Pope Benedict XVI has issued what Catholic pro-life advocates are
calling an unprecedented request for prayers worldwide from all pro-life
people against abortion.
The head of the Catholic Church will begin Advent by celebrating a solemn “Vigil for all nascent human life” at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, November 25th, the eve of the First Sunday of Advent, and is requesting "all diocesan bishops (and their equivalent) of every particular church preside in analogous celebrations involving the faithful in their respective parishes, religious communities, associations and movements," a communiqué from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reported. Benedict XVI is calling on all Catholics to join in a Vigil for All Nascent Human Life, to be celebrated in local parishes and dioceses November 27th.
The call is not limited to Catholics as the Pope is asking that “all Diocesan Bishops (and their equivalent) of every particular church preside in analogous celebrations involving the faithful in their respective parishes, religious communities, associations and movements.”
Mary McClusky, the Special Projects Coordinator at the Secretariat
of Pro-Life Activities at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, says
the call is especially important at a time when attacks on the dignity
and worth of human life seem to be at an all-time high.
“At this moment in history, when societies are now endorsing the
killing of humans as a perceived solution to social, economic, and
environmental problems, the Holy Father is reminding us of the necessity
and power of prayer to protect human life,” she said. “Despite the
challenge of these events being held on Thanksgiving weekend in the
United States, Catholics should not miss this opportunity to pray for
unborn life.”
She said the Pope’s call “may help increase awareness among family
and friends about abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and other
threats to children in their earliest days and weeks of life” while
women who have had abortions “may be inspired to learn more, or to begin
a much-needed conversation about healing from a past abortion.”
Human Life International is calling on pro-life people to join in the historic event.
“We hope that Catholics understand the historical significance of
Pope Benedict’s invitation,” said Joseph Meaney, HLI’s director of
international coordination.
He told LifeNews.com today: “The Holy Father for the first time in
history has asked the Universal Catholic Church to gather together in a
common liturgical event and pray for our preborn brothers and sisters
who are being slaughtered around the world by abortion and other attacks
of the culture of death.”
Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula, interim president of HLI,
says Christians of all stripes can find unity in the call to prayer
against abortion.
“We recognize with the Holy Father that as the assaults on human
life that are accelerating around the world have evil as their root
cause, the most powerful response we in the Church can make is to pray
in unity for an end to the assault,” he says. “Prayer grounds us in the
only Power that can ultimately defeat the one behind the culture of
death, so we are grateful to be united with the Holy Father in this
historic event.”
Barreiro will be present at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome with Pope
Benedict to pray for the protection of human life on November 27th.
McClusky says she hopes the call will motivate pro-life people to
do more and to not grow frustrated with the slow pace of change“Many threats to human life are embedded deeply within our modern culture, and attending a vigil could remind others that God is the source of all blessings and will provide comfort and guidance in challenging times,” she said. “It is easy to become frustrated and weary in our efforts to advance protection for the unborn, support for expectant mothers, and healing for post-abortive women and men.”
“The Holy Father’s Vigil and his invitation to join with him in prayer is an important and inspiring example to all about the importance of uniting in faith to ask God’s protection and help for human life,” she said.
Nov 27 is not a Saturday.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much VTA for bringing this to my attention. I have corrected the article. Apparently the Pope will celebrate this on the eve of Advent on Saturday the 25th, although the official date is the 27th, which in fact, is a Tuesday :) Many blessings!
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