Every October, the Church in the U.S. celebrates Respect Life Month. We reflect on the gift of every human life and how to build a culture that protects life from conception to natural death. Let us pray...
Racism occurs because a person ignores the fundamental truth that all humans are equally made in the image of God. Racism fails to acknowledge the dignity with which God creates each person, and it contributes to a culture of death. Racism is not merely one sin among many; it is a radical evil that divides the human family and denies the new creation of a redeemed world. To struggle against it demands an equally radical transformation, in our own minds and hearts as well as in the structure of our society.
Let us pray:
For an end to the violence perpetrated by harsh words, deadly weapons, or cold indifference. May our homes, our nation, and countries around the world become havens of peace, let us pray to the Lord.
For the grace to see every human being as a child of God, regardless of race, language or culture, let us pray to the Lord.
For the wisdom to receive the stories and experiences of those different from ourselves and to respond with respect, let us pray to the Lord.
For the strength to teach our children how to resolve differences non-violently and respectfully, and the courage to model it in our own behavior, let us pray to the Lord.
For our faith community, that we may celebrate and welcome the diverse faces of Christ in our worship, our ministries, and our leaders, let us pray to the Lord.
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 pre-born 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? 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.
Couples’ stories, sample intercessions, homily notes, and more can be found HERE.
Although fathers do not physically carry their children from conception, fathers can still be overwhelmed by an unexpected pregnancy. We Christians must support men who, in following the example of St. Joseph, choose to embrace their role as a father in all circumstances, but especially in challenging situations. St. Joseph was unexpectedly called to fatherhood amid extremely confusing and difficult circumstances. However, despite many obstacles, St. Joseph chose to be faithful. St. Joseph chose life by listening to God’s will and consciously deciding to be a father to Jesus, the Son of God. Pope Saint John Paul II said that fathers are called to exhibit “generous responsibility for the life conceived under the heart of the mother” (Familiaris consortio 25). Like St. Joseph, all fathers are uniquely entrusted with the protection and defense of both mother and child and, in this way, safeguard the sanctity of human life. But biological fathers, because they do not physically carry the child, sometimes fail to truly father their children.
Our society increasingly tells fathers that they should have no say in the lives of their unborn children, no opportunity to choose to father their children. Our society seems to restrict the decisions regarding an unborn child solely to the discretion of the mother. In the face of false messages about fatherhood, we must respond with the truth that the role of a father “is of unique and irreplaceable importance” (FC 25). We know that the assistance and support of the father of a child, or lack thereof, can often be a deciding factor in a woman’s decision to choose life. Tragically, there are men who sometimes pressure mothers to make the decision to abort the child, sinning grievously and making the cowardly choice. These men are not following the example of St. Joseph and are not exercising true, spiritual fatherhood.
This is because fatherhood extends beyond simple procreation and biology. Fatherhood is first a spiritual reality, because 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 and unique role “in revealing and in reliving on earth the very fatherhood of God” (FC 25). Fathers have a vital, unique, and important role to play in the personal and spiritual development of their children, and in reflecting the love of God the Father himself. Fathers are called to show the world the virtues of a tender protector, while living out the virtues of humility and courage.
In all circumstances, but especially in difficult circumstances, a father needs to be encouraged to faithfully accept the role entrusted to him by God and support the mother of his child. Through our prayers and through the intercession of St. Joseph, patron of fathers, may fathers come to know the irreplaceable role they hold in the lives of their children, and the responsibility they share in welcoming God’s gift of new life!
On March 26, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that has the potential to make a major impact in the widespread accessibility of chemical abortion (abortion pills). Chemical abortions are now the most common form of abortion in the United States. The case is in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) promoting the availability of chemical abortion while ignoring risks to women and violating federal law. In short, the FDA has enabled a nationwide mail-order abortion industry and turned neighborhood pharmacies into chemical abortion providers.
Understanding Abortion Pills (Q&A on Chemical Abortion)
While the Supreme Court case is not about ending chemical abortion, it can restore limitations that the FDA has overridden. When a Supreme Court decision is released, probably in June, we can expect a public and political reaction similar to the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
The USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities invites Catholics to join a focused effort of prayer for the end of abortion and the protection of women and preborn children, and to invoke the intercession of St. Joseph, Defender of Life with this prayer:
Dearest St. Joseph, at the word of an angel, you lovingly took Mary into your home. As God’s humble servant, you guided the Holy Family on the road to Bethlehem, welcomed Jesus as your own son in the shelter of a manger, and fled far from your homeland for the safety of both Mother and Child. We praise God that as their faithful protector, you never hesitated to sacrifice for those entrusted to you. May your example inspire us also to welcome, cherish, and safeguard God’s most precious gift of life. Help us to faithfully commit ourselves to the service and defense of human life —especially where it is vulnerable or threatened. Obtain for us the grace to do the will of God in all things. Amen.
We ask Catholics to offer this prayer daily through June, when a decision is expected. Online and print versions of the prayer can be found HERE. Thank you for responding to this invitation to prayer for an end to all abortions and for the protection of women and preborn children.
St. Joseph, Defender of Life, pray for us!
By the age of 45, as many as 1 in 3 women have had an abortion, and a similar number of men and family members have been involved.
Many feel that abortion is “the unforgivable sin.” They need to hear that, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God forgives every sin of a repentant heart, even the sin of abortion. In fact, Jesus’ message to St. Faustina is that the greater the sinner, the greater the right to His mercy.
For those who have participated in an abortion and feel they have committed an unforgiveable sin: May they come to know the Lord’s limitless mercy, and turn to Him for forgiveness and healing. Find ways to build the bridge of mercy HERE.
If you or someone you know has had an abortion, be assured that it is never too late to seek God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Additionally, other confidential, compassionate help is available. Select “Find Help” from the menu on www.hopeafterabortion.org to find the diocesan Project Rachel Ministry near you.
Leading up to the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19, join us in praying the St. Joseph Adoption Novena. Invoking the intercession of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, we will pray the Lord blesses all who travel upon the path of adoption.
Click HERE to download the novena or sign up to receive the daily prayers via email or text message.
Intentions
We often assume parenthood happens easily after “I do,” but for many married couples, it does not. For some, the joy of conception never happens. Others suffer repeated miscarriages. Still others experience secondary infertility: after giving birth to one or more children, they are unable to have another.
The pain can become overwhelming. Social media posts of pregnancies, baby announcements, or pictures of newborns may intensify feelings of being alone in the ache for a child. Attending baby showers and being around children or pregnant women can be excruciating.
Even if we ourselves do not experience difficulty bearing children, we can be channels of God’s mercy for those who do.
Read more and find resources HERE.Abortion is an example of how we, as individuals and as a society, fail to recognize the dignity of each child, knit within the womb of his or her mother. We allow our hearts to be hardened to the truth. Our culture either fails to recognize the undeniable humanity of unborn children, who deserve our love and protection, or disregards it.
On January 22, all dioceses in the United States are called to observe a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. January 22 is the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decisions that legalized abortion throughout our nation. And while, on June 24, 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade, right now state and federal laws, in many instances, are still hostile to preborn children. So, great prayer and advocacy is very needed.
The Church sets this day aside as day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. It is also a day of penance for all violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion. As individuals, we are each called to observe this day through the penitential practices of prayer, fasting and/or almsgiving.
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. With nearly 25 million victims worldwide, there are more slaves today than at any time in history. Our Catholic faith calls on us to defend life and human dignity, to fight conditions that lead to the enslavement of human beings.
Loving Father,
We seek your divine protection for all who are exploited and enslaved. For those forced into labor, trafficked into sexual slavery, and denied freedom. We beseech you to release them from their chains. Grant them protection, safety, and empowerment. Restore their dignity and provide them a new beginning. Show us how we might end exploitation by addressing its causes. Help us reach out in support of victims and survivors of human trafficking. Make us instruments of your spirit for their liberation. For this we pray through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Resources on Human Trafficking:
Vatican USCCB Amistad Movement
Read more on St. Josephine Bakhita here.
Death is a decisive moment in the human person’s encounter with God the Savior. Helping the Christian to experience this moment with spiritual assistance is a supreme act of charity. It encompasses the patient with the solid support of human relationships to accompany them and open them to hope. Palliative care and hospice are precious and crucial instruments in the care of patients with serious and complex chronic or terminal illnesses, and they help provide comfort to both the patients and their families.
Read The Witness of the Good Samaritan: Palliative Care and Hospice
Heavenly Father, thank you for the precious gift of life. Help us to cherish and protect 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. Grant us the humility to accept 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. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.