Spiritual Support

Directed to participation in the sacramental life and prayer of the Church, that the culture of death surrounding us today will be replaced by a Culture of Life & Love. Scroll down to learn more about our pro-life prayer events, resources, and programs.

Annual Celebration of Life Mass & Rosary

Every October during Respect Life Month, the Archdiocese of St. Louis community gathers in prayer to witness to the dignity of human life at the Annual Celebration of Life Mass and Rosary. Join Catholics and other pro-life advocates to thank God for ending abortion in Missouri in 2022, honor those lost to abortion, pray for those wounded by abortion in need of healing, and commit to build a Culture of Life & Love.

The Mass, celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, is followed by the Holy Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, and a reception. 

The 2024 Celebration of Life Mass will be held on Saturday, October 20 at 10 a.m. Check back soon for details!  

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Click here for the photos of last year's Mass. These life-affirming, heart-changing images are courtesy of Cori Nations Photography. 

Monthly Pro-Life Mass & Rosary 

Each month since January 2000, the Archdiocese of St. Louis has held a pro-life Mass & Rosary on the third Saturday established in St. Louis in January 2000, is a peaceful, prayerful life-saving ministry that meets on the third Saturday of every month. 

The prayer vigil, held either at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis or a host parish in each Vicariate throughout the Archdiocese, begins with Saturday morning Mass followed by the Holy Rosary. The four-fold prayer of each Mass and Rosary is for upholding the dignity of preborn children; for moms, couples, and families facing unplanned pregnancy; for those caught up in the abortion industry; and for those wounded by abortion to receive healing. If your parish would like to host one of our prayer events in 2024 or 2025, please contact [email protected] or 314.792.7598. 

Click here for the 2024 Pro-Life Mass & Rosary Flyer!

Celebrants and Locations for Upcoming Third Saturday Masses: 

  • January 20, 2024 Roe v. Wade Memorial Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, with Fr. Anthony Wieck, SJ, White House Jesuit Retreat. Click here for event information.
  • February 17 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, with Fr. Phil Krill, retired Archdiocesan priest
  • March 16 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, Fr. Ryan Quarnstrom, associate pastor, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
  • April 20 at Incarnate Word Parish (Chesterfield), Celebrant TBA

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Young Adult Pro-Life Holy Hour 

Since 2015, the RLA has partnered with the Office of Young Adult Ministry and Anima Christi to hold a Pro-Life Holy Hour for young adults in the Archdiocese of St. Louis (18-39). Held on the eve of the national March for Life in Washington, DC at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, the prayer event includes a reflection by a Catholic, pro-life leader, Eucharistic Adoration, Holy Rosary, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 

Our 2024 Holy Hour will be held on Thursday evening, January 18 at 7 p.m. Fr. Charles Sampson of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary will give our Gospel of Life reflection. Click here for to view, download, and share our prayer event flyer. 

Adoption Mass

November is National Adoption Month. Every year, the RLA joins with Good Shepherd Children and Family Services and the Office of Natural Family Planning to coordinate a celebration for those who have been involved in any way with adoption, a gift twice given.

In the United States, about 120,000 adoptions occur each year. Many people, directly and indirectly, are affected by adoption:

  • Women seeking options for unplanned or crisis pregnancies
  • People and couples seeking children to complete their families
  • Foster families and agencies involved in the placement and protection of children
  • Children who have been adopted

The Annual Adoption Mass is celebrated at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis each November on the third Sunday. The 2023 Mass, will be celebrated by Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski on Sunday, November 19 at 10 a.m. Click here for the flyer for additional information.

Breast Cancer Healing Mass

Many people in the Archdiocese of St. Louis are wanting to raise awareness and support women and families who have gone through this very difficult disease. Since 2011, the Respect Life Apostolate has offered this Healing Mass in collaboration with different parishes throughout the archdiocese.

We hope this Mass will give those in attendance the opportunity to join their sufferings with Christ as we pray for the peace and healing of all.

This Mass is held each June on the second Saturday with a reception following. For more information on the 2024 Mass, please contact 314.792.7598 or m[email protected], or download the information below.

Spiritual Adoption

Initiated in 1991, this simple yet effective program provides an opportunity for children, teens, adults and senior citizens to prayerfully intercede on behalf of moms and unborn babies threatened by abortion. Participants spiritually adopt a baby known by God to be at risk of abortion by pledging to pray the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen prayer daily for nine months.

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to protect the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted. Mary, our Mother in Heaven, pray for us, and especially for your little ones! Because God loves every baby He creates, I promise to pray for my spiritually adopted baby for nine months."

The goal of the program is three-fold:

  1. Encourage prayers for babies in danger of abortion and for their parents.
  2. Educate adults and children about the development of babies in the womb.
  3. Provide material assistance to mothers in need through a "baby shower" or "birthday party" at the conclusion of the program.

Schools and Parish School of Religion programs can promote Spiritual Adoption for the nine months of the school year, September through May. It works well for a parish to participate along with the school. Another option is to offer the program from the Feast of the Annunciation through Christmas. At the end of the nine months of prayer, schools and/or parishes can hold a baby shower to gather new or gently used items for agencies that provide a home or support for mothers with a crisis pregnancy.

Spiritual adoption prayer cards, Milestones brochure, and leadership pamphlet are available free of charge through the RLA Office. To order these resources, contact [email protected] or 314-792-7555. 

Word of Life Intercessions & Bulletin Announcements

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops provides monthly suggestions for pro-life prayer intercessions and bulletin briefs which are available in English and Spanish. Homily notes are provided occasionally. As a courtesy the RLA sends these materials to a representative from each parish monthly. Contact [email protected] for more information. 

Blessings for Expectant Mothers

The Church has long had the practice of blessing women before childbirth. By celebrating and respecting expectant mothers and their unborn children, we can help express a new culture of life and love. We encourage all parishes to regularly offer this blessing. Contact your parish’s Liturgy Committee to suggest starting this tradition in your parish and the RLA would be glad to assist in this process. 

Other Respect Life Prayer Websites