Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.
May the birth of every child be awaited and celebrated with great joy and thanksgiving.
Prayers
Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be
Reflection
The season of Advent calls us to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, Emmanuel, God with us. The coming of the Christ child is greeted with overwhelming joy from Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the Magi, and the entire heavenly host of angels.
Despite the challenges facing the Holy Family as they are traveling on the road with no place to stay, the coming of Jesus reveals to them the great gift in their midst. The fears and anxieties of Mary and Joseph are overcome by the immense joy of the birth of the Son of God.
Many children come into the world amidst challenging circumstances. Expectant parents are often consumed with very real hardships as they prepare for the arrival of the new child. No matter the circumstances, the birth of a child is always a gift. Let us pray for all parents to lovingly receive their children with joy and be strengthened and supported as they embrace the journey of parenthood.
Acts of Reparation (choose one)
Offer up one night's sleep without your pillow, recalling the Christ child who had no crib in which to lay his head.
Donate baby items to a pregnancy care center, or offer to volunteer an hour of your time.
One Step Further
Read "Accompanying Expectant Mothers Considering Adoption."Drawing from the personal experience of a mother who placed her child for adoption, this article gives nine pointers for offering ongoing support to other expectant mothers considering adoption.
