Barbara Little of Dickenson, North Dakota was one of the many who were disappointed with the election of a president who promised his electors to trample the rights of the unborn. Yet, Barb is not one given to despair — disappointment, yes, but not despair. Here is what she did in her own words: “After the elections, many of us were pretty disappointed as we realized that 30+ years of pro-life work could be wiped away with the stroke of a pen. Our pro-life group gathered a few days after the election to assess our efforts and develop a strategy to further the pro-life cause under the most pro-abortion leader our country has ever known. Many, many, ideas were generated that night during our brainstorming session.”
Barb kept thinking of a story that had taken hold of her. She explained: “A young friend of ours owns a shop. One day a gentleman came in and said that, as a Jew, he was offended by the crucifix she had hanging there. They got into a long discussion/debate and when they parted she said, ‘You pray for me and I will pray for you.’ Later she shared this story with her family and her younger, teen-age sister decided to have a Mass offered for the intention of this man’s conversion. Six months later the shop-owner was entering the cathedral as this man was leaving the church. He said, ‘Do you remember me? I am becoming a Catholic.'”
The power of having a Mass said for the president took hold of Barb’s imagination. What better way to intercede for someone than to have the sacrifice of the holy Mass said? She explained that she thought about it in terms of the best reaction — something that could do the greatest amount of good. So at her next pro-life meeting, Barb suggested the idea of offering Masses across the country for our new president. A friend, Jenetta Padilla, mentioned that she had a similar idea and offered to back Barb up. Both woman had extensive nationwide contacts: Barb through a Catholic home schooling business and Jen through her involvement with Lighthouse Media.
A Plan
The Spiritual Bandwagon
Once upon a time, slavery was the spiritual scourge of our land. Yet, today, we have a black president. Nothing is impossible. Today, things look so bleak for the rights of the unborn. But just as the rights of Black Americans were won, so too can the rights of the unborn be won.
God can use us all in many ways, just as he used each person who had a Mass said and forwarded the email to others. Barb is just a prayerful mom who followed an inspiration. She was supported in many ways by her friend Jen and also by the many encouraging words and participation from so many others who jumped on the spiritual bandwagon.
Some of those who jumped on included a priest with a nationwide ministry, a bishop who spread the word to all the priests in his diocese, a woman who contacted sixteen ministries with handwritten letters and $10 stipends each, a couple who contacted nearly every church in their metro area, and a person who requested her first Mass ever. And let’s not forget the teenage girl who offered the Mass for the conversion of a stranger that inspired this whole effort in the first place.
