DEACON FOR LIFE: USCCB Respect Life: August Prayer Guide

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

USCCB Respect Life: August Prayer Guide

August Prayer Guide

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Pray

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be

Reflect

The Solemnity of the Assumption celebrates the Blessed Mother’s entrance into heavenly glory. The Catechism explains that Mary “was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body” (CCC, 974).

Mary’s Assumption into heaven reminds us that life on earth is a pilgrimage to our ultimate destination. We prepare in hope for our own passage into eternal life by the choices we make today. When we choose to love and follow God in our daily lives, we strengthen our relationship with Him, and this relationship is the true meaning of heaven: “To live in heaven is ‘to be with Christ’” (CCC, 1025 citing St. Ambrose, In Luc.,10,121:PL 15 1834A.).

We can see how, throughout her life, the Blessed Mother continually chose to go deeper into her relationship with God. She modeled how to value and respect His precious gift of human life, from the moment of conception to its natural end. In the Annunciation, through her “yes,” Mary witnessed to the undeniable humanity of unborn children as she conceived and carried the Christ child in her womb. After the Annunciation, having learned that her cousin Elizabeth was with child, she went in haste to her aid.

Our Blessed Mother shows us how the way we live today can prepare us, in hope, to also enter into heavenly glory at the end of our lives. Are we open to God’s precious gift of new life? How do we support pregnant mothers and parents of young children? Do we prioritize showing our love to those who are ill or aging? Do we care for them in a way that respects God’s gift of life?

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Act (Choose one.)

Read and meditate on the Mass readings for the Solemnity of the Assumption. Reflect on how the Blessed Mother consistently exemplified how to welcome and cherish God’s gift of human life.

Choose one night to sleep without your pillow or on the floor. Consider how Mary welcomed the Christ-child in humble surroundings and pray for mothers who welcome their children amidst poverty and difficult circumstances today.
Offer some other sacrifice or prayer that you feel called to do for this month’s intention.

One Step Further

Read the short reflection, “Called to Serve Moms in Need,” and reflect on how the Blessed Mother shows us how to support mothers and their children.

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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.”