The excellent diocesan paper Florida Catholic is touting an upcoming vigil for life by recalling one inspiring success story from last year’s vigil:

The prayers of hundreds of participants in the 2008 “40 Days for Life” campaign at Planned Parenthood in Sarasota were answered in a special way March 25 when Baby David was born.

Six months earlier, on Sept. 26, the third day of the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil, a nervous Hispanic woman went to Planned Parenthood with her mother and brother. Outside, they took some pro-life literature in Spanish, but didn’t understand the sidewalk counselor’s English. When a bilingual counselor arrived, she learned that the woman was in her 14th week of pregnancy and Planned Parenthood referred her to other facilities that perform second-trimester abortions. The counselor instead offered help to get her to one of the local pregnancy resource centers.

As the family was leaving Planned Parenthood, her mother said she had hoped the counselors and prayer vigil participants would still be there, so that their presence would be a sign from God. When asked why she decided not to abort, the woman’s answer was, “Because you were here.”

Throughout the remainder of her pregnancy, many volunteers helped her and her family with various needs, including spiritual and financial support.

Then, on the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, 6-pound, 6-ounce David made his entrance into the world. David’s baptism in June was witnessed by some of the dedicated volunteers and newfound friends who have continued their faith journey with his mother and family.

Read more here. It’s a great story. And, I think, it shows the effectiveness of a pro-life protest that is thoughtful, prayerful and unabashedly Christian in its approach.