THE DIFFERENCE FAITH
MAKES AT THE TIME OF SICKNESS
The women in the Gospel had been sick for twelve years. That's a long time, a huge chunk of life. But she was a woman of faith. Though faith may not deliver them their disease, or diminish the suffering it causes them, believers continue to live as intensely as before, and even more so. They can seek Cod in sickness as well as in health, and their sickness can turn out to be such a fruitful experience that they will bless that sickness. Nevertheless, it's not easy to deal positively with illness. But unless people do, the time of illness becomes a complete waste, just so much junk. They throw away the vital raw material instead of trying to transform it. The sick must be helped to see their illness in the larger context of their life. To see it, not as some unfortunate episode in their life, but as an intrinsic part of it. This is not the junk of life. This is as true as any part of life, has the potential to enrich it. Patients must be helped to tap into their spiritual resources in times of crisis. Spirituality can thrive in a hospital environment. Here the human spirit, stripped of power and status, is at its most vulnerable. It is then that we are forced to draw on them. So an enrichment, a deepening of the person can result.
Flor McCarthy SDB
Day for Life
What is Day for Life?
The Church has a conststent and clear message on the sacredness of human life. Day for Life is our annual celebration of this message. "Its primary purpose is to foster in individual consciencesm in families, in the Church and in civil society a recognition of the meaning and value of human life at every single stage and in every condition EV 85
The Church has a great deal of experience in all areas of promotion and defending human life and has given the world a lead in the intellectual, political and social battle to save and protect life from conception to natural death.
Why does the Church oppose abortion?
The Church believes that every life has been created by God in his own image and likeness and that all life is scared from the moment of conception to the point of natural death. The Church opposes abortion because it is taking of an innocent human life.
What does the Church mean by pro-life?
To be pro-life means to promote human dignity and development in every sphere of life; to say yes to life. The Church is opposed to all direct attacks against innocent human life
e.g. abortion. abortifacient pills and devices, the abortion pill and the morning after pill, destructive embryo and embryonic stem cell research. genetic engineering, euthanasia, etc, because it believes that every life has purpose, meaning and inherent value.
What can I do?
Learn more about the issues involved: Keep up to date with what is happening in the news on this subject; find out ore on the Day for Life website www.dayforlife.org.
The one thing everyone can do is pray. Pray for all those affected by abortion. Pray everyday for those experiencing a crisis in their pregnancy and for their baby at risk; ask the Lord to touch the heart of the mother carrying this child in her womb and to give her the courage and strength she needs.
Pray for our politicians that they will always keep in mind the sacredness of life in every decision that they take.
Pray for all the victims of abortion, the babies, the mothers, the lathers. the families, the medical profession, our society and ourselves. We are all victims with we live in a society which allows abortion.
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