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Intercession
May those near the end of their lives receive medical care that respects their dignity and protects their lives.
Prayers
Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection
When Maggie’s active father suffered an accident that eventually led to his passing, Maggie’s conversations with him turned to life’s more serious topics, and his final days became a time that was cherished by the whole family. During this time, Maggie’s dad taught her that “dignity can’t be diminished by pain or loss of personal control,” that “Jesus was walking along with him,” and that “our suffering is not meaningless when we unite it with Christ’s own suffering.” As a 50-year-old wife and mother of three, Maggie needed this message in a dramatically new way when she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Instead of giving up hope, she embraced the legacy her father had left her, cherishing the life she still had left: “[M ]y life is, always has been, and always will be, worth living.” Read more about her experience in “Maggie’s Story: Living like Dad.”
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Acts of Reparation (choose one)
- Take time to write a handwritten note to someone who is lonely or needing encouragement.
- Read about the life of a modern (19th or 20th century) saint. You might be surprised by how much you have in common with them.
- Go to bed a little early tonight, and spend some time talking and listening to God.
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“I saw with my own two eyes what joy can still be found in just valuing every moment. … [My dad] left us a legacy of that time that he gave us. He could have checked out right away and said, ‘I’m done with this.’ But he didn’t. He stuck around, and he said, ‘I’m here for you.’” – “Maggie’s Story” (video)
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Annual Respect Life Program
The USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities publishes new materials each year on numerous human life issues. These materials are suitable for individual use, but are especially helpful for parish groups and ministries, priests, schools, and other organizations.
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