Abortion—the taking of a baby’s life before he has a chance to be born—is one of the most horrific things a human being can do to another. In just the first ten months of 2023 alone, there were 878,000 abortions in the US. But because that number does not include data from every state—as some do not report abortions—the actual number is much, much higher. Further, that number does not include babies killed by abortifacient birth control or in IVF labs.
That’s a staggering amount of death. It may leave us feeling helpless and even hopeless. Many people work every day to teach the sanctity of life, and for them we are grateful. But we all have a role to play: we can all help the babies. There is something every single one of us can do – very easily – right now. We can offer prayer for the preborn and for an end to abortion. We can pray for the parents of these babies. And we can pray that we elect people to office who will make a chance, recognizing the sanctity of life and helping others see the dignity in preborn babies.
As Christ says in Matthew 18.19-20: “Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
So let us join together in fervent prayer, knowing that God is listening.
Below are three prayers for the preborn. The first is a longer one to inspire reflection on the sanctity of human life. The second is a prayer to our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Preborn. And the third is a shorter prayer you can say when you have just a small amount of time. Add all three into your daily arsenal of prayers, knowing that so many of us are praying together.
And feel comforted, for God hears us.
A Prayer for the Unborn
Dear Heavenly Father, Your love for us knows no bounds. We know that every single person You help create has a special place in Your heart. And we know that You weep when one of your daughters or sons falls victim to abortion. We weep with You.
And so we pray for the babies, for their parents, and for our country – our hearts, minds, and words in unison with our brothers and sisters who feel the weight of this daily scourge and who pray this prayer with us.
We feel the weight because we know that we are created in Your image and likeness. And when we hear about a child who is thrown away or callously discarded, we lose a bit of ourselves.
But Scripture teaches us to have hope in You. Though we struggle to understand these senseless deaths, we truly do have hope, for we know that You are love. And it is out of Your love that You create and sustain us.
So today, Dear Lord, we pray for the babies who have no voice. We know that this prayer gives them a voice. You created beautiful and amazing human beings who grow from the tiniest cell. In our mind’s eye, we can picture the developing baby’s face, hands, and tiny toes and feet. We picture a heart that already feels love for his mother – a heart that longs to be loved in return. Please help others see these beautiful individuals as we see them. We beg You to keep these babies safe as they grow. We beg You to wrap them in Your love. And we beg you to open the eyes of those who lack the understanding of the sanctity of life.
We also pray for these babies’ mothers and fathers, who are likely very scared. We ask for Your mercy and comfort for the moms who feel lonely and isolated. We pray for Your protection for those who suffer from abuse. We know that many mothers feel they have no “choice” in the matter and resort to abortion out of desperation. We know that others feel that an abortion is a simple procedure; they don’t understand the gravity of what they are doing. Please help them recognize that a baby is created the moment the sperm fertilizes the egg. Help them understand that the life growing inside them has immense value and that that life matters. Please help these parents choose to give life to their child. Show them Your love. Teach them Your compassion. Send them Your wisdom. And if they decide they cannot raise that child, place Your love and selflessness upon their hearts so that they gift him to someone in adoption.
Lord, we also ask that You work through us as we strive to teach our culture to recognize and understand the science that teaches that a baby is a baby from the time he is created. Guide us in the election of strong leaders who will help teach this. Assist us in teaching and showing compassion for both moms and babies. Give us the will to create programs and other ways to help mothers help themselves and their babies. Lord, we cannot and do not live our lives in isolation. We all need each other. And we need You! Guide us to be that help to others when they need it. And teach those who need help to seek it out and use it well.
Dear Heavenly Father, we so much want to show Your love to this damaged world. Help us as we navigate the culture of death and work to bring about a Culture of life, where all human beings are respected and cherished.
In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Click to open printable image in new tab
A Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe
Dear Blessed Virgin Mary, when you appeared to Juan Diego upon Tepeyac Hill, you came as a mother to us all and as the pregnant mother of Baby Jesus. When you spoke to Juan Diego, you said, “Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection?” Heavenly Mother, we know how much you loved Jesus and how much you love all babies. That is why we come to you and implore your help for babies in danger of abortion. So many babies every day are in danger of losing their lives. Their mothers are scared, confused, unaware of the baby’s humanity, or maybe they simply don’t yet know enough to care about that baby. We who know the horror of abortion – of what it does to the baby and of what it does to families and society – cry out to you to intercede on behalf of all of these babies. Pray that their mothers understand the reality of abortion and change their minds. Pray that every mother finds love in her heart for the tiny baby growing inside of her. We know you are our protector and that you want to protect these babies as well. Oh Blessed Mother, thank you for being our spiritual mother, and please be a mother to these babies. Amen.
A Short Prayer for the Preborn
Dear Heavenly Father, You have placed a love for preborn babies in the hearts of so many of us. Help us spread this love throughout our country. Help us teach the sanctity of human life to those who neither see nor understand it. Guide us as we work to protect all babies from abortion. Teach us to show Your compassion to both moms and their babies so that they come to understand the meaning of selfless love. And please hold all Your children safe in Your arms. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Christ encourages us to pray in groups! Click the social media icons below to instantly share these prayers with your friends and family.
This article was originally published in July 2021 and was most recently updated in January 2024 by Susan Ciancio.
Related Content
Susan Ciancio has a BA in psychology and a BA in sociology from the University of Notre Dame, with an MA in liberal studies from Indiana University. Since 2003, she has worked as a professional editor and writer, editing both fiction and nonfiction books, magazine articles, blogs, educational lessons, professional materials, and website content. Fourteen of those years have been in the pro-life sector. Currently Susan writes weekly for HLI, edits for American Life League, and is the editor of its Celebrate Life Magazine. She also serves as executive editor for the Culture of Life Studies Program, an educational nonprofit program for k-12 students.
I have been blessed to have been asked to pray at a Planned Parenthood facility in Lansing MI. I beg Jesus and Mary to purify my puny prayers and make them most acceptable to God, the Father.
Our prayers go with you, Michael.