J.M.J. On this the 42nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, we ponder the conclusion of Evangelium Vitae, the March 25, 1995 Encyclical of Saint John Paul II.
"105. The angel's Annunciation to
Mary is framed by these reassuring words: 'Do not be afraid, Mary' and 'with God nothing will be impossible' (Lk 1:30, 37). The whole
of the Virgin Mother's life is in fact pervaded by the certainty that God is
near to her and that He accompanies her with His providential care. The same is
true of the Church, which finds 'a place prepared by God' (Rev 12:6)
in the desert, the place of trial but also of the manifestation of God's love
for His people (cf. Hos 2:16). Mary is a living word of comfort for the Church
in her struggle against death. Showing us the Son, the Church assures us that
in Him the forces of death have already been defeated: 'Death with life
contended: combat strangely ended! Life's own Champion, slain, yet lives to
reign'.
"The Lamb Who was slain is alive, bearing the marks of His Passion in the splendor of the Resurrection. He alone is master of all
the events of history: He opens its 'seals' (cf. Rev 5:1-10) and
proclaims, in time and beyond, the power of life over death. In the 'new Jerusalem', that new
world towards which human history is travelling, 'death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former
things have passed away' (Rev 21:4).
"And as we, the pilgrim people, the people of life and
for life, make our way in confidence towards 'a new heaven and a new
earth' (Rev 21:1), we look to her who is for us 'a sign of sure hope
and solace'.
bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life
Look down, O Mother,
upon the vast numbers
of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women
who are victims of brutal violence,
of the elderly and the sick killed
by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son
may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love
to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace
to accept that Gospel
as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude
throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it
resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will,
the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God,
the Creator and lover of life."
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