ROE vs. WADE-VINCENT OF SARAGOSSA
Mark, Chapter 9, Verse 31-32
31 He was teaching his disciples and
telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill
him, and three days after his death he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were
afraid to question him.
Many times, we are afraid to ask a question of the Lord because we do not want to know
the answer. We measure success with an earthly yardstick and not a heavenly
one. Christ asks us to trust in Him. The heavenly yardstick is this as spoken
by Michael the Archangel, “Who is like God?
We are in a battle with the world, the
flesh and the Devil. Let us remember that St. Michael, along with our Guardian
Angel stand to defend us from perdition. No harm can come to the children of
God who place their trust in the Precious Blood. We must not be afraid to ask
for Michaels help and to always call on Mary the Queen of Angels whose children
we are through Christ. We must not be afraid to question science, literature,
or art in its many forms as these achievements of human works are often pressed
into service by the Devil and his cohorts.
God’s yardstick, “Who is like God?” leads
us to Love Him and to love our neighbors.
Why is this commandment to love God and our neighbor
called the great commandment? Because
in these two are contained all the others, so that he who fulfills these
fulfills the whole law. For whoever loves God with his whole heart does not
murmur against God; does not dishonor His name by cursing and swearing; does not
desecrate the Sabbath-day, because he knows that all this is offensive to God.
On the contrary, he hopes in God; gives thanks and praise to God; sanctifies
the Sundays and holy-days, because he knows this to be pleasing to God;
observes the precepts of the Church, because he knows it to be the will of God
that he should hear the Church; honors his parents; does no injury to his
neighbor; does not commit adultery; does not steal; slanders no one; bears no
false witness; pronounces no unjust judgment; is not envious, malicious,
unmerciful, but rather practices towards every one the corporal and spiritual
works of mercy; and all this because, out of love to God, he loves his neighbor
as himself. Thus, love fulfills all the commandments.[1]
January 22 is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the day established by the Church of penance for abortion, has been formally named as the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” On this day your parish, school or religious formation program may celebrate the Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life. This Mass, found in our newly translated Missal, may now be used on occasions to celebrate the dignity of human life. In addition to this special Mass on this day, perhaps your parish, school or religious formation program could encourage traditional forms of penance, host pro-life and chastity speakers, lead informative projects that will directly build up the culture of life, show a pro-life film, raise funds for local crisis pregnancy centers or offer additional prayer services.
Attend Mass today.
Celebration
of Life Day[3] is when we take a
step back and truly appreciate our children and grandchildren. Granted, some
may do this on an everyday basis, but it’s an opportunity to look at our young
ones’ lives from a different angle, think about what it is that makes them
truly special, and of course, to lavish treats upon them if we so wish, be it
an ice cream or a trip to Disneyland. It can be easy to forget that our
children and grandchildren are people in their own right. You’ve helped them to
discover themselves over the years, but you can’t take all the credit. Their
life choices are ultimately down to them; sometimes they’ll do you proud, and
other times, as is the case with us all, they’ll make mistakes. So be the one
who’s there to offer congratulations, or encouragement to pick themselves up
when they fall. And above all else, as cheesy as it may sound, show that you
love them.
The Love of Life[4]
Love
is not merely a feeling but is rather the desire for the best possible good for
those whom we love. Through our natural intelligence and through Divine
Revelation we become aware of the value of this most basic of all gifts which
is life. Mere reason leads us to comprehend that it is better to be alive than
never have had been in existence. The knowledge of the value of life that comes
through revelation leads us to understand better this gift and to appreciate
it: as a result, we worship and love more and more the Giver of this gift. This
love is what moves us to protect the life of the unborn or any who might be
unjustly treated. We are also led to protect women that might feel tempted or
forced to commit abortion, as we know the devastating consequences that
abortion will have in their lives. Last but not least we have to love, even if
most of them seem to be utterly unlovable, the many perpetrators of abortion:
medical personnel, and pro-abortion activists and politicians. We have to do
everything that we can to convince them of their errors so that they repent and
change their ways, both for their own benefit and for the benefit of society.
All human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. Using a
traditional scholastic term, we can state that He is the exemplary cause of
every human being, in other words, He is the model on which all human beings
are created. He looked upon himself and wished that other beings would share in
His own happiness. So, if we reflect upon ourselves, we can begin to understand
our participation in the greatness of our Creator. This participation on His
greatness leads us to comprehend that He has brought us out of nothing with a
purpose, because knowing His intelligence and His loving nature it is clear
that all His actions are always guided by a magnificent purpose. The first
intention for which He has created us is that we should enjoy for an eternity
His loving company in Heaven. All human persons are called to this eternal and
loving company, no one is excluded, save those who, through their own actions,
exclude themselves. This manner of creation brings us to understand the unique
essential dignity of every human being. A dignity that is not lost for any
deprivation of the many external perfections that we might expect to find in a
human person. A person might be born with a disability, or may suffer
disability through injury or disease, but these deprivations do not affect his
basic dignity. A Christian also has the hope that one day when the doors of
Paradise will be opened for those children, all their human imperfections will
be healed, and they will enjoy forever the beatific vision that we all long
for. We are also created to be collaborators in the salvation of the World. The
Lord normally does not intervene directly in the world; He does it through our
free collaboration in his plans of salvation. He gives to us the saving truths
through Holy Scripture, our natural reason and the mediation of the Church and
we have to manifest them in our daily lives. If we love those truths, we should
be impelled to share them with all whom the Lord places in front of us. So,
when we speak with love and conviction of those truths, we cannot be accused of
carrying out an exaggerated rhetoric when we defend human life from its
biological beginning until natural death. Nobody in his right mind can call it
"vitriolic rhetoric" when we denounce that millions upon millions of
unborn babies have been killed in the womb in the U.S. and in the rest of the
world. It is literally a question of life and death, for the victim, for the
mother of the baby and for the perpetrator of abortion, assisted suicide or
euthanasia. The victim will have his earthly life terminated; the mother will
suffer greatly for her actions, and the perpetrator and the mother will live
under the shadow of the unhappiness of having rejected the loving truths of
their Creator and certainly they will place their eternal salvation in
jeopardy. Our main solidarity has to be always with the victim of the crime,
because if the conscience of the nation is not moved by this growing injustice,
we know that a growing number will be victimized in the future. Our solidarity
is also with the mothers of those babies because often they have been misled or
forced into committing this terrible action.
Last but not least
we wish and pray that all abortionists will understand the terrible
consequences of their actions and be converted.
9 Days for Life is a "digital pilgrimage" of
prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every person's life. A
multi-faceted novena highlighting a different intention each day provides
reflections, bonus information, and suggested actions. Join to receive the
novena through the 9 Days for Life app, daily emails, or daily texts. See below
for information on how else you can get involved! #9DaysforLife #OurPrayersMatter
Day Two:
Intercession: May all people
embrace the truth that every life is a good and perfect gift and is worth
living.
Prayers: Our Father, 3 Hail Mary’s,
Glory Be
Reflection: At
every stage and in every circumstance, we are held in existence by God’s love.
The presence of an illness, disability, or other challenging circumstance never
diminishes the value of a human life. For God does not call us to perfection of
appearance or abilities, but to perfection in love. Christ invites us to
embrace the lives we have been given, for as long as they are given, as true
gifts. Our relationships on this earth are meant to help us grow in God’s
perfect love. Everyone we encounter is a gift, not because of what they can do
or accomplish, but because of who they are—a beloved child of God. May
each of us experience the power of God’s transforming love, that our eyes may
be opened to the incredible beauty of the people the Lord places in our lives
Acts of Reparation (Choose one.)
·
Take
a break from television, movies, and social media today. Consider spending some
of that time reflecting on today’s message.
·
Pray
the short prayer “Every Life is Worth Living,” reflecting on how you can bring
Christ’s love to others today. (The prayer is also available at www.usccb.org/worth-living.)
Heavenly Father,
thank you
for the precious gift of life.
for the precious gift of life.
Help us to cherish
and protect
this gift, even in the midst of fear,
pain, and suffering.
this gift, even in the midst of fear,
pain, and suffering.
Give us love for
all people,
especially the most vulnerable,
and help us bear witness to the
truth that every life is worth living.
especially the most vulnerable,
and help us bear witness to the
truth that every life is worth living.
Grant us the
humility to accept
help when we are in need,
and teach us to be merciful to all.
help when we are in need,
and teach us to be merciful to all.
Through our words
and actions,
may others encounter the
outstretched hands
of Your mercy.
may others encounter the
outstretched hands
of Your mercy.
We ask this
through
Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
·
Offer
some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for
today’s intention.
I became acquainted with Saint Vincent during a time I was suffering with a half inch burst in the last disk in my back. I was almost paralyzed, and the pain was intense with a burning sensation below the knee on my left leg. I was considering treatment using a VAC-D table that was then a new treatment, yet I was hesitant. After reading the story of St. Vincent I asked for his help with my struggle-it then occurred to me to go get stretched on the rack, which VAC-D resembles as St. Vincent was. After 25 treatments my disk is now been healed and I have recovered to 90% before the rupture. I thank the intersession of St. Vincent.
Vincent of Saragossa was one of the Church's three most illustrious deacons, the other two being Stephen and Lawrence. He is also Spain's most renowned martyr. Ordained deacon by Bishop Valerius of Saragossa, he was taken in chains to Valencia during the Diocletian persecution and put to death. From legend we have the following details of his martyrdom. After brutal scourging in the presence of many witnesses, he was stretched on the rack; but neither torture nor blandishments nor threats could undermine the strength and courage of his faith. Next, he was cast on a heated grating, lacerated with iron hooks, and seared with hot metal plates. Then he was returned to prison, where the floor was heavily strewn with pieces of broken glass. A heavenly brightness flooded the entire dungeon, filling all who saw it with greatest awe.
After this he was placed on a soft bed in the hope that lenient treatment would induce apostasy, since torture had proven ineffective. But strengthened by faith in Christ Jesus and the hope of everlasting life, Vincent maintained an invincible spirit and overcame all efforts, whether by fire, sword, rack, or torture to induce defection. He persevered to the end and gained the heavenly crown of martyrdom.
All men are called by God to be husbandmen. Some are
called to the priesthood and they may hear Christ saying to them:
Follow
me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Mt. 4:19)
Others are called to the single life and they may
serve the Lord via their work and there are those who are called to the married
life but all are husbandmen. What makes a good husbandman?
Let us look at St. Joseph as an example of a good
husbandman.
·
St.
Joseph in all his dealings was humble.
·
He
was the provider and protector of Mary and Jesus
·
full
of zeal and great courage,
·
Obedient to the will of
God. Yet he was not rash; and with prudence
pondered
·
His
decisions trusting in divine providence.
·
He
was a model of workers and
·
an
example of married life and chaste love.
·
He
valued prayer and the hidden life.
·
He
was ready for the call of a neighbor
or to the call of God;
·
He
gave an immediate response.
·
His
was a life of sacrifice; his was a life
of simplicity.
To be a good husbandman is to:
“Do the ordinary in an
extraordinary way.”
Daily
Devotions
[1] Goffine’s Devout Instructions, 1896.
[4]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2018-01-22
[5]http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/nine-days-of-prayer-penance-and-pilgrimage.cfm
[6]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2017-01-23
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