Sunday, January 24, 2016

9 Days for Life: Day 9 January 24: Every Life is Worth Living!



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DAY NINE:
January 24, 2016
Intercession
May we see and live the truth that every life is a good and perfect gift, and that our lives—all our lives—are worth living.

Prayers
Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be

Reflection

Our culture is obsessed with perfection—a superficial perfection. Photos are airbrushed, and social media sites depict seemingly perfect lives. God calls us to seek perfection, too. He does not call us, however, to perfection of appearance or abilities, but to perfection in love.  

In “A Perfect Gift,” one parent shares about the experience of raising a child with Down syndrome, contrasting it with what onlookers might perceive: “It’s like looking at a stained-glass window from the outside: The colors look dark, and you can’t quite make out the figures. From the inside, however, with the sun shining through it, the effect can be brilliant. From inside our family, love illuminates our life with Charlie.* What may seem dreary to others, perhaps even unbearable, is actually filled with beauty and color.” May each of us experience the power of God’s transforming love, that our eyes may be opened to the incredible beauty of the people the Lord places in our lives.
Acts of Reparation (choose one)
  • Say a prayer for your parish priest. Without our priests, we could not have the Mass or the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
  • Pray for your deceased relatives and those who have no one to pray for them.
  • Spend quality time with a family member or friend; offer to help them with something with which they need assistance.

One Step Further
Charlie’s mother shares in “A Perfect Gift” that when people say, “I could never handle a child with a disability,” she explains to them, “[Y]ou aren’t given a child with a disability. You are given your child with a disability. …You are not called to ‘handle’ a disability. You are called to love a particular person, and caring for him or her grows out of that love. …Our [family’s] hearts…have become larger [by caring for Charlie].”  

She also talks about the “secret” that is the fundamental truth of our existence, which she and other parents of children with Down syndrome share. Find out what it is in "A Perfect Gift."
"In some cases, a prenatal diagnosis may indicate that [a] baby is expected to die before or shortly after birth. As parents face the heart-rending knowledge that their hello may also be their goodbye, those around them may wonder how to provide the best support."
-- "Supporting Families Who Receive a Prenatal Diagnosis"
2015-16 USCCB Respect Life Program

This article 
contains suggestions for providing loving support in such situations and is also available to order as a pamphlet.
Hope after Abortion