The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)
A reading from Isaiah 49:1-61 Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God. For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
REFLECTION: " The LORD called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name."
It has been 48 years (January 22, 1973) since the Roe vs Wade decision by the Supreme Court. This decision permitted abortions throughout the United States of America. Today we observe the "National Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children". On this day the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) calls us to observe penitential practices of prayer, fasting and giving alms. This particular day of prayer is for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life.
It is the goal of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to build a culture of life "from womb to tomb".
That there needs to be a day for this is quite frankly hard to grasp!!
Since the 1973 decisions of Roe vs Wade and Doe vs Wade, there have been over 62 million abortions.
The "throwaway culture" of the 21st century is concerned about overconsumption and overproduction of short lived or disposable items such as plastic wraps, sandwich bags, throwaway straws, takeaway coffee cups and tissues. The throwaway culture makes everything disposable, including relationships. Even human lives are seen as dispensable.
Really? What about the unborn? Who speaks for them?
How heartbreaking to find out that the following states legalize killing babies in abortions up to birth: New York, Virginia, Illinois, Rhode Island, Alaska, Colorado, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington DC (not a state).
What about the Covid vaccine ? Is it morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that have used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research, testing and production process? To find information if fetal cells have been used in vaccine production is quite difficult. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines do not use any cells derived from abortions in the production process--in other words fetal cells are not being directly injected. But abortion derived cell lines were used in testing the vaccines. We are told that the cell line used in testing came from one abortion which took place in the 1970''s.
But a closer look tells you a little bit more. The most prominent cell line is called HEK 293. It came from an abortion performed in the 1970's. It is labeled 293 because that is how many experimental attempts the researchers needed to get a working cell line.
HEK or human embryonic kidney required a healthy fetus old enough to have developed kidneys. The baby was removed from the womb, alive, usually via C section. Then the kidneys were removed. They must do this without anesthesia. HEK 293 came from an aborted girl baby. HEK293 cells are used in cancer research, vaccine development, protein production, and drug testing.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church #2258 states that human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end.
The birth of a child is always joyful news--may we not slow down nor give up praying for the unborn child. We could personally expand this day to 365 days, relentlessly fighting for the rights of the unborn.
Please pray the PAPA Prayer for the Unborn.
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