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January 6th -- THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
As the Christ Child was shown to the world,
from the arms of his Virgin Mother,
so may we see in each child,
the inestimable gift of life;
We pray to the Lord:
January 13th -- BAPTISM OF THE LORD
That all who have died and risen with Christ,
in the waters of Baptism,
might protect and defend
the Gospel of Life
proclaimed by his death and rising for us;
We pray to the Lord:
January 20th SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
For all who have grown weak
under the weight of many years,
that we might embrace their wisdom,
cherish their presence,
and give thanks for the gift of their lives;
We pray to the Lord:
January 27th THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
For all who have been condemned to die,
and especially those who sit on "death rows,"
and that all might seek the way of mercy,
reconciliation and peace;
We pray to the Lord:
January 22, 2002
Feast of St. Vincent, deacon and martyr
29th Anniversary of Supreme Court Abortion
That through the intercession of Saint Vincent,
who spilled his blood for the defense of the Gospel,
the lives of unborn children may be spared;
We pray to the Lord:
That the good seed of the Gospel of Life
may take root in our land
and grow to the glory of God;
We pray to the Lord:
For President Bush,
that God might guide and inspire his heart
with a love for the Gospel of life;
We pray to the Lord:
For mothers tempted to abortion,
that God might teach us how to love them;
We pray to the Lord:
For those who provide or cooperate in abortions,
that by our love for the truth and for them,
they might turn from darkness and death;
We pray to the Lord:
Bulletin Briefs
January 2002
A wide spectrum of issues touches on the protection of human life and the promotion of human dignity. As Pope John Paul II has reminded us: "Where life is involved, the service of charity must be profoundly consistent. It cannot tolerate bias and discrimination, for human life is sacred and inviolable at every stage and in every situation; it is an indivisible good" (The Gospel of Life, no. 87).
Of the approximately 1.3 million abortions in the United States each year, 1 percent (or 13,000) are performed in the fifth month of pregnancy or later. A child born as early as 23 weeks after conception has a 50-80% likelihood of surviving.
Today fewer abortions are being performed each year, fewer doctors are willing to practice abortion, and states have passed more laws restricting or regulating the practice than laws promoting or protecting abortion.
Much has been achieved through the hard work, prayers, and generosity of millions of Americans. And Catholics have always been in the forefront of these efforts. Yet the federal law on abortion continues to make it impossible to provide meaningful protection to the lives of human beings from the time they are conceived until they are fully born.
The Catholic bishops have pledged that their commitment "will not waiver," nor their efforts cease. ... We must do no less. If we walk with and work side-by-side with the bishops, and with people of good will of all faith traditions, together we can build a culture of life.
Preaching for Life
Tuesday, January 22nd
A National Day of Prayer for Life
This past November, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reaffirmed their previous decision to adapt the General Instruction of the Roman Missal in order that "in all the dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when the 22nd falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. The Mass "For Peace and Justice" (n. 21 from "Masses for Various Needs") should be celebrated with violet vestments as an appropriate liturgical observance for this day." While this action is awaiting confirmation by the Holy See (and is not yet, therefore, particular law for the dioceses of the United States of America) January 22, 2002 may still be observed in this way at the discretion of the priest celebrating Mass on Tuesday, January 22nd.
The following readings from the Mass "For Peace and Justice" are particularly appropriate.
LFM 831.3 Isaiah 57: 15-19 Peace to the far and near.
God speaks through the prophet Isaiah reminding us that he wishes to revive the spirits of the dejected and the hearts of those who have been crushed. He will heal us and lead us giving "full comfort to them and those who mourn for them, I, the Creator, who gave them life." How many lives have been crushed by abortion? How many lives have been discarded? Yet God promises us that he, "the Creator, who gave them life" will heal all that has been broken and console all who mourn. For our God is the God of justice and only he can bring us the peace which the world can never give.
LFM 832.2 Colossians 3: 12-15 May the Peace of Christ reign in your hearts.
Hate propagates hate. We can never defeat the evil of abortion without mercy, kindness, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and most of all, love. Saint Paul's words are the perfect guide to the Christian who seeks to propagate the Gospel of Life: "Christ's peace must reign in your hearts..."
LFM 835.1 Matthew 5: 1-12 Happy the peacemakers; they shall be called sons of God.
The beatitudes are a guide for life, but they are also a proclamation of the Gospel of Life. They tell us that it is the littlest of our brothers and sisters who are truly blest by God. The sorrowing, th lowly, the hungry—these are the blest in the Kingdom of God. Like the little child in its mother's womb—how blest is he! Blest too are those who show mercy, seek God, make peace and are persecuted for the sake of holiness! With pure hearts, they are the best friends of the poor, the defenseless and the broken-hearted. How blest are you when you stand for the littlest, the truly blest of the Kingdom of God!
Preaching for Life Sunday, January 20th
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
In just a few days, thousands of people will once again gather in Washington D.C. and across our nation to remember a horror which compares only to the great tragedies we have had to bear in this past year. Each day, in the silence of communities and clinics across this nation, children die from abortion.
So much has been said or written that it is sometimes hard to know what to say. We often stand numb in the face of so great an evil which has persisted for so long. Then Christ, through the words of the Holy Scripture proclaimed each day in the Sacred Liturgy, rekindles compassion, revives enthusiasm for the defense of life and gives us a fresh voice. Such is the case with the scriptures for today.
The Prophet Isaiah proclaims what God has in store for us: I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. How are we lights to this nation? God "who formed me as his servant from the womb" has called me to proclaim the Gospel of Life, not just by my words, but by my deeds. By my respect for life from conception until natural death, by my love and gentle care for children. By the way I visit those who have grown old and frail. By the way I don't "forget" aged parents and friends. By the way I bring my conscience to the ballot box. By the way I seek to inform my soul on the moral dimensions of technology. By the way I seek mercy on those who have killed, not vengeance. By the way I value my own life and care for the gifts God has given me. For all my pro-life words and sermons will pale into insignificance when compared to my deeds. Listen to God speaking to you today: I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
Our lives must be one with the call of Saint John the Baptist, proclaiming to the word: Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. Behold him by whose birth we are taught to cherish every human child. Behold him, whose mother nurtured him in obedience to the will of God. Behold him who by dying taught us the meaning of life and by whose rising death has been defeated forever. By our every action we should show forth Christ, the Light of the World! Then, when people look at me, it will no longer be me whom they see, but Christ who lives in me. When Saint Paul first taught that he was proclaiming a certain transparency which is born of loving like Christ. Love makes us disappear and clothes us in the image of Christ, the author of the Gospel of Life.
For in the end, it will not be the political slogans which restore a respect for human life. Though we pray the slogans help. In the end, it will not be the campaigns and educational programs. Though we pray they help. In the end it will not even be our words which bring an end to the horror of abortion. Though we should never cease preaching! In the end, it will be the grace of God, who heals, forgives us and transforms us into the image of his own Son, crucified and risen. In the end, it will be only to the extent that we have been able to join ourselves to Christ, the Light of the World, that anyone will be enabled to see.
Preaching for Life
Sunday, January 27nd
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Did you ever sit in the dark? The dark is a lonely and scary place to be.
Why do people sit in the dark? Sometimes it's because they're afraid of the light. Sinners are afraid that their sin will be seen, so they hide in the dark. Liars are afraid that their deception will be seen, so they hide in the dark. Those who take innocent life are afraid that the horror of their action will actually be seen, so they close their eyes to the truth and hide in the dark.
I think of the woman who works in an abortion clinic. Each day she sees women who are afraid to give birth to their child. She sees their tears and hears their anguish. Yet when their child is aborted, she looks away. She will not see the hands and feet or imagine the silenced cry of a child. She looks away because it is too hard to see. She hides in the dark.
I think of the son whose mother had been "put away" in a nursing home. He visits at Christmas and Easter, and sometimes at Thanksgiving. Her old life, now defined by narrow ways and unpleasant smells, makes him uneasy, afraid and light-headed. And so he hides from the truths his mother's age has to teach him. He hides in the dark.
I think of the researcher whose salary is finally enough to send the kids to a good college. His research pays well, while others debate its moral dimensions. He has little time for debates of finer ethics. He has his work to do. He's good at it and there are few who could do it better. Moral questions about the work his life is built on are just too painful, so he looks the other way and refuses to ask them. He hides in the dark.
I think of the woman whose daughter has just told her she is pregnant. Fourteen! The horror overwhelms her. How could she ever... I'd have to... This means that... The questions overflow and choke her heart. So painful is the fear, that she cannot imagine the littlest child whom she will never see. And so she drives her daughter to the clinic, holds her hand, and hides in the dark.
I think of her daughter, some forty years later, on mother's day. She buried her mom years ago and now goes back to the grave. Her mother tried her best. She tried to do what was right. But ever since that dark day there's been a twinge inside, where the life used to be. It has never gone away. She prays for peace, for healing, forgiveness; and God will give it. But she weeps for all who hide in the dark, for it is a very painful place to be.
Hear the voice of Jesus this day!
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen."
Hear the voice of Jesus: