Catholic

Life and Family

A Canadian Catholic

Parish Pro-Life Paper
‘Assisting Catholics in the Pro-Life

and Pro-Family Cause’

A publication by Priests for Life Canada

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PRAYER

FOR

LIFE

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THE HOLY EUCHARIST AND

PRO-LIFE FORMATION
by Fr. Jim Whalen, National Director, Priests for Life Canada

 Pope John Paul II has proclaimed, “A year of the Holy Eucharist” from October, 2004 to October, 2005. He has once again shown us a way to grow in true devotion to the Eucharistic Jesus, so that all who accept and receive Him can be formed and transformed. This is especially true in terms of pro-life formation. The Holy Eucharist is God with us, Emanuel (Mt 1:23), the unique way Jesus chose to stay with us and to nourish us, His brothers and sisters. He is really present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and remains with us in the Blessed Sacrament. The Holy Eucharistic is the main weapon of strength and defense for pro-life disciples. He is present as daily food, preparing us for pro-life evangelization, enabling us to build a culture of life and love.

Pope Pius X left as a clear message, “Devotion to the Eucharist is the noblest of devotions, because it has God as its object”. Our work as pro-lifers is to present the Eucharist as a sacrament of life and love: a life and love that is crucified; a life and love that unites; a life and love that adores; a life and love that contemplates; a life and love that prays; a life and love that satisfies; a life and love that shares; a life and love that forgives; a life and love that heals.

God has truly given us all when He gave us the Eucharist. St. Augustine explains: “Although God is omnipotent, He is unable to give more; though supremely wise, He knows not how to give more; thought vastly rich, He has not more to give” (Jesus, Our Eucharistic Love, p. 4). Whereas St. Bernard reminds us the Eucharist is love that surpasses all love in Heaven and on earth, and St. Thomas emphasizes that the Eucharist signifies and produces love, St. Peter Eymard tells us that the Eucharistic is the supreme proof of the love of Jesus.

Pope John Paul II challenges youth in his message for World Youth Day 2005: “Make courageous choices... come and worship Christ. He is the Pope John Paul II has proclaimed, “A year of the Holy Eucharist” from October, 2004 to October, 2005. He has once again shown us a way to grow in true devotion to the Eucharistic Jesus, so that all who accept and receive Him can be formed and transformed. This is especially true in terms of pro-life formation. The Holy Eucharist is God with us, Emanuel (Mt 1:23), the unique way Jesus chose to stay with us and to nourish us, His brothers and sisters. He is really present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and remains with us in the Blessed Sacrament. The Holy Eucharistic is the main weapon of strength and defense for pro-life disciples. He is present as daily food, preparing us for pro-life evangelization, enabling us to build a culture of life and love.

Pope Pius X left as a clear message, “Devotion to the Eucharist is the noblest of devotions, because it has God as its object”. Our work as pro-lifers is to present the Eucharist as a sacrament of life and love: a life and love that is crucified; a life and love that unites; a life and love that adores; a life and love that contemplates; a life and love that prays; a life and love that satisfies; a life and love that shares; a life and love that forgives; a life and love that heals.
God has truly given us all when He gave us the Eucharist. St. Augustine explains: “Although God is omnipotent, He is unable to give more; though supremely wise, He knows not how to give more; thought vastly rich, He has not more to give” (Jesus, Our Eucharistic Love, p. 4). Whereas St. Bernard reminds us the Eucharist is love that surpasses all love in Heaven and on earth, and St. Thomas emphasizes that the Eucharist signifies and produces love, St. Peter Eymard tells us that the Eucharistic is the supreme proof of the love of Jesus.

Pope John Paul II challenges youth in his message for World Youth Day 2005: “Make courageous choices... come and worship Christ. He is the rock on which to build your future and a world of greater justice and solidarity”. (Aug. 26, 2004).
To find the riches of the Eucharist involves exercising the mind, the heart and the will. We must exercise our minds by reflecting, praying and pondering on the mystery of love, before the Blessed Sacrament, the gift of God Himself. We must exercise heart so that we will long for unity with the heart of Jesus. We must exercise our will through acts of self sacrifice so as to become humble and self effacing.

The value of the Holy Eucharist, the value of Holy Mass, is so great that even martyrdom pales in comparison. The Cure of Ars, St. John Vianney, helps us to understand by pointing out the infinite value of the Mass: “Martyrdom is nothing, in comparison with the Mass, because martyrdom is a sacrifice of man to God, whereas the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man” (Ibid, p.18). St. Pio of Pietrelcina states that when one understands the unlimited value of the Mass, great effort will be made to attend and participate as often as possible. “If men were to understand the value of the Holy Mass, for every Mass, such crowds would come to church that police would be needed to keep order” (Ibid. p. 19).

As pro-life disciples let us make the Holy Eucharist a priority in our lives. There is no better way than daily Mass and daily reception of Communion. In this way we will be prepared for whatever we have to do whenever we are called upon. +

Footnote: Jesus our Eucharistic Love, Fr. Stefano M. Manelli, FI, pub. by Immaculate Mediatrix, New Bedford, MA, 1996, pp 147.

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PRAYER FOR LIFE

PRAYER TO THE HOLY EUCHARIST

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored and loved in the true Holy Eucharist at every Mass throughout the world until the end of time.

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus protect all human life from conception to natural death.

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus warm the hearts of all women who are pregnant and provide them with the support and courage needed to carry their pregnancy to term.

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus protect all vulnerable individuals from the scourge of euthanasia and other attacks on human life.

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THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE noun: The formal union of a man and a woman, by which they become husband and wife. from The Definition of Marriage from the Oxford Dictionary Online Canadian Parliament is considering changing the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples. Many Catholics don't understand why it matters. Please click here for information by the bishops of Canada on why it matters. Please pray that Canadian Parliament will uphold the traditional definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman. “PRO-MARRIAGE ACTION” : Support your parish in promoting the traditional definition of marriage. Ask your Member of Parliament to vote “NO” to any change in the definition of marriage. Postage is free.   Your Member of Parliament House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H Voice your opinion online at: Defend Marriage Canada Please note: It is expected that legislation regarding Marriage may take place in June, 2005. It is possible that this will take place sooner.

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WHAT SOME CHURCH LEADERS HAVE SAID
ABOUT THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

“Any attempts to change the meaning of the word “spouse” contradicts right reason: legal guarantees, analogous to those granted to marriage, cannot be applied to unions between persons of the same sex without creating a false understanding of the nature of marriage”.

Address of Pope John Paul II to H.E. Mr. Donald Smith, Ambassador of Canada to the Holy See.

 

“It is essential that each of us, as Roman Catholics and citizens of this country, ensure that our own Members know our position: that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. The term ‘marriage’ should be retained only for unions of one man and one woman”.

Archbishop Marcel Gervais, Archbishop of Ottawa

 

“For Christians, the nature of marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman is written in the words of divine revelation. For all people, even those without faith, it is also written in the law of nature and in the very language of the human body”.

Archbishop T. Collins, Archbishop of Edmonton

 

“...After all, the change that is being proposed affects the most fundamental institution and the primary value of society: marriage and family, which have existed throughout human history and predate the state and the laws themselves”.

Marc Cardinal Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada

 

“The search for stability and exclusivity in a homosexual relationship is not the driving force. The principal objective in seeking same-sex "marriage"is not really even about equality rights. The goal is to acquire a powerful psychological weapon to change society's rejection of homosexual activity and lifestyle into gradual, even if reluctant, acceptance”.

F. B. Henry, Bishop of Calgary

 

“The Catholic Bishops of Canada are united in their belief that marriage is the unique, essential, and fundamental relationship of a man and a woman, and thus are opposed to the proposed redefinition of marriage as the lawful union of any two persons”.

Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

 

“The conjugal partnership of a man and a woman is the beginning and basis of human society and the family is the first and vital cell of society. Tampering with marriage and the family poses significant social risks”.

Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, Archbishop of Toronto

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YOUNG PEOPLE WRITE ABOUT PRO-LIFE ISSUES

 

The following essays were entered in the recent Priests for Life Canada Essay on Life contest.

 

PRO-LIFE ESSAY CONTEST RESULTS

FIRST Prize: $300.00 - Gabrielle Ferri, Pembroke, Ontario (16 years old)
Topic: Choice? - see page 2.

SECOND Prize: $150.00 - Chloé Ward, Pembroke, Ontario (17 years old)
Topic: Abortion Kills the Christian Morality Within Us - see page 3.

THIRD Prize: $ 75.00 - Benedicta Dara Goveia, Scarborough, Ontario (16 years old)
Topic: Chastity - the Lost Lifestyle.

All contestants received a ‘Precious Feet’ lapel pin. The contest ended June 30, 2004.

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CHOICE?
by Gabrielle Ferri, Age: 16
Essay on Life Contest First Prize Winner

 
Most Canadians believe that our culture offers women the best possible choices and opportunities. Abortion, one of the many options available to women, seems an easy solution to an inconvenient problem. However, choice implies accurate information. It depends upon knowing the facts and risks. Women are not being told the truth about abortion and are not being told the facts and risks that would permit true choice. Women are making biased decisions about abortion because they do not have access to the great quantity of evidence that shows its harmful effects on their physical and mental health.

Mounting evidence proves that abortion poses serious risks to a woman’s physical health and this evidence is not being provided to women when they are making decisions about abortion. A study of Canadian abortions over a six-year period of 1975-1980 shows a 3% morbidity rate, together with the immediate complications including perforation of the uterus, hemorrhage and infection.(1) As Dr. and Mrs. Ferri mention in their report, many complications are not always reported as consequences of abortion. The majority of the complications are dealt with away from the abortion clinics in hospitals where the connection is often not made. Furthermore, women are reluctant to admit that they had an abortion. This suggests that the complication rate is actually much higher than known. The long-term problems following an abortion are less understood. Very few studies of complication rates have followed women for more than a year and most are restricted to their stay in hospital. Because a large proportion of women are lost to follow-up, either through refusal to participate or an inability to contact women for further study, many analyses’ of the later complications are rendered unreliable. Despite this, new data does suggest that the conditions following abortions frequently include infertility or decreased fertility, preterm delivery, cervical incompetence and urinary tract infections.(2) The abortion industry has taken great liberty in assuming that this procedure is safe without sufficient study having been conducted; in fact, very recent evidence suggests the exact opposite of the abortion industry’s claim.

Worse even then the physical consequences of abortion noted above, topical research has demonstrated a link between abortion and breast cancer. For example, in 1999, Dr. H. Howe found that a woman who aborted her first pregnancy faced a 1.7 times increased risk of breast cancer under age 40. If a woman aborted her second or third pregnancy, her risk was increased four times. Other studies have demonstrated that abortion poses an even greater possibility of women developing breast cancer if one or more of their family members have struggled with the disease. This evidence has been repeatedly confirmed, with 28 out of 37 international studies done since 1957 demonstrating a relationship. With the vast increase in abortion every year, it is no wonder that the rate of breast cancer is increasing as well. The potential physical effects of abortion should be a major consideration in a woman’s decision regarding the conclusion to her pregnancy.3

The abortion industry also claims that abortion has little or no significant mental health effects on women, and that they have studies to back up their statement. However, on closer examination, these studies attempting to assess the long-term mental effects of abortion on women are, more often then not, invalid. This is due to the refusal to participate or respond by the post-abortion women. This in itself may be a good indication that a significant proportion of women who had abortions are experiencing shame, regret and depression. A Saskatchewan based study used a different tactic. It reviewed the before and after use of health care services by women who had deliveries, miscarriages, abortions and sterilizations for 1970 and 1971. It found that, in the year following their abortion, women were diagnosed by their physicians 40.8% more often as having mental disorders than the women who had deliveries. They also were treated 25% more often for accidents or conditions resulting from violence.4 Ultimately, women are trying to find relief by resorting to abortion. As suggested by the Saskatchewan report, abortion merely intensifies their problems.

Breast cancer, infertility, depression, the choices women make can affect the level of risk for these disorders. Nevertheless, every year, thousands of women make the decision to have an abortion without sufficient information concerning its effects on their health. Abortionists are quick to deny that there are any serious risks involved. However, the ones making these statements are usually the ones benefiting financially and they are relying on flawed studies. As well, many women persist in regarding the “right” to abortion as a milestone in women’s battle for freedom and equality. It would seem from the previous indications that, women are more exploited in today’s society than ever before. It is quite clear that women are not making informed choices about abortion because they are being denied the data which shows the risks and effects involved. As more and more evidence regarding the negative effects of abortion comes to light, the controversy heightens. Abortion always has been an issue of the utmost importance. With so many women being affected in our country and around the world, the fight to inform is a crucial battle that must not be pushed aside. It is one step in overcoming the horror of abortion in today’s society. +

References
Heritage House ‘76 Inc., Effects of Abortion, 1998-Mar. 2004, www.aboritonfacts.com.
Heritage House ‘76 Inc., Breast Cancer, 1998-Mar. 2004, www.abortionfacts.com.
Life Issues Institute, Inc., Connector, issue of April 2003.
Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer, “Why Aren’t Women Being Told?” pamphlet, Revised Nov.22, 2002.
Ferri, R.M and M.T., Submission to the Kingston General Hospital Task Force on Abortion, 1985.

Endnotes
1. As cited in Ferri, Submission to KGH task force on abortion, p.41.
2. As cited in Ferri, Submission to KGH task force on abortion, p.42.
3. Life Issues Institute, Inc., connector, Apr. 2003; p.1.
4. As cited in Ferri, Submission to KGH task force on abortion, p.34.

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ABORTION KILLS THE CHRISTIAN MORALITY WITHIN US

by Chloé Ward, Age: 17
Essay on Life Contest Second Prize Winner

Abortion is the murder of a silent, innocent unborn human being. It is an atrocious resolution to end a pregnancy, therefore, there are numerous dissenting viewpoints concerning the moral implications of abortion. Christians generally possess a keen desire to follow and apply the teachings of the Holy Bible, which includes the Ten Commandments. Abortion violates the sixth commandment, which prohibits murderous acts. In addition to this, the fetus acquires a soul at the moment of conception, which justifies their human entity. At this time, God also knows His lifelong plan for each unique individual, which should not be interfered with. Finally, every act performed by a Christian should be a loving and caring step to be coming closer to God, as love is the ultimate key to the world's largest religion, Christianity. It is this for all of these humane reasons that abortion should most definitely be prohibited.

Ensoulment is a sacred passage to becoming fully human which occurs at the very moment of conception. Even before birth, God already knows each human and has a special, unexplainable relationship with him or her. Life has already begun at conception, for the fertilized cell, or zygote contains the entire necessary DNA to transform into an independent, conscious human being, able to survive on earth. In addition to this, He has a diverse plan for each of us, which He has already shaped specifically for each of our lifestyles, to ensure that our purposes may be obtained and that each and every human being will be able to reunite with God at the end of our earthly paths. Anyone taking away the life of another human is committing a grievous act of disobedience against God, by trying to put himself or herself on a high and unattainable level with Him. This altitude of superiority is unrealistic for any human being, for God is the only entity who is truly justified in taking away the most precious gift of all, life. He is the only being with the right to judge who should live and who should die, as supported in the Bible, "… because He Himself gives all [people] life and breath and everything else" (Acts 17:25, NIV). Furthermore, there is the natural law, which Catholics claim that the natural consequence of the woman becoming pregnant is to give birth to a child. Due to the fact that the lifelong journey to an eternity with God begins at conception, the act of terminating this through abortion is unjust.

Along with taking for granted God's gift of the human soul and life, having an abortion also alienates oneself from God. As an active Christian, it is crucial to develop an intimate, sacred and s\respectful relationship with Him. One method of attempting to achieve this relationship is o follow the Ten Commandments always. When a Christian disobeys one of these ten simple rules, they are deliberately alienating themselves from the nurturing relief experienced through His unconditional love. However, they are not only alienating themselves from God but also from themselves. It has been proven by psychologists that women who had had abortions, often suffer from psychological damage and even Post Abortion Syndrome in some cases, as they are generally engaging themselves into something which they feel is morally wrong. The purpose of the Ten Commandments is to present concrete guidelines to achieve eternal happiness when strictly followed. This is why when one of the commandments is broken, such as the sixth, "You shall not murder", one's relationship with God and themselves is seriously alienated.

Finally, abortion is an inhumane and a deliberate unloving act. Love is not just a feeling, but it is a practical attitude to reach out and help others. This is the absolute most important issue of Christianity. To love someone else is the same as to love God in His eyes. Killing an innocent and helpless baby is one of the most cruel and unloving acts. When an unbelievably unchristian act such as abortion occurs, the person's path leading to their state of happiness and peace, or the "Kingdom of God", is greatly impeded. The way to reach the ultimate state of happiness, love and freedom within is to cut out all the selfishness, arrogance and fear in your life and to turn to the loving Father. Even if abortion is legal, there should be absolutely n o one who results to it because every human has the capacity to love unconditionally his or her own creation of a child.

Pro-life should be type of attitude portrayed by every human being. A child, even if it is unborn, is an incredibly special gift. It is life given by God and it should be cherished, not destroyed in utter cruelty. Everyone is created uniquely with a soul and deserves the chance to be loved by a family from the day that they are conceived. In addition to this, they are entitled to the right to travel the journey of life to the eternal Kingdom of God, along with the rest of humanity. People who are even considering abortion should be informed and carefully reflect on the betrayal it involves which will alienate them from God and themselves, the emotional damage they will suffer, and the unrealistic power which hey can only attempt to gain but never actually achieve, by taking away the right to live from someone else. The right to take an innocent life is only truly given to God Himself, as He is the ultimate Creator. Abortion is an inhumane crime, which must be stopped immediately, as it always ends an innocent life. +

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A recent special call to women by the Holy Father. “From this grotto I issue a special call to women. Appearing here, Mary entrusted her message to a young girl, as if to emphasize the special mission of women in our own time, tempted as it is by materialism and secularism: to be in today’s society a witness of those essential values which are seen only with the eyes of the heart. To you, women, falls the task of being sentinels of the Invisible! I appeal urgently to all of you, dear brother and sisters, to do everything in your power to ensure that life, each and every life, will be respected from conception to its natural end. Life is a sacred gift, and no one can presume to be its master”.   Mass Homily: Pilgramage of His Holiness, John Paul II, to Lourdes, France, on the occasion of the 150th Anniversay of the Promulgation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Sunday, 15 August, 2004 Story of Our Lady of Lourdes   Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, France

Pray for all pregnant mothers and their unborn children!

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