Collect: God our Creator, we give thanks to you, who alone have the power to impart the breath of life as you form each of us in our mother's womb; grant, we pray, that we, whom you have made stewards of creation, may remain faithful to this sacred trust and constant in safeguarding the dignity of every human life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
REFLECTION
God our Creator, we give thanks to you, who alone have the power to impart the breath of life as you form each of us in our mother's womb;
This past week the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland met. It was by invitation only. Some of the topics discussed were climate change and saving the trees.
There are many organizations who work for saving the polar bear, certain butterflies and their host plants, protecting lobsters from pain and cruel death. State and federal law protect the sea turtles. The federal law protects with criminal penalties as severe as $100,000 and a year in prison if you “take, harass, harm or kill any sea turtles, hatchlings or their eggs".
The list goes on and on with severe penalties, chastisements and ostracization from society if we break the law.
On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court decision, Roe vs Wade, legalized abortion in all fifty states. And for 50 years the slaughter of human beings took place. It is difficult to understand, justify and explain how and why the sanctify of the child in the womb became a decision for us mere mortals to determine.
On June 24, 2022, Dobbs vs Jackson, the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade
but deferred the decision on abortion to the states. Unfortunately, abortion remains legal in the United States and around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 40-50 million abortions per year. In the United States alone twenty two percent of all pregnancies end in abortion. That would make it over one million. (1)
We hear arguments that it is the woman's right to do what she wants with her own body.
But the science shows that it is a distinct life, separate from the mother's, a new body, distinct and beautiful. The Psalmist even before science knew that we are formed by God, knitted by Him in the mother's womb, wonderfully made. (Psalm 139)
The baby's sex is determined at the time of conception. There are three stages of growth: germinal state, embryonic state and fetal state. The heart beats on day 37, brain activity begins at 5-6 weeks, the nervous system for pain is developed by 7-12 weeks. The lungs are the last to develop. There are many charts for the growth of the baby (2)
Today, in observance of the anniversary of Roe vs Wade, we are called to pray for the right to life to be legally guaranteed. We are also asked to do penance, reparations and atonement for these deaths. Spend today in Adoration, pray for the many who have died, pray for the mothers and fathers who decided that abortion was the way to go, and pray for our lawmakers to pass laws for the sanctity of life- the right of life for all.
Vote against politicians who are not prolife. Nothing else on their agenda matters. Let us pray to have the will to end abortion and the courage to speak up against the murdering of the unborn children. Follow Mother Mary and her care for her Son in the Womb and the support and love of St Joseph for the unborn Jesus Christ. May one day all parents say to their baby, "Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold you are beautiful " (Song of Songs 1:15)
Visit our website: https://www.papamio.org/papa-for-life
God bless You
Comments