LIFE AS A GIFT FROM GOD—THE AUTHOR OF LIFE!

 Support Life!  Support the Family!

Vote with the Church! Vote with Christ!

Listen to Father Broom's talk on Catholic Voting.

 

Human life is a precious  Gift from the author of all gifts, God Himself! It is God who gives life and it is God who takes life, at the time, the place, the manner, that He deems is best.

BEGINNING OF LIFE.   Life begins at the very moment of conception. At that precise moment of conception Almighty God infuses an immortal soul into that new human person and that soul will live for all eternity.  Life ends when the soul leaves the body to go before Jesus who will judge all of us upon all we have done in life, good or bad, thoughts, words, deeds, omissions, and even the most secret intentions hidden in the most profound recesses of our hearts!

DOUBLE CELEBRATION/DOUBLE BLESSING!   Rarely does the church celebrate, in the context of the Liturgical year, twice the glory of a saint.   A few exceptions: St. Joseph, St Paul, but also SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST.   The  saint just mentioned, the church celebrates his birthday on June 24^th  and then his death on August 29^th.

Of primary importance with respect to the birth of John the Baptist, is the conception of this Precursor of Christ.  Pious and prayerful, faithful to her religious obligations, longing to have a child and suffering because he never came, finally Elizabeth conceives a child in her old age.

HER REACTION!    Instead of complaining to God for the long wait, instead of questioning God due to her advanced age, instead of allowing fear and worry to invade her due to the possibility of a miscarriage, deformed child or herself possibly dying in child-birth, St. Elizabeth rejoices with the good news that she was soon to be a mother!   Why this rejoicing confronted with so many possible dangers to her and the child???  The reason is simple and to the point: HER DAUNTLESS FAITH, TRUST, AND CONFIDENCE IN A LOVING AND PROVIDENTIAL GOD!  If God allows the conception, despite exterior circumstances and possible complications, then God will indeed provide for the child. Our God is a loving God, a tender God, a compassionate God, an all- wise and intelligent God!

JOYFUL GREETING AND MEETING!   Mary in haste travels close to 80 kilometers, climbing, ascending, soaring spiritually to the hill country to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Mary  greets Elizabeth and the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and cries out in a loud voice:  “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? At the sound of your voice the baby leapt in my womb.  Blessed are you who believed  that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”  (Lk. 1:42-45)

PRO-LIFE “PAR-EXCELLENCE”!  Here we have a Pro-life passage at its best.  These two women, Elizabeth and Mary, in the modern, technologically advanced society would be two prime candidates for abortion! Why? The modern hedonistic, materialistic, utilitarian reasoning process would dictate the following.   One was way too young to have a child. Most likely, Mary was in her mid-teens. Whereas, Elizabeth was, by far, way too old to have a child, an old woman beyond belief of having a child!  Modern society would cry out!  “Quality of life” first and foremost!  It is not the time, the place, the economic situation propitious for a child!

COUNTER-CULTURAL: FAITH AND TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN TOTALITY!  Both Mary and Elizabeth said “yes” to life, despite the possible obstacles. Behold the result of their responses in faith!  The birth of John the Baptist, “the greatest man born of woman”; then the birth of JESUS CHRIST,  the Son of the living God, Our savior, Redeemer and the “best of lovers”!  How counter-cultural are the saints, and how counter-cultural St. Elizabeth and the Blessed Virgin Mary!

SHINING EXAMPLES AS STARS OF THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT.

How then, following in the footsteps of St. Elizabeth and the Blessed Virgin Mary can we ourselves be fervent and ardent promoters of the “Gospel of Life vs. the Culture of Death?” (Pope John Paul II). Some practical suggestions!

1.    TEEN CHASTITY!  One of the key reasons for abortions among the very young is due to an inadequate formation in the virtue of chastity among the young. May parents have the audacity and intelligence to educate their young in the value of purity, chastity, and simply patience in holding off on a dangerous juvenile and premature courtship.  The book of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 teaches very clearly on this point: “There is a time for everything underneath the sun…”  There is a time to have a boy/girlfriend and there is a time  to avoid!

2.     ENCOURAGEMENT TOWARDS THE PREGNANT WOMAN!   All too often women have recourse to abortion because they are surrounded by people and “friends” that discourage them in their pregnancy, when they should be encouraged the most! Such responses as, “Oh, another one!”  Or, “Where are you going to put him?”  Still yet, “You already have 3, 4????”  All of these “Culture of death” expressions indirectly could be leading the woman into the clutches of the abortion team! Pro-lifers’ response should always be positive, encouraging, upbeat and optimistic, like: “Praise the Lord!”   “That child will be a blessing to society!’  “I will pray for you and the child and anything you need, I will be there!”  Finally, “what name will you give him/her?” These encouraging words could turn the tide and encourage the scared, fearful and confused woman, like Elizabeth and Mary, to say “Yes” to life!

3.     EYE-CATCHING BUMPER-STICKERS!  Jesus’ last words before ascending into heaven were to go out to the whole world and preach the Gospel. Why not  use bumper stickers to promote the cause of the unborn child.   Here is one for you:  “IT IS A CHILD NOT A CHOICE!”

4.    VOTING!  Voting is a duty as well as a privilege! When voting we should always take into account the “Non-negotiables”--- meaning that these are always immoral and sinful. What are the “non-negotiables?”   Euthanasia—the killing of the aged or infirm due to poor health; Contraception (avoiding children in the wrong way); Homosexuality (same-sex unions); Embryonic experimentation (killing little babies in laboratories) and finally ABORTION—the killing of the innocent unborn baby!  Upon voting, these “Non-negotiables” should always be of the highest priority in choosing a candidate! These are key issues that refer to the importance of human life and the destiny of the family, which is the basic building-block of society. (Pope John Paul II)

5.    PRAYER. Our most powerful weapon in fighting against abortion is prayer and sacrifice. Our Lady of Fatima insisted on both! What prayers?   The Rosary in which we praise “Jesus the fruit of the womb of Mary”. Then, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, in which we beg mercy for us as well as the whole world. Finally, the most powerful and efficacious prayer is THE SACRIFICE OF HOLY MASS.    The Mass is by far the most efficacious prayer because we offer to God the Father the Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Consecrations, Offertories, Communions, Mass intentions--- all have omnipotent power to placate the anger of God, repair for the 53 million abortions since Roe vs. Wade and to prevent the future shedding of innocent Blood!

In conclusion, may St. Elizabeth and the Blessed Virgin Mary, through their powerful prayers and brilliant example, and motherly love encourage us to say “yes” to life. Human life is a precious gift from God, from the moment of conception until natural death. Amen!