Today thousands will gather in Washington D.C. for the March for Life as well as in Trenton and other locations throughout the country for peaceful witness to the sanctity of life. On Tuesday we will remember the 46th anniversary of the infamous Roe Vs. Wade Supreme Court decision, which legalized abortion-on-demand in the United States. We pray for all who stand, in solidarity and in faith, for respect of the sanctity given to human life from conception to natural death.
How do we answer when asked the question "When does human life begin?" For help, view the short (4:40 minutes) video by Catholic apologist Trent Horn. You can find it below (or if you cannot view this video it can be found at https://www.catholic.com/video/when-does-a-human-life-begin-short-version-0):
How do we answer when asked the question "When does human life begin?" For help, view the short (4:40 minutes) video by Catholic apologist Trent Horn. You can find it below (or if you cannot view this video it can be found at https://www.catholic.com/video/when-does-a-human-life-begin-short-version-0):
Not only as Catholic Christians but as fellow human beings sharing in a common species we are called to guarantee and support the most basic right of all, without which no other rights matter: the right to life. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states:
"Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being" (CCC 2258).
Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense (c.f. CCC 2272). However, this never gives excuse for anyone to reject another who has made this most regrettable decision and later came to realize its evil. Instead, we seek to extend to them the opportunity to seek forgiveness and healing. We pray for and do everything possible to allow such individuals - mothers and fathers alike - to heal their relationship with God and with their aborted child.
We support them spiritually through such groups as Rachel's Vineyard (http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/) and Healing After (https://healingafter.com/). We support those who have chosen to give their children life in the midst of difficult circumstances through organizations such as Catholic Charities (https://www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org/), the St. Vincent de Paul Society (https://www.svdpusa.org/), Seeds of Service (http://seedsofservice.help/) and Good Counsel Homes (http://www.goodcounselhomes.org/).
Prayer for the Respect of Human Life
Heavenly Father, the beauty and dignity of human life was the crowning of your creation. You further ennobled that life when your Son became one with us in his incarnation. Help us to realize the sacredness of human life and to respect it from the moment of conception until the last moment at death. Give us courage to speak with truth and love and with conviction in defence of life. Help us to extend the gentle hand of mercy and forgiveness to those who do not reverence your gift of life. To all, grant pardon for the times we have failed to be grateful for your precious gift of life or to respect it in others. We ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.
"Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being" (CCC 2258).
Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense (c.f. CCC 2272). However, this never gives excuse for anyone to reject another who has made this most regrettable decision and later came to realize its evil. Instead, we seek to extend to them the opportunity to seek forgiveness and healing. We pray for and do everything possible to allow such individuals - mothers and fathers alike - to heal their relationship with God and with their aborted child.
We support them spiritually through such groups as Rachel's Vineyard (http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/) and Healing After (https://healingafter.com/). We support those who have chosen to give their children life in the midst of difficult circumstances through organizations such as Catholic Charities (https://www.catholiccharitiestrenton.org/), the St. Vincent de Paul Society (https://www.svdpusa.org/), Seeds of Service (http://seedsofservice.help/) and Good Counsel Homes (http://www.goodcounselhomes.org/).
Prayer for the Respect of Human Life
Heavenly Father, the beauty and dignity of human life was the crowning of your creation. You further ennobled that life when your Son became one with us in his incarnation. Help us to realize the sacredness of human life and to respect it from the moment of conception until the last moment at death. Give us courage to speak with truth and love and with conviction in defence of life. Help us to extend the gentle hand of mercy and forgiveness to those who do not reverence your gift of life. To all, grant pardon for the times we have failed to be grateful for your precious gift of life or to respect it in others. We ask this in Jesus' Name. Amen.
We cannot diminish the value of one category of human life - the unborn - without diminishing the value of all human life.
Our FORMED Recommendation for the Week
Video (37 mins) - Symbolon Session 10: Catholic Social Teaching
https://formed.org/study/55acfd0ca4addbdc0d490ce2/lesson/54ee40ab40cc1e74115a5980
Dr. Edward Sri discusses how, in an age when life itself seems disposable, we can follow God’s call to protect and promote the dignity of the human person in all places and circumstances.
Video (37 mins) - Symbolon Session 10: Catholic Social Teaching
https://formed.org/study/55acfd0ca4addbdc0d490ce2/lesson/54ee40ab40cc1e74115a5980
Dr. Edward Sri discusses how, in an age when life itself seems disposable, we can follow God’s call to protect and promote the dignity of the human person in all places and circumstances.
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