurse, to updates on pro-life legislation, presented by Congressmen Chris Smith, to techniques for waging spiritual warfare, as taught by Mother Nadine Brown.
“The spirit of death is the spirit you want to go after,” advised Mother Brown, foundress of the Intercessors of the Lamb. “Simply command that spirit to leave. Then, call upon the Holy Spirit, the ‘Lord and Giver of Life’, to come and give life, especially to that mother, so that she will change her mind. We’ve seen it happen over and over again that she [the mother] will change her mind.… We’ve also seen the Virgin Mary come through, especially when we say the Memorare. Our Lady is the most powerful intercessor, and we often ask her to place her mantle of protection over that baby.”
For Mother Nadine, learning to pray is as simple as learning one’s “ABCs,” which means, “Always Be a Child.” “Our problem as grown ups,” cautioned Mother Brown, “is that we think we know God’s mind because sometimes it seems obvious. We should instead approach God as a child, saying, ‘I don’t know how to pray. Teach me. Teach me how to pray for this child, this mother, the people working in the abortion clinic.’ Try to feel safe enough with God so that you can admit that you don’t know what to do. That’s a good way to begin listening…active listening. Then suddenly, a relationship and a dialogue with God will begin.”
HLI also spoke with Michael Brown about the importance of prayer and fasting. Brown is the author of such popular books as Sent to Earth and The Final Hour and creator of www.spiritdaily.com. “You know, it sounds too easy and esoteric,” counseled Brown, “but prayer is the answer to everything. You can’t argue with someone who is ardently pro-abortion. No argument you make is going to convince them. You can only lift their spiritual blindness; that’s the only way they will be able to see. Specific prayers about spiritual blindness are the urgent need.”
Brown’s own prayer life consists of the standard weapons of an experienced prayer warrior. “I don’t do a thing until I say a Scriptural Rosary,” Brown said. “When I’m going to speak, like today, I say it a couple of times; then, I go to Mass. I really think that you have to start the day with the Rosary and, certainly during the day, go to Mass. Then, during the day, obviously there are times when I just sit down and say a rosary.”
Brown’s final recommendation is to “pray, pray for what God wants you to do and when and how. We are all too busy not to pray. If you pray enough, the rest of the day will fall into place and you will get so much more done — and better.…When you pray there is clarity. It is all reduced to the simplicity of prayer, prayer, prayer…and fasting. Fasting clarifies the spirit and gives you discernment. You have to start with that. Everything else will fall into place.”
