Respect Life Month

"Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being."

-CDF, instruction, Donum vitae, intro. 5. From the Catechism, entry 2258.


In the Catholic Church, this is Respect Life Sunday, the beginning of Respect Life Month. As my pastor said in his homily, it is tragic that we even have to have a specific day set aside to respect something as fundamental and sacred as life. But even the sacredness and inalienable worth of all human life can be taken for granted. Many people assume its truth, but unless one believes life is sacred, there is no materialistic or compulsory reason to respect the value of life, especially for its own sake apart from any benefit an individual gives to you.

Respect for all life and their inalienable dignity is the root of Christian charity, compassion and the tolerance of one's enemies. Only with this belief are we able to pray for our enemies, as Christ taught us to do. Without this belief, life is simply a jumble of chemical floating in air. Nothing more.


The neurological, evolutionary or sociological worth one can give to human life is dependent on the actions of that life. If someone treats us wrongly, or if one is unborn or in another vulnerable situation where they depend on the charity of society, the value of life can quickly dissipate. When the convenience or prosperity of others is threatened, life is easily swept aside and killed. Valuing life based purely on the idea that "I value my life, so I value others who may help my life", or for any other pragmatic reason quickly goes away if someone wrongs you.

Today, and this month, I ask us to reflect on the Nativity, Incarnation and Crucifixion of Christ. By God Himself choosing to be born as a baby, giving His life to the complete dependence of human beings, He gave infinite value to babies, humanity, life, and the relationship between vulnerable people and those who are responsible for their care - which includes all humanity. By being Incarnate, Christ raised humanity above all else in Creation as the pinnacle of His work and the very image of Himself. He showed us our destiny in fulfilled by God, the Beatific Vision. And by the sacrifice of His Crucifixion, Christ showed us the true purpose of our lives: to give of ourselves.

Nothing is sacrificed that is not valuable. Priests and monastics sacrifice possessions not out of hate, but to give the highest thanks for God's gifts, and they sacrifice sex and marriage not out of disgust or rebuke, but because the Sacrament of Marriage is one of the greatest gifts of God, and by sacrificing it they raise it up. They orient it towards its origin, the Giver of all Worth: God. Accordingly, by sacrificing His life, Christ raised the value and dignity of human life, from conception to death, above all. Through the life of Christ, we are called to value, respect and care for all life, especially the most vulnerable - the unborn, babies, the elderly, the sick, etc. - through self-giving and self-sacrifice.

I pray not only for those afflicted with the evils perpetrated these days against human life, but even more so for those who commit such atrocities. What pain and confusion must be in their heart to inspire these grave sins, the complete depreciation of human life and God's greatest gift to us - our very lives. I pray for the fathers, mothers and doctors who choose to commit abortion, that they may realize their grave errors and regain a true appreciation for life and a willing to give of themselves in order to protect that life. I pray for the families and doctors who elect to commit euthanasia, that they may recognize how terribly they are abusing the responsibility given to them to guard the lives of the elderly and patients under their care, and that they may understand that even suffering cannot alienate us from the dignity and value of our lives.

I pray for those who want to give up their own lives, whether for euthanasia, assisted or unassisted suicide, terrorists, or those who are giving their lives to vain and misguided pursuits such as crime, violence, greed or hatred, that they may soften their hearts, gain compassion for others and for themselves, and see that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. I pray that all of the above may see the love of the Church for them, and that those in the Church and in positions of authority may love and respect all human life, recognizing it as a gift of God, to cleanse their hearts of cynicism, hatred, indifference and confusion which inspire this disrespect for life.

I ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of all Life, to guide, protect and heal those who are afflicted by any violence or who commit violence themselves. I also ask for the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, that he may defend all people against the temptations, the confusion, the lusts, greed, hate, indifference and apathy which Satan and his demonic minions afflicted on humanity. God bless.