A Sense Of Reverence and Wonder
Religion begins with a sense of reverence, the recognition of God's greatness and our limitations. Awe and reverence precede faith. They are the root of faith. Awe is the beginning and gateway of faith.
Awareness of the divine begins with wonder. Moses was filled with wonder at the sight of a bush on fire which wasn't consumed by the fire. However, it's easy to wonder at something unusual such as that. Even a fool wonders at the unusual. It takes a wise person to wonder at the usual. This is our problem. We long for visions but seldom watch a sunset.
Most of us find it difficult to recognise the greatness and wonder of things familiar to us, the 'miracles' which are daily with us. The root of worship likes in a sense of these miracles. Awe and wonder can be caused by small things. A grain of sand, or a leaf, or a snowflake can suffice.
It's poor faith that needs miracles to sustain it. Those who are attuned to God so not need to see miracles. They are conscious of living in a world which is sustained by his power, and every part of which speaks of him. Elizabeth Browning put it like this:
"Earth crammed with heaven,
and every bush afire with God.
But only he who see takes of his shoes;
the rest of us sit around and pluck blackberries."
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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