USCCB Repect Life: 9 Days for Life: Day 6

 

en español INTERCESSION May all who support or participate in abortion experience a conversion of heart to seek and receive the Lord’s boundless mercy. PRAYERS Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be   REFLECTION When God fashioned the human person in His own image and likeness, He destined us for eternal life with Himself. Yet because of the sin of our first parents, death entered the world. The book of Genesis recounts the first occasion in which a person takes the life of another, as Cain violently kills his brother Abel. This instance of brother rising up against brother “at the very dawn of history is thus a sad witness of how evil spreads with amazing speed” (Evangelium vitae 8). ​ By Titian - https://www.titian-tizianovecellio.org/the-complete-works.html?q=Titian+-+Cain+and+Abel, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1171218 Since this time, disregard for human life has continued to spread. When we, like Cain, allow sin to find a place in our hearts, we become blinded to the truth. Sometimes this blindness might be so deep that we fail to recognize the undeniable humanity of preborn children. We may even tragically believe the lie that abortion is an act of compassion. But we know that “life, especially human life, belongs only to God: for this reason whoever attacks human life, in some way attacks God himself” (EV 9). Let us pray that all who support abortion will encounter the transforming love of the Father and, with repentant hearts, seek His mercy.   ACTS OF REPARATION (Choose one.) Smile. Ask God today for the grace to be extra joyful and to share the light of Christ with those most in need of His love and mercy.  Make an act of faith, hope, or love.  Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today's intention.   ONE STEP FURTHER Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life) was written to reaffirm the value and inviolability of every human life and to appeal to all people to respect, protect, love, and serve every human life. A brief summary highlights key themes and foundational teachings from the papal encyclical, exploring how the Church’s teachings regarding human life are at the heart of Jesus’ entire Gospel message. Excerpts from Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life), nos. 8-9 © 1995, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2023, USCCB, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. USCCB Respect Life About | Website | Store | Support 

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USCCB Respect Life: 9 Days for Life: Day 5

 

en español INTERCESSION May every pregnant mother choosing adoption receive grace and support in embracing this loving option. PRAYERS Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be   REFLECTION Mothers placing their children for adoption often face many challenges along the way. One of the greatest obstacles can be perceiving adoption as abandonment. But a mother who determines that making an adoption plan is best for her child isn’t deserting her child. Rather, she is following the example of Christ’s sacrificial love on the Cross in choosing a life-giving option that she has determined is ultimately in the best interest of her child, even at great cost to herself. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that, in the face of fears and trials, we can “hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm” (Heb 6:18-19). We pray that each expectant mother will be filled with “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding” (Phil 4:7) as she decides which life-giving option is best for her child. Let us all cling fast to the anchor of hope, for we have received “a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Rom 8:15).   ACTS OF REPARATION (Choose one.) Do you have a sweet tooth? Or do you prefer salty snacks? Pick your favorite kind of treat, and give it up for the day.  Look up one of the Scripture passages from today’s reflection, and spend some time with it in prayer. What is the Lord saying to you?  Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today's intention.   ONE STEP FURTHER “Accompanying Expectant Mothers Considering Adoption” suggests nine ways to offer ongoing support to a woman who is considering making an adoption plan for her preborn child. Many of the tips given are also helpful for supporting a friend who is experiencing a challenging or unexpected pregnancy, even if adoption has not been brought up. Supplemental resources regarding adoption can be found at usccb.org/adoption-resources. NABRE © 2010 CCD. Used with permission. Copyright © 2023, USCCB, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. USCCB Respect Life About | Website | Store | Support 

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USCCB espect Life: 9 Days for Life: Day 4

 

en español INTERCESSION May every father of a preborn child lovingly support the mother of his child in welcoming new life. PRAYERS Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be   REFLECTION Fatherhood has its origins in God, who chose to reveal Himself to us as Our Father, sending his only Son for the sake of our salvation. Fathers therefore have a special role “in revealing and in reliving on earth the very fatherhood of God” (Familiaris consortio 25). Fathers are called to exhibit “generous responsibility for the life conceived under the heart of the mother” (FC 25). They are uniquely entrusted with the protection and defense of both mother and child and, in this way, in safeguarding the sanctity of human life. As evidenced in our world today, the role of the father “is of unique and irreplaceable importance” (FC 25). Often, women choose abortion because they do not have the support of the child’s father, or—even worse—the father of the child pressures her to make the decision to abort. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge with compassion that men can also be overwhelmed by an unexpected pregnancy and that society increasingly tells them that they should have no say in their children’s lives. In the face of these false messages, we pray that fathers of preborn children will find courage in the example of Saint Joseph—who embraced the role of father amid difficult circumstances—and offer loving, life-affirming support to the mothers of their children.   ACTS OF REPARATION (Choose one.) Give up sleeping on your pillow—or even your bed—tonight. Offer this small sacrifice for the intention that fathers of preborn children will courageously answer their call to support both mother and child. Pray a decade of the Rosary for all fathers of preborn children, that through her intercession, Our Lady may inspire in them the virtues of Saint Joseph. Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today's intention.   ONE STEP FURTHER Research continues to show that one of the top reasons a woman chooses abortion is due to a lack of financial resources. Read “Poverty and Abortion: A Vicious Cycle,” which explores the connections between abortion and poverty, and how the absence of fathers contributes to this ongoing cycle. Excerpts from Familiaris consortio (On the Family), no. 25 © 1981, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2023, USCCB, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. USCCB Respect Life About | Website | Store | Support 

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