St. Michael Catholic Church
Respect Life Ministry
Prayers and Poetry
Enhancing Family Dynamics and the Sanctity of Life
Prayer for Life
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, in You we adore the eternal origin of all
life. Born of the Father before all time, You were born of the Virgin Mary
in time. In your humanity and person You sanctified motherhood from the
first instant of conception through all stages, for our salvation. Recall
all people to these divine blessings, to appreciate the unborn as persons
and to enlighten every human being coming into this world. In your mercy
avert your just anger from the enemies of life, to allow God’s infants to
give Him glory and to be crowned with the heavenly life of grace. From the
cross You called, “Behold your Mother.” Amen.
We Catholics in these United States are aware that we live in a pluralistic
society. Simply put, this means that there are different standards and
values. Sometimes these conflict, sometimes they differ in priorities. For
this reason, let us encourage one another to remain strong in our faith in
our Lord Jesus. Only a faith that is personal, thought through, and accepted
can guide us through these difficult times for our society. This faith must
cover the whole of life. It is not just to be practiced on Sunday mornings,
but must be exercised daily. Our faith should be allowed to enlighten our
choices, our public policies, our approach to work and our dealings with
other people. It must incorporate a clear understanding of that justice,
peace and truth which will prompt us at all times to the service, care and
protection of the human individual and family.
The Church teaches that there is a wholeness to our respect for life. Termed
variously as the Seamless Garment, a Consistent Ethic of Life, or the Rights
of the Individual Person from Womb to Tomb, human life is precious. In all
ways, life is a gift to be respected. Areas for concern, thought and action
include human rights: world hunger; health care; housing; education;
employment; the evils of racism and bigotry; the terrible effects of
pornography; abuse of women through sexism; alcoholism and drug dependency;
abortion and euthanasia; the unequal distribution of world goods; violence;
child and spouse abuse; the needs of single parents; the mesmerism of
television; and the selfish destruction of our earth.
In 1971, the Synod of Bishops declared: “The Church has the right, indeed
the duty, to proclaim justice on the social, national and international
level, and to denounce instances of injustice, when the fundamental rights
of people and their salvation demand it” (Par. 36)