As Lent begins, 40 Days for Life has launched its annual spring campaign, urging the faithful nationwide to volunteer for 40 days of prayer, fasting, and peaceful witness outside abortion facilities.
The organization conducts two coordinated international campaigns each year — one in the fall and one in the spring. The current campaign, called the Lent 2026 40 Days for Life Vigil, began Ash Wednesday and runs through March 29, coinciding with the Church’s Lenten season and inviting participants to make a concrete spiritual commitment during the 40 days leading up to Easter.
Described on its website as “the world’s largest grassroots movement to end abortion,” the effort is designed around three pillars: prayer and fasting, a continuous 40-day peaceful vigil outside abortion facilities, and community outreach through churches, media engagement, and local education efforts. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for one-hour prayer shifts at local vigil sites.
Participants can search by city or ZIP code using an online map to find nearby locations, view available time slots, and connect with local coordinators. In communities without an active campaign, the organization provides materials to help launch one.
The group emphasizes that all vigils are peaceful and non-confrontational. Volunteers are encouraged to offer prayerful witness and compassionate outreach to women and families.
Since its founding in 2007, 40 Days for Life reports 26,213 lives saved from abortion,184 abortion facilities closed, and 275 abortion workers who have left the industry following local campaigns. More than 1,000 cities in 64 countries are participating this spring.
The organization’s website also features daily devotionals, podcasts, and practical guides for participating in a vigil.