DEACON FOR LIFE

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.

Friday, September 3, 2021

Every Life is Worth Living

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September Prayer Guide

en español

Pray

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be

Reflect

Our faith teaches us that each moment of our lives is a gift from God. Even in the face of suffering or limited ability, life is always meaningful. Our human dignity and value never diminish. The practice of assisted suicide tragically rejects the truth that every life is worth living.

Asking to die is a cry for help. People considering suicide want to escape what they perceive to be an intolerable situation, inaccurately believing that death is their only way out. A person requesting assisted suicide is often asking, “Does anyone want me to be alive, or care enough to talk me out of this and support me through this difficult time?”

While the practice of assisted suicide is often the result of misguided mercy, laws permitting assisted suicide erroneously communicate the idea that, under difficult circumstances, some lives are not worth living. Sadly, this tragically false message will be heard not only by those with a terminal illness, but by any person struggling with the temptation to end his or her life.

The dying process is a sacred time—a final season to seek closure in this life and prepare for the next in the hope of sharing in Christ’s Resurrection. We are called to accompany those entering this season of life, surrounding them with life-affirming love, support, and compassion.

Act (Choose one.)

Offer the prayer “Every Life is Worth Living” for this month’s intention.

Learn about the concrete ways you can help accompany a loved one who is nearing the end of life: usccb.org/end-of-life-care.

Offer some other sacrifice or prayer that you feel called to do for this month’s intention.

One Step Further

Learn more about the negative impacts of assisted suicide on society in “Every Suicide is Tragic.”

Did You Know?

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. In this short video Luke recounts his personal experience with suicide and helps us better understand its intimate connection to assisted suicide.

USCCB | 3211 Fourth Street NE, Washington, DC 20017-1194

LIFE IS SACRED

An example of the traditional magisterial teaching which indicates that it is never morally licit to intentionally kill a child through abortion in order to “save the life of its mother” comes from the teaching of Pope Pius XII:

“Every human being, even the infant in the mother's womb, has the right to life immediately from God, not from the parent or any human society or authority. Therefore, there is no man, no human authority, no science, no medical, eugenic, social, economic or moral ‘indication’ that can show or give valid juridical title for direct deliberate disposition concerning an innocent human life-which is to say, a disposition that aims at its destruction either as an end in itself or as the means of attaining another end that is perhaps in no way illicit itself. Thus, for example, to save the life of the mother is a most noble end, but the direct killing of the child as a means to this end is not licit.”