¡Viva Cristo Rey!

The image to the right is behind one of the side altars of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse Wisconsin. I had never heard of the person in the picture before our tour guide recounted the story of Blessed Miguel Pro.  It is truly amazing to learn of the heroic faith demonstrated by the Saints in every generation, including our own.  I had no idea that Catholics were persecuted and put to death in Mexico less than 100 years ago.  Father Pro was executed on Nov 23, 1927.  The images below of Blessed Miguel's execution were ordered to be taken by Mexican President Plutarco Elías Calles in order to intimidate Catholics.

One wonderful site on Bl. Miguel Pro tells the story this way:

"Calles wanted the execution to be a "big show" and had instructed his underlings to invite representatives from all the government secretariats, the press, and photographers. His intention was to show the Catholics as groveling cowards. Instead, the photos spoke eloquently of their heroism. After the execution, an attempt was made to recall the photographs, and possession of them became a crime. But the damage had been done -- the world had seen."

This is consistent with the story told by our tour guide at the shrine church.  The guide identified "the press" as the New York Times, who were present to document the event.

Father Miguel kneels in prayer for those about to take his life....

And stands, refuses the blindfold.  Holding his arms out like a cross, he is executed by firing squad. I will not display those images here.

The funeral of Bl. Miguel was clearly NOT the outcome that those who took his life had hoped for.

Bl. Miguel Pro, may the example of your faith strengthen our own. Pray for us that, may we also grow to love Our Lord and his Church more than we love our own lives.

Bl. Miguel Pro was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988.

I do not own the following book yet, but it is on my Christmas list.

Blessed Miguel Pro: 20th Century Mexican Martyr, Ann Ball, TAN Books and Publishers

The movie "For Greater Glory" opens on June 1, 2012, and tells the all but forgotten story of the Cristeros War (1926-1929).

Images:  http://puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/pro/pro_martyr_01.html

The Grotto: National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

I had the day off work yesterday, so I went to The Grotto for Mass and to spend some time in the peaceful quiet of this beautiful Shrine.  The readings today focus on the purification of the temple. The first reading focused on the re-dedication of the alter after the Maccabean revolt around 165 BC which re-established the Jewish faith after it was oppressed by Antiochus IV.  This full story is told in the books of Maccabees, yesterday's reading is here:

Judas and his brothers said,
“Now that our enemies have been crushed,
let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.”
So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.
Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month,
that is, the month of Chislev,
in the year one hundred and forty-eight,
they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law
on the new altar of burnt offerings that they had made.
On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it,
on that very day it was reconsecrated
with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals.
All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven,
who had given them success.
For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar
and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices
of deliverance and praise.
They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields;
they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers
and furnished them with doors.
There was great joy among the people
now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.
Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel
decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar
should be observed with joy and gladness
on the anniversary every year for eight days,
from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.

Near the end, we have Judas Maccabee's decree that the  "days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary every year for eight days", an observation which we today know as Hanukkah.

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus enters the Temple and drives out the money changers.

Can you imagine churches being taken over by civil authorities, the practice of our faith banned, it made a capital offense to posses scripture?  As Father Jack said in his homily today, we are in no grave danger of this in our own country today.  However, there are places in the world where religious oppression is alive today, and throughout history we have seen such oppression in many times and forms.  For instance:

• The English Martyrs
• Cristero War in Mexico
• Religious Persecution in Soviet Union
• Hitler and Christmas

In his homily today, Father Damien talked of a different sort of assault on our traditions.  His homily was on the somewhat dying Catholic practice of "making a visit", stopping in a church or holy site when passing by even if only for a moment or two.  Thank God for The Grotto, a prayerful, peaceful, transcendent, holy place right here in Portland.  It becomes less 'Peaceful' and more 'Joyful' beginning next Friday when the 22nd annual Festival of Lights begins, the day after Thanksgiving.  There is beautiful choral music every night from various local churches and other musical groups.  Check out the Festival of Lights link on the grotto website for details.

I took a few pictures of some of the paintings in the shrine church, the Chapel of Mary

On the left is the painting of the Crowning of Mary in Heaven.  It fills the sanctuary area behind the alter in the Chapel of Mary.  On the right, I believe is a painting of St. Joseph on his death bed.  The image is in the entrance to the Shrine Church opposite the Wedding of Cana painting

Painting of the Wedding at Cana in the entrance of the Shrine Church

Crucifixion scene at the entrance to the Grotto.

Bulletin Inserts: Health Care Reform

“We claim no expertise in economics or the complexities of modern medical science. However, effective health care policies must be built on a foundation of proper moral principles. The needed change in health care must therefore flow from certain principles that protect the fundamental life and dignity of the human person and the societal principles of justice, which are best safeguarded when such vital needs are provided for in a context of human love and reason, and when the delivery of care is determined at the lowest reasonable level. The rich tradition of Catholic social and moral teaching should guide our evaluation of the many and varied proposals for health care reform.”, Principles of Catholic Social Teaching and Health Care Reform by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann & Bishop Robert W. Finn, Sept 1, 2009

* * *

Prayer for our Nation’s Health Care Reform

Lord Jesus, you are the Divine Physician,
And the source of all life and health.
Guide our nation at this critical moment,
As our government seeks health care reforms.
Give our elected officials the humility to know
That they are servants, not masters.
Give them the wisdom to realize
That every life has equal value.
Give them the strength to resist the idea
That some lives can be sacrificed to save others
Or that killing the unborn is a part of health care.
Give your people the courage to speak up
And to hold public officials accountable for their actions.
Save us, Lord Jesus, from a culture of death,
And let every reform in our public policy
Be based on the reform of our hearts and minds
In the light of your Gospel,
For you are Lord forever and ever. Amen.

http://www.priestsforlife.org/prayercampaign/index.htm

Image: Christ the Healer, Fr. Jon Buffington. Downtown Chapel, Portland, OR.
http://www.downtownchapel.org/icon.html

* * *

“Respect for personal conscience and freedom of religion as such ensures our basic freedom from government oppression. No government should come between an individual person and God—that’s what America is supposed to be about. This is the true common ground for us as Americans. We therefore need legal protection for freedom of conscience and of religion—including freedom for religious health care institutions to be true to themselves.” Cardinal Francis George, March 16, 2009

* * *

Catholic News Service: “Why should the average Catholic be concerned about a somewhat obscure regulation (Conscience Protection Rule) of the Department of Health and Human Services?”
Bishop Murphy: … Legal experts tell us that the regulations are totally in conformity with the statutes. So to take back the regulations raises a real issue, because the statutes are intended to protect human rights -- rights of conscience and rights of freedom of religion. So why should everyone be concerned about this? Because if one person's rights can be compromised, everybody's rights can be compromised.” Excerpt from interview of Bishop William Murphy on March 24, 2009 

* * *

Conscience Protection for Health Professionals
 In his recent open letter to Congress, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Houston said:
… The need to respect rights of conscience in health care has been a matter of strong bipartisan consensus for almost four decades. Under the Church amendment of 1973, those taking part in a variety of federal health programs may not be discriminated against because they have moral or religious objections to abortion or sterilization, and in some circumstances to any other health service. The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program exempts religiously affiliated health plans from any contraceptive mandate, and protects the conscience rights of health professionals in secular plans. The major federal legislation for combating AIDS in developing nations ensures the full participation of organizations that have a moral or religious objection to particular methods of AIDS prevention. This consensus is reflected in a variety of other federal laws as well (www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/abortion/crmay08.pdf).
The IOM’s proposed list of mandated benefits makes it especially urgent for Congress to bring [the recently passed health care reforms] into line with this unbroken legal tradition of respect for the rights of conscience. Those who sponsor, purchase and issue health plans should not be forced to violate their deeply held moral and religious convictions in order to take part in the health care system or provide for the needs of their families or their employees. To force such an unacceptable choice would be as much a threat to universal access to health care as it is to freedom of conscience.
Therefore I urge you to support and co-sponsor the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act [H.R 1179], to help preserve respect in federal law for the freedom to follow the dictates of one’s conscience.
Sincerely,
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo
Archbishop of Galveston-Houston
Chairman, Committee on Pro-Life Activities
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

* * *

Bulletin Inserts: Women and the Culture of Life

“When we say that the woman is the one who receives love in order to love in return, this refers not only or above all to the specific spousal relationship of marriage. It means something more universal, based on the very fact of her being a woman within all the interpersonal relationships which, in the most varied ways, shape society and structure the interaction between all persons - men and women. In this broad and diversified context, a woman represents a particular value by the fact that she is a human person, and, at the same time, this particular person, by the fact of her femininity. This concerns each and every woman, independently of the cultural context in which she lives, and independently of her spiritual, psychological and physical characteristics, as for example, age, education, health, work, and whether she is married or single.” - Pope John Paul II on the Dignity and Vocation of Women, (Mulieris Dignitatem, 1988)

* * *

“The canonization of Saint Gianna is the first of its kind. Many mothers have been beatified for their heroic virtues but they entered religious life after becoming widowed. In St Gianna’s case, the very condition of her being a spouse and mother is being exalted and highlighted. St Gianna is the first canonized woman physician and professional who was also a “working mom”.


St. Gianna made a heroic choice of giving up her life to save the life of her fourth child. She died in 1962 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2004. St. Gianna, Pray for us! http://www.saintgianna.org

* * *

“The woman is the heart of the home. Let us pray that we women realize the reason of our existence: to love and be loved and through this love become instruments of peace in the world.” Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

* * *

St. Gianna Molla (1922-1962): Wife, Mother, Pediatrician, Saint
“[St] Gianna Beretta Molla was a simple, but more than ever, significant messenger of divine love. In a letter to her future husband a few days before their marriage, she wrote: "Love is the most beautiful sentiment the Lord has put into the soul of men and women…Following the example of Christ, who "having loved his own... loved them to the end", this holy mother of a family remained heroically faithful to the commitment she made on the day of her marriage. The extreme sacrifice she sealed with her life testifies that only those who have the courage to give of themselves totally to God and to others are able to fulfil themselves. Through the example of Gianna Beretta Molla, may our age rediscover the pure, chaste and fruitful beauty of conjugal love, lived as a response to the divine call!”
~ Canonization homily, Pope John Paul II, May 16, 2004~

* * *

Healing after Abortion:
Project Rachel and Rachel's Vineyard are healing Ministries of the Catholic Church. "The Church offers reconciliation as well as spiritual and psychological care for those suffering from abortion’s aftermath primarily through diocesan-based programs, most often called Project Rachel." 2007 USCCB Respect Life Program. Rachel's Vineyard, the world's largest ministry for healing after abortion, offer healing retreats several times per year.  For more information:  http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/

 

* * *

Bulletin Inserts: War / Terrorism

The fifth commandment forbids the intentional destruction of human life. Because of the evils and injustices that accompany all war, the Church insistently urges everyone to prayer and to action so that the divine Goodness may free us from the ancient bondage of war. All citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war. However, as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed….The Church and human reason assert the permanent validity of the moral law during armed conflicts. Practices deliberately contrary to the law of nations and to its universal principles are crimes. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2307-2308, 2328

* * *

“We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace, we need love and compassion. Let us radiate the peace of God and so light His light and extinguish all hatred and love of power in the world and in the hearts of all men.” Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

* * *

“The traditional “just war” teaching of the Catholic Church has never been intended to promote war but to prevent or impede it. It is not a matter of “justifying” war. It is a matter of spelling out the conditions under which a nation may legitimately go to war, if all peace efforts have failed, and the moral principles which must be observed in the conduct of the war itself”. Cardinal John O’Connor

* * *

This is a time of year when prayers and thoughts of “peace on earth” come naturally into our lives. The first reading speaks of “the peace of justice.” Peace does not simply mean that wars stop. Peace means that nobody is so victimized that a war is the only way to defend them. Peace comes only when justice is restored. The Advent journey of God’s people is a journey of fighting for the God-given rights of every human being – from the unborn child to the prisoner on death row. Getting engaged in the work of justice, in the light of Christ, is the way to celebrate Advent and prepare the world for Christmas. -Priestsforlife.org

* * *

Respect for bodily integrity
"Kidnapping and hostage taking bring on a reign of terror; by means of threats they subject their victims to intolerable pressures. They are morally wrong. Terrorism threatens, wounds, and kills indiscriminately; it is gravely against justice and charity. Torture which uses physical or moral violence to extract confessions, punish the guilty, frighten opponents, or satisfy hatred is contrary to respect for the person and for human dignity. Except when performed for strictly therapeutic medical reasons, directly intended amputations, mutilations, and sterilizations performed on innocent persons are against the moral law. In times past, cruel practices were commonly used by legitimate governments to maintain law and order, often without protest from the Pastors of the Church, who themselves adopted in their own tribunals the prescriptions of Roman law concerning torture. Regrettable as these facts are, the Church always taught the duty of clemency and mercy. She forbade clerics to shed blood. In recent times it has become evident that these cruel practices were neither necessary for public order, nor in conformity with the legitimate rights of the human person. On the contrary, these practices led to ones even more degrading. It is necessary to work for their abolition. We must pray for the victims and their tormentors."
~Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2297-2298 [used: 7/18/2010]

* * *

Moral Reflections on Nuclear Weapons

"In Catholic teaching the ethics of deterrence, disarmament, non-proliferation and peace are profoundly linked. Our nation and world must have the courage and vision to move beyond deterrence to disarmament. Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation give impetus to building other structures to preserve peace and defend the tranquility of order. Ultimately, this tranquillitas ordinis is peace built on justice and charity. Pope John Paul II used a memorable image: "Like a cathedral, peace has to be constructed, patiently and with unshakeable faith." ... In a moral analysis of nuclear weapons policies and programs, it is important to start with the end and work backwards. The moral end is clear: a world free of the threat of nuclear weapons. This goal should guide our efforts. Every nuclear weapons system and every nuclear weapons policy should be judged by the ultimate goal of protecting human life and dignity and the related goal of ridding the world of these weapons in mutually verifiable ways."
Archbishop Edwin O’Brien, "Moral Reflections on U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy" [used: 8-15-2010]

August 6th and 9th are the anniversary of the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively.

* * *

Fr Federico Lombardi on the death of Osama bin Laden
“Osama bin Laden, as we all know, bore the most serious responsibility for spreading divisions and hatred among populations, causing the deaths of innumerable people, and manipulating religions for this purpose.
In the face of a man’s death, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibilities of each person before God and before men, and hopes and works so that every event may be the occasion for the further growth of peace and not of hatred.”

Fr. Federico Lombardi
Head of the Vatican Press Office, May 2, 2011

* * *

Bulletin Inserts: Death Penalty

“Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor. If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person. Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm—without definitively taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself—the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically non-existent.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, point no. 2267

* * *

“For us, ending the use of the death penalty is not simply about politics, it is about our faith. We believe human life is a gift from God that is not ours to take away. Our faith commits us to the life and dignity of every human person – first the victims of violent crimes and their families, who deserve our help and protection. For us this is not about ideology, but respect for life. ….We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing. We cannot defend life by taking life. In his encyclical The Gospel of Life, the Holy Father (Pope John Paul II) challenges followers of Christ to be “unconditionally pro life.” He reminds us that “the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil.” Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, March 2005

* * *

“As Catholics, we are committed to promoting a consistent ethic of life and upholding the dignity of life from conception until natural death. We emphatically oppose a culture of death. We cannot promote the “illusion that we can protect life by taking life.” Why did we bishops speak out so publicly in opposition to the death penalty? Let me tell you why. The sanction of death, when it is not necessary to protect society, violates respect for life and dignity.” Archboshop John Vlazny, August 2009 

* * * 

On Capital Punishment
“Killing the guilty is still the wrong choice for a civilized nation. Why? It accomplishes nothing. It does not bring back or even honor the dead. It does not ennoble the living. And while it may satisfy society's anger for awhile, it cannot even release the murder victim's loved ones from their sorrow. Only forgiveness can do that. What the death penalty does achieve is closure through bloodletting and violence against violence—which is not really closure at all, because murder will continue as long as humans sin, and capital punishment can never, by its nature, strike at murder's root. Only love can do that.” Justice, Mercy and Capital Punishment by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. (Archbishop of Denver) 

* * * 

Justice Without Vengeance
“People are asking if we are really safer in states where executions are so regular that they hardly rate news coverage. People are asking whether we can be sure that those who are executed are truly guilty, given the evidence of wrongful convictions and poor representation in death penalty cases. We welcome legislation to address these issues as a way to focus on the unfairness of the death penalty. But most of all, we are asking whether we can teach that killing is wrong by killing those who have been convicted of killing others. It is time to abandon the death penalty—not just because of what it does to those who are executed, but because of how it diminishes all of us.… We cannot overcome crime by simply executing criminals, nor can we restore the lives of the innocent by ending the lives of those convicted of their murders. The death penalty offers the tragic illusion that we can defend life by taking life. We ask all Catholics—pastors, catechists, educators, and parishioners—to join us in rethinking this difficult issue and committing ourselves to pursuing justice without vengeance”- Source: Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice, USCCB, November 2000

* * * 

Divine Mercy and The Death Penalty
“Prior to his intervention [in the death sentence of Darrell Mease] in St. Louis, Pope John Paul had laid out his case for the limitation of the use of the death penalty in his encyclical The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae) (1995) and in his extraordinary 1997 modification of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). He still allowed for the application of the death penalty as a just choice that authority may make in its responsibility to safeguard society from the unjust aggressor. Yet the revised text goes on to say: "Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitively taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity ‘are very rare, if not practically nonexistent.’"2 The sworn responsibility of authority to secure the common good is not easily laid aside. But here the Church, convinced that society can be protected without executing dangerous criminals, charges us to look to a less violent, less final remedy. The Catechism directs us to a solution that preserves the common good without definitively curtailing the individual good of the perpetrator, offering him the opportunity for redemption. Each man, no matter how sinful and flawed, has a final purpose and call to salvation, one that we ought not too easily or unnecessarily preempt.”

USCCB - http://www.usccb.org/prolife/

CCC - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/

* * * 

As the 2010 edition of Respect Life Month drew to a close, the issue of capital punishment was once again in the world spotlight as the Vatican called on Iraq not to execute former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz.

It might not be easy to advocate for the life of a convicted murderer or for someone like Aziz, sentenced to death by hanging for persecuting Shiite Muslims, but it is important to the pro-life cause, said Deirdre A. McQuade, assistant director for policy and communications in the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. "It demeans our culture to use violence to answer violence, and it can only further undermine respect for innocent life," said McQuade. "If the state can protect us without committing additional violence, that is the way we are called to go." Bishop Robert W. Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., made that same point, linking the death penalty issue to the Catholic belief in divine mercy.

"God did not abolish justice. Rather, he intended by the offering of his Son to purge human justice of any sense of wrath or revenge," he wrote. "As we seek a reason to put aside the practice of the death penalty, perhaps the best motive is our desire to imitate God in his mercy toward those for whom Jesus died."
So, for Catholics, the central reason for opposing the death penalty does not have to do with the possibility of killing an innocent person, the deterrence factor or the economic costs of capital punishment. Instead, it is related to respect for the dignity of human life and divine mercy. Those who believe in Christ "never see anyone as irredeemably wicked," McQuade said. "God's mercy extends to all of us." The U.S. bishops, who have been advocating against capital punishment for more than 25 years, began an ongoing Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty in 2005.

~ excerpts from: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1004460.htm

* * * 

Bulletin Inserts: Life and Social Justice

“Have no fear. The outcome of the battle for life is already decided, even though the struggle goes on against great odds and with much suffering… "Christ is now raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep ... so in Christ all will come to life again" (1 Cor. 15:20-22). The paradox of the Christian message is this: Christ - the head - has already conquered sin and death. Christ in his body - the pilgrim people of God - continually suffers the onslaught of the Evil One and all the evil which sinful humanity is capable of. The liberating message of the Gospel of life has been put into your hands. And the mission of proclaiming it to the ends of the earth is now passing to your generation. Like the great apostle Paul, you too must feel the full urgency of the task: "Woe to me if I do not evangelize" (1 Cor. 9:16). Woe to you if you do not succeed in defending life. The church needs your energies, your enthusiasm, your youthful ideals, in order to make the Gospel of life penetrate the fabric of society, transforming people's hearts and the structures of society in order to create a civilization of true justice and love.” – Pope John Paul II to Youth, August 15, 1993, Denver, CO

* * *

“..the living Christ sweeps us up into His divinity, into His divine light This is what Epiphany means today. He not only reveals Himself, He gives Himself, totally and unconditionally And in the light from His face we can not only see Him as He is; we can see ourselves in Him. We can come to know what it means to be truly human, to be made in His image and likeness, whoever we are, whatever our religion, our color, our sex, our orientation, our sins. In Him, we see ourselves as He wants us to be. We see ourselves as sacred human beings. We see every individual in the world as equally sacred, of immeasurable worth and dignity. Seeing ourselves and others this way is one of our reasons for treasuring every human life, the life of the hungry, the homeless, the drunk, the drug-ridden, the unborn, the elderly, those with cancer, those with AIDS, the rich, the poor, the famous, the unknown. The feast of the Epiphany, then, is a great day to celebrate the great gift of life, life in general, the life of Christ, our own lives in and because of Christ.” - Cardinal John O’Connor

* * *
 

Life and Love
“Children. The Sick. As you write these words, don’t you feel tempted to use capitals? The reason is that in children and in the sick, a soul in love sees Him.”- St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way, point # 419

* * *

Respect for the souls of others
“Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor's tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense. Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. It prompted our Lord to utter this curse: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." Scandal is grave when given by those who by nature or office are obliged to teach and educate others. Jesus reproaches the scribes and Pharisees on this account: he likens them to wolves in sheep's clothing.” - Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2284-2285 

* * *

Pro-life Catholics
“..as pro-life Catholics, we must have concern for immigrants, the suffering, the sick and the poor. We must work for the avoidance of war, the elimination of death penalty and an end to drug-trafficking. If we are truly going to be pro-life and build a true culture of life, all of these are matters of concern. While there can be different solutions for questions regarding some issues which are not intrinsic evils, the inherent dignity of the human person from the moment of conception to natural death must be the lens through which all decisions are made. We must constantly, at every level, promote the dignity of the human person and the truth that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God from the moment of his or her conception until natural death.”  Most Reverend Samuel J. Aquila, D.D., (Bishop of Fargo), Talk presented at Loyola College, Baltimore, MD, Nov. 15, 2007 

 * * *

People of Life
Life is Victorious! “Jesus Christ our King is Risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!” (Easter Exsultet). Today is the Feast of Feasts, the foundation of all that we celebrate in our faith. By rising from the dead, Jesus did not only conquer his death; he conquered ours. He overturned the entire kingdom of death! He has opened the way to the true destiny of the human person: to be on the throne of God forever, in life that knows no end! Because of this, we are the People of Life. We seek to apply the victory of Jesus over death to the problems of our day. We are a pro-life people, and reject the false solutions of abortion and euthanasia. Rather, we say yes to every life, no matter how vulnerable or burdensome. It is an Easter yes; it is a yes filled with hope. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!  Source: priestsforlife.org

* * * 

Life and Dignity of the Human Person
"Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, each person's life and dignity must be respected, whether that person is an innocent unborn child in a mother's womb, whether that person worked in the World Trade Center or a market in Baghdad, or even whether that person is a convicted criminal on death row. We believe that every human life is sacred from conception to natural death, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it protects and respects the life and dignity of the human person." - Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility, by USCCB

* * *

"Here in Malta, you live in a society that is steeped in Christian faith and values. You should be proud that your country both defends the unborn and promotes stable family life by saying no to abortion and divorce. I urge you to maintain this courageous witness to the sanctity of life and the centrality of marriage and family life for a healthy society. In Malta and Gozo, families know how to value and care for their elderly and infirm members, and they welcome children as gifts from God. Other nations can learn from your Christian example. In the context of European society, Gospel values are once again becoming counter-cultural, just as they were at the time of Saint Paul." -- Source: Pope Benedict XVI, Address to Youth of Malta, April 18, 2010

* * *

Pentecost and Life
“The Holy Spirit, the “Lord and Giver of Life,” brings us back to our truest selves as he illumines us regarding the sanctity of life. The Spirit brings many gifts, and one of them is to enable us to see creation in its proper relationship to God – including the crowning of his creation, the gift of human life. When we do not have this light of the Holy Spirit, the law we have to follow seems like an imposition from the outside that limits our freedom. That’s what people in the world sometimes feel about our attitude toward abortion and euthanasia. They think we are “restricting rights.” But when the Holy Spirit fills us, he gives us an inner attraction to all that is right and good, so that we do not feel pushed where we would rather not go, but rather pulled by the attractiveness of what is good and right.” - Source:www.priestsforlife.org

* * *

Openness to Life
“Openness to life is at the centre of true development. When a society moves towards the denial or suppression of life, it ends up no longer finding the necessary motivation and energy to strive for man's true good. If personal and social sensitivity towards the acceptance of a new life is lost, then other forms of acceptance that are valuable for society also wither away. The acceptance of life strengthens moral fibre and makes people capable of mutual help. By cultivating openness to life, wealthy peoples can better understand the needs of poor ones, they can avoid employing huge economic and intellectual resources to satisfy the selfish desires of their own citizens, and instead, they can promote virtuous action within the perspective of production that is morally sound and marked by solidarity, respecting the fundamental right to life of every people and every individual.” - Source: Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth), Pope Benedict XVI

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Pope Benedict XVI’s June 2010 Prayer Intention – Respect for Human Life
“June's general intention is one that is dear to the Heart of Jesus, to which we give special honor in this month of the Sacred Heart. We respect human life because God gave it to us. We respect each and every human life also because God came to us with a human body. Jesus, God made man, loved us with a heart that was both human and divine. Humanity rejected God's plan, but God didn't give up on us. He sent his Son to live and die and be raised so that we - each one of us - could live forever in union with God. Jesus died even for babies developing in the womb today, even for elderly people who have lost their faculties. These are lives to be respected and cared for until God calls them home in a natural death.” - Source:apostleshipofprayer.org

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Pope John Paul II on the Dignity and Rights of Disabled Persons
“There is no doubt that in revealing the fundamental frailty of the human condition, the disabled person becomes an expression of the tragedy of pain. In this world of ours that approves hedonism and is charmed by ephemeral and deceptive beauty, the difficulties of the disabled are often perceived as a shame or a provocation and their problems as burdens to be removed or resolved as quickly as possible. Disabled people are, instead, living icons of the crucified Son. They reveal the mysterious beauty of the One who emptied himself for our sake and made himself obedient unto death. They show us, over and above all appearances, that the ultimate foundation of human existence is Jesus Christ. It is said, justifiably so, that disabled people are humanity's privileged witnesses. They can teach everyone about the love that saves us; they can become heralds of a new world, no longer dominated by force, violence and aggression, but by love, solidarity and acceptance, a new world transfigured by the light of Christ, the Son of God who became incarnate, who was crucified and rose for us.” Message of John Paul II on the occasion of the International Symposium on the Dignity and Rights of the Mentally Disabled Person, January 2004    [used 6/27/2010] 

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Novena - Saints Anne and Joachim

Good parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grandparents of our Savior, Jesus Christ,

When life seems barren, help us to trust in God's mercy.
When we are confused, help us to find the way to God.
When we are lost in the desert, lead us to those whom God has called us to love.
When our marriage seems lifeless, show us the eternal youth of the Lord.
When we are selfish, teach us to cling only to that which lasts.
When we are afraid, help us to trust in God.
When we are ashamed, remind us that we are God's children.
When we sin, lead us to do God's will.

You who know God's will for husband and wife, help us to live chastely.
You who know God's will for the family, keep all families close to you.
You who suffered without children, intercede for all infertile couples.
You who trusted in God's will, help us to respect God's gift of fertility.
You who gave birth to the Blessed Mother, inspire couples to be co-creators with God.
You who taught the Mother of God, teach us to nurture children in holy instruction.
You whose hearts trusted in God, hear our prayers for ... (mention your requests here).
Pray with us for the ministry of Catholic family life.
Pray with us for the ministry of Natural Family Planning.
Pray with us for all who give their time, talent and treasure to this good work.
Hail Mary... Our Father... Glory be...

God of our fathers, you gave Saints Anne and Joachim the privilege of being the parents of Mary, the mother of your incarnate Son. May their prayers help us to attain the salvation you have promised to your people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saints Anne and Joachim are powerful intercessors for all married couples, expectant mothers and married couples who are having difficulty in conceiving, as well as all who have grown old. Each year the Church venerates the memory of Saints Anne and Joachim on July 26th.

http://www.usccb.org/prolife/liturgy/NovenaAnne&Joachim.pdf
[used 7-25-2010]

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Spiritual Sacrifice and Salvation
"Everything in our days -- our work, our sufferings, our prayer, our ministries -- everything we do and experience is meant to be offered to God as a spiritual sacrifice. All of our work for the unborn child, the poor and the disabled; all of our work for immigration justice and the dignity of marriage and the family: All of it should be offered for the praise and glory of God’s name and for the salvation of our brothers and sisters.... Each of us must make our own unique contribution to God’s loving plan -- that all creation become adoration and sacrifice in praise of him."

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, "Glorify God by your life: evangelization and the renewal of the liturgy"
[used: 8-8-2010]

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Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
~Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta  [used 9-12-2010]

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Pope Benedict XVI: Charity in Truth

“... In vitro fertilization, embryo research, the possibility of manufacturing clones and human hybrids: all this is now emerging and being promoted in today's highly disillusioned culture, which believes it has mastered every mystery, because the origin of life is now within our grasp. Here we see the clearest expression of technology's supremacy. In this type of culture, the conscience is simply invited to take note of technological possibilities. Yet we must not underestimate the disturbing scenarios that threaten our future, or the powerful new instruments that the "culture of death" has at its disposal. To the tragic and widespread scourge of abortion we may well have to add in the future - indeed it is already surreptiously present - the systematic eugenic programming of births. At the other end of the spectrum, a pro- euthanasia mindset is making inroads as an equally damaging assertion of control over life that under certain circumstances is deemed no longer worth living. Underlying these scenarios are cultural viewpoints that deny human dignity. These practices in turn foster a materialistic and mechanistic understanding of human life...”

~ Pope Benedict XVI: “Caritas In Veritate” 75, June 29, 2009  [Used 10-10-2010]

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“. . . As we prepare to mark Respect Life Sunday on Oct. 3 and the entire month of October as Respect Life Month, the living example of Blessed Mother Teresa might be front and center in our minds. On Dec. 11, 1979, as she stood before a large and very distinguished crowd in Oslo, Norway, Mother Teresa spoke with courage and bold faith. She had just been granted the Nobel Peace Prize, a deserving candidate if ever there was one, and in part said this:

“I feel the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a direct war, a direct killing . . . And we read in the Scripture, for God says very clearly: Even if a mother could forget her child — I will not forget you . . . the unborn child has been carved in the hand of God . . . we are fighting abortion by adoption — please don’t destroy the child, we will take the child . . . Love begins at home and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do . . .”

Such unequivocal faith and trust is indeed the work of a saint. But, it is also our work and God has equipped us for it. Yet, over the years since the tragic decision of Roe vs. Wade, I think we have come to see that life before birth and life outside the womb hold equal value and deserve our unfailing protection. This year the liturgical and educational materials passed on to all pastors in the archdiocese tag the theme: The measure of love is to love without measure. It strikes me that in this secular world where we treasure wealth, sexual liberation, and freedom, the measure of love is greatly misguided. ... In the broad scope of human dignity and in keeping with the Church’s social justice themes we may imagine an umbrella, familiar to our rainy days here in Oregon, under which stand the issues of life: the unborn child, our youth, the sick and disabled, the elderly and terminally ill, childless couples who seek to adopt, the immigrant, and those on death row. Any matter that concerns human beings is the business of the Church. Working together, under that umbrella, we can accomplish the good we are called to. . . . As always with this issue, the call is before us as pastors and parishioners. When we feel overwhelmed or inadequate, we might want to remember: God does not call the equipped — he equips the called.”

Fr. Timothy Mockaitis - Associate Director for Pro-Life Activities, Archdiocese of Portland Oregon. Catholic Sentinel column  [Used 10-3-2010]

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Life Is a Unique Gift at Every Stage
“... As advances in medicine and other factors lead to increased longevity, it is important to recognise the presence of the growing numbers of older people as a blessing for society. Every generation can learn from the experience and wisdom of the elderly, of the generation that preceded it. Indeed the provision of care for the elderly should be considered not so much an act of generosity as a repayment of a debt of gratitude.

For her part the Church has always had great respect for the elderly. The Fourth Commandment, ‘Honour your father and your mother as the Lord your God commanded you’ is linked to the promise, “that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you, in the land which the Lord your God gives you’.

This work of the Church for the infirm not only provides love and care for them, but is also rewarded by God with the blessings he promises on the land where this commandment is observed. God wills a proper respect for the dignity and worth the health and well-being of the elderly and through her charitable institutions in Britain and beyond, the Church seeks to fulfil the Lord’s command to respect life, regardless of age or circumstances.

At the very start of my pontificate I said, “Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary’. (Homily at the Mass for the beginning of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome, 24 April 2005). Life is a unique gift, at every stage from conception until natural death and it is God’s alone to give and take. One may enjoy good health in old age; but equally Christians should not be afraid to share in the suffering of Christ, if God wills that we struggle with infirmity.

~ Pope Benedict XVI: Address at St. Peter’s Residence for the Elderly, UK, Sept 18, 2010 [used 10-17-2010]

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A social and political system that does not protect life and human dignity is based on a "false and illusory" right. Christians therefore, have the right - and duty - to use their electoral vote to defend the common good. This was Pope Benedict XVI 's message Thursday morning to a group of bishops from Northeast Brazil, who are in Rome on their ad Limina visit. The Pope also called for freedom of Catholic religious education in State schools and the defence of religious symbols in public life.
“Christ the Redeemer, with open arms, which dominates the Bay of Guanabara in Rio de Janeiro, is the truest symbol of the soul of Brazil”, said the Pope, adding that if the faith of the Brazilian people is "a sign of hope for the present and the future of the country”, there are however, "shadows" cast by forces that want to spread values that are morally unacceptable and offensive to the sacred nature of the human being. Thus pastors "have a grave duty to pronounce moral judgments" on political issues.
Even so, he said “any human right, be it political, economic or social that does not comprise the vehement defence of the right to life from conception to natural death is completely false and illusory (see Christifideles laici, 38). As part of efforts in favour of the weakest and most defenceless, who is more defenceless than an unborn child or a sick person in a vegetative or terminal state?".
“When political projects include aspects, overtly or covertly, such as the decriminalization of abortion or euthanasia, the democratic ideal - that is truly such when it acknowledges and safeguards the dignity of every human person - has betrayed its origins. Therefore, dear Brother Bishops, to defend life 'we must not fear hostility or unpopularity, and refuse any compromise or ambiguity which might conform to this world'. "
Pastors should remind all citizens of the right, which is also a duty, “to freely use their vote to promote the common good ". Pope Benedict reiterated that, God must "find a place in the public sphere, in the cultural, social, economic and particularly the political sphere." "I join my voice to yours in an appeal on behalf of religious education, and more specifically the teaching of pluralistic and confessional religion in public state schools”.   http://www.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=434553
 

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We live in an age when we are confronted with the gradual weakening of individual consciences and also in a society with little concern about the grave moral wrong of the direct taking of innocent human life, especially at its beginning and at its end. Our Holy Father, bishops and pastors across the globe continue to speak loudly and clearly in defense of the sacredness and inviolability of human life. The secular media decry such assertions and many ridicule us for our stance. This, of course, is one of the sad consequences of the growing secularism of our culture and the diminishment of faith and organized religion.

Sometimes the challenges can be formidable when our sisters and brothers are confronted with life issues. For example, it’s very tempting for a college girl to seek an abortion when she barely knows the father and he offers to help pay for the abortion but in no way cares to be involved with raising a child. Busy families with an aging grandparent who slips into a “persistent vegetative state,” and is in no way conscious of his surroundings, are encouraged, even by physicians, to withdraw the food and water that keep him alive and thereby free him from his “diminished” life and free themselves as well. A young couple with three little boys suddenly finds they are pregnant again and this time with a little girl. But a second trimester ultrasound reveals that the girl has a genetic abnormality that won’t let her live beyond her first or second birthday. Wouldn’t it be easier just to induce labor and not try to fit a special-needs baby into lives already busy with all kinds of responsibilities and activities?

There are no easy answers, but there are indeed some good answers that we know are right. Undoubtedly, sacrifices are going to be required in each instance. But we know that every human being, at every stage and condition, is loved by God. When we deprive someone of life we are committing a serious wrong and a grave dishonor to our God. In all the situations described above, there was a happy ending when those involved made the right decision. A child was born and adopted. An elderly man died of natural causes and the devotion of the family inspired many. The short life of the little girl strengthened family life and helped parents to be truly thankful for the gifts and graces God had given them. How we deal with these situations reflects the depth of our own humanity. Jesus sets the standard for us and he reminds us that “the measure of love is to love without measure.”

~ Excerpts from Catholic Sentinel column: http://tinyurl.com/vlazny-life-sacred

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(Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us..)

The one who accepted "Life" in the name of all and for the sake of all was Mary,
the Virgin Mother; she is thus most closely and personally associated with the Gospel of life. 
~ Pope John Paul II, Evangelium vitae, 1995~

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Excerpts from Vatican II: Constitution on the Church in the Modern WorldComing down to practical and particularly urgent consequences, this council lays stress on reverence for man; everyone must consider his every neighbor without exception as another self, taking into account first of all His life and the means necessary to living it with dignity,(8) so as not to imitate the rich man who had no concern for the poor man Lazarus.(9)
In our times a special obligation binds us to make ourselves the neighbor of every person without exception. and of actively helping him when he comes across our path, whether he be an old person abandoned by all, a foreign laborer unjustly looked down upon, a refugee, a child born of an unlawful union and wrongly suffering for a sin he did not commit, or a hungry person who disturbs our conscience by recalling the voice of the Lord, "As long as you did it for one of these the least of my brethren, you did it for me" (Matt. 25:40).
Furthermore, whatever is opposed to life itself, such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia or willful self-destruction, whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself; whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children; as well as disgraceful working conditions, where men are treated as mere tools for profit, rather than as free and responsible persons; all these things and others of their like are infamies indeed. They poison human society, but they do more harm to those who practice them than those who suffer from the injury. Moreover, they are supreme dishonor to the Creator.  
     ~ 27. Gaudium et Spes, Dec 7th, 1965  (http://tinyurl.com/gauduim-et-spes)

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Blessed John Paul II
The beautification of beloved Blessed John Paul II begins today, with the official beautification Mass tomorrow - May 1, 2011. In his 1995 Encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), Pope John Paul says that “Even in the midst of difficulties and uncertainties, every person sincerely open to truth and goodness can, by the light of reason and the hidden action of grace, come to recognize in the natural law written in the heart (cf. Rom 2:14-15) the sacred value of human life from its very beginning until its end, and can affirm the right of every human being to have this primary good respected to the highest degree. Upon the recognition of this right, every human community and the political community itself are founded.

In a special way, believers in Christ must defend and promote this right, aware as they are of the wonderful truth recalled by the Second Vatican Council: "By his incarnation the Son of God has united himself in some fashion with every human being". This saving event reveals to humanity not only the boundless love of God who "so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (Jn 3:16), but also the incomparable value of every human person.” ~ Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae

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Blessed John Paul II and Justice and Peace
“Throughout the long journey of preparation for the great Jubilee [Pope John Paul II] directed Christianity once again to the future, the future of God, which transcends history while nonetheless directly affecting it. He rightly reclaimed for Christianity that impulse of hope which had in some sense faltered before Marxism and the ideology of progress. He restored to Christianity its true face as a religion of hope, to be lived in history in an "Advent" spirit, in a personal and communitarian existence directed to Christ, the fullness of humanity and the fulfillment of all our longings for justice and peace.”
Pope Benedict XIV – Homily for the Beautification of Blessed John Paul II- May 1, 2011

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The Foundation for Peace, Justice, and the Good of Society
“The Gospel of life is for the whole of human society. To be actively pro-life is to contribute to the renewal of society through the promotion of the common good. It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable rights of individuals are founded and from which they develop. A society lacks solid foundations when, on the one hand, it asserts values such as the dignity of the person, justice and peace, but then, on the other hand, radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized. Only respect for life can be the foundation and guarantee of the most precious and essential goods of society, such as democracy and peace.”
~ Blessed John Paul II – Evangelium Vitae, 101

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Grasped By the Light of Reason
“The Gospel of life is not for believers alone: it is for everyone. The issue of life and its defence and promotion is not a concern of Christians alone. Although faith provides special light and strength, this question arises in every human conscience which seeks the truth and which cares about the future of humanity. Life certainly has a sacred and religious value, but in no way is that value a concern only of believers. The value at stake is one which every human being can grasp by the light of reason; thus it necessarily concerns everyone.”
~ Blessed John Paul II – Evangelium Vitae, 101

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One of the pillars on which every civil society stands
“Consequently, all that we do as the "people of life and for life" should be interpreted correctly and welcomed with favour. When the Church declares that unconditional respect for the right to life of every innocent person-from conception to natural death-is one of the pillars on which every civil society stands, she "wants simply to promote a human State. A State which recognizes the defence of the fundamental rights of the human person, especially of the weakest, as its primary duty””
~ Blessed John Paul II – Evangelium Vitae, 101

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To defend and promote the dignity of the human person who is made in the image of God
“I am not a politician or a diplomat or an expert in the global economy. I am a Catholic archbishop. That means I am a priest and a pastor of souls. In everything, my concern is to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to defend and promote the dignity of the human person who is made in the image of God.” … “[I]n the Catholic Church and in the eyes of God, no one is a stranger or an alien. Practically speaking also, U.S.-Mexican immigration for us is a religious and family issue. Because the vast majority of the immigrants we are talking about are Catholics, they are our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.” … “It is true that many immigrants are in our country illegally. That bothers me. I don’t like it when our rule of law is flouted. And I support just and appropriate punishments. But right now, we are imposing penalties that leave wives without husbands, children without parents. We are deporting fathers and leaving single mothers to raise children on little to no income.”... “We are a better people than that,” ... “We have always been a nation of justice and law. But we have also been a nation of mercy and forgiveness. We can find a better way. I think it begins with the Catholic perspective. It begins in seeing immigrants as human beings. As mothers and fathers. As children of God.”

"The Immigration Debate and U.S.- Mexico Relations: A Catholic Perspective"
Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez , March 21, 2011

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"Openness to life is a sign of openness to the future, confidence in the future”
“[Dear families,] alongside what the Church says, the testimony and commitment of the Christian family – your concrete testimony – is very important, especially when you affirm the inviolability of human life from conception until natural death, the singular and irreplaceable value of the family founded upon matrimony and the need for legislation which supports families in the task of giving birth to children and educating them. Dear families, be courageous! Do not give in to that secularized mentality which proposes living together as a preparation, or even a substitute for marriage! Show by the witness of your lives that it is possible, like Christ, to love without reserve, and do not be afraid to make a commitment to another person! Dear families, rejoice in fatherhood and motherhood! Openness to life is a sign of openness to the future, confidence in the future, just as respect for the natural moral law frees people, rather than demeaning them! “   ~ Pope Benedict XVI Homily, Zagreb Croatia, Hippodrome, Sunday, 5 June 2011

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The Dignity of Workers:
In their 2011 Labor Day statement, the US Bishops reflect on the dignity or workers.  Excerpts:

..[A]t the time of the Industrial Revolution workers also faced great difficulties. Pope Leo XIII identified the situation of workers as the key moral challenge of that time and issued his groundbreaking encyclical Rerum Novarum. This letter has served as the cornerstone for more than a century of Catholic social teaching and the inspiration for this year’s Labor Day statement. This timely encyclical lifted up the inherent dignity of the worker in the midst of massive economic changes. Pope Leo’s powerful letter rejected both unbridled capitalism that could strip workers of their God-given human dignity and dangerous socialism that could empower the state over all else in ways that destroy human initiative ..... In Catholic teaching, work has an inherent dignity because work helps us not only to meet our needs and provide for our families, but also to share in God’s creation and contribute to the common good. People need work not only to pay bills, put food on the table, and stay in their homes, but also to express their human dignity and to enrich and strengthen the larger community (Gaudium et Spes, no. 34). Human labor represents “the collaboration of man and woman with God in perfecting the visible creation” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 378) .... On this earth there is room for everyone: here the entire human family must find the resources to live with dignity, through the help of nature itself--God’s gift to his children--and through hard work and creativity (Caritas in Veritate, no. 50).    ~ Full letter: http://www.usccb.org/news/2011/11-165.cfm