Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
Being actively pro-life is not primarily about belonging to a cause or embracing an ideology. It is not merely a political platform or a hobby. It is a spirituality. It is an aspect of our discipleship. And as such, it is a conviction and commitment that is shaped by the word of God. We therefore continue our reflections on what the Beatitudes teach us about being pro-life.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." Peace is more than the absence of war. The foundation of peace is justice, that everyone's rights are protected and everyone's dignity is recognized. Peace means that our relationships with God and one another are what they are supposed to be.
To fight abortion, therefore, is one of the ways that we work for peace. Abortion completely oppresses and diminishes the rights of the child who is killed. Rather than fostering right relationships, it destroys them, starting with the most basic relationship between a mother and her own child.
A peacemaker seeks out the most vulnerable in society, and urges the rest of society to welcome them. Let's build peace by advocating for the unborn and stopping the violence of abortion.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs."
Those who work for justice will always be persecuted by those who foster injustice. Those who work to preserve the most basic justice, that is, protecting the right to life, are persecuted all the time, by both believers and non-believers. They are accused of having a narrow focus and a lack of compassion, while in reality they are focused on the most broad-based right of all and have compassion for the most vulnerable of all.
Because they know this, pro-life activists can be at peace in the midst of the persecution. They need not be distracted, nor should they ever doubt themselves. The ridicule they endure is a promised blessing from above, the blessing of suffering for doing what is right.
"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven."
So many pro-life leaders I know, including myself, have been falsely accused in public of advocating or even doing violence. Pregnancy centers, which compassionately serve parents and their babies every day, have been falsely accused of deceiving the public. Activists who try to change the laws have been falsely accused of opposing democracy.
The litany goes on and on, and proves that pro-life people are living this beatitude. They should rejoice, for their reward in heaven indeed is great. The children, who cannot know how much pro-life people love them, cannot repay them. They will be repaid in the resurrection of the just.
Those who want to nourish their pro-life spirituality with reflections like this for every day of the year can obtain my book Pro-life Reflections for Every Day at priestsforlife.org/store.
This column can be found online at http://www.priestsforlife.org/columns/document.aspx?id=2873
Comments on this column? Go to AskFrFrank.com
Fr. Frank's columns are podcast. See PriestsForLife.org/Podcast
This week's media schedule (priestsforlife.org/media)
Defending Life: Watch on EWTN every Friday at 10pm ET and Saturday at 2:30am ET. Listen on EWTN radio every Friday at 1am ET, Saturday at 6:30pm ET and Sunday at 5am ET. For more information or to listen online go to www.ewtn.com.
Brand new shows!
March 19-21: Embryoscopy
March 26-29: Advancing Political Responsibility
Hear us on EWTN radio on Catholic Connection with Teresa Tomeo. Fr. Frank will be Teresa's guest on Wednesday, March 17th from 9:35-10am ET and Janet Morana will be her guest on Friday, March 19th from 9:10am-9:30am. Call-in to the live show with questions for Fr. Frank or Janet at 877-573-7825. For radio station information and to listen to the live show on the internet, go to www.avemariaradio.net.
Fr. Frank Pavone does a pro-life spot from 11:20am-11:30am ET on The Catholic Channel with Adam Hamway on Satellite Radio every second Thursday of the month (this is subject to change - the exact day will be posted on our website each month). The Catholic Channel is on SIRIUS 159 and XM 117.
Fr. Victor Salomón is the guest on Radio Jesus, 93.9 FM, Bronx, NY, every 3rd Saturday of the Month from 1-2pm ET. You can also listen on-line at misionerosdejesus.org.
Gospel of Life: Watch on Catholic Familyland (familyland.tv) - Sunday at 1am, Monday at 9am, Wednesday at 3:30am and Thursday at 11:30 pm. (All Times Eastern). You can also watch on the National Religious Broadcasters network (NRB), Wednesday at 6pm ET. The NRB Network is included in DIRECTV's base package, TOTAL CHOICE, channel 378
Week of March 14: Killed in Darkness
Please tune in and spread the word! In fact, you can help us – and your whole parish -- by asking your pastor to place in the parish bulletin an announcement about our TV shows. Thanks in advance!
|
