National Marriage Week (Feb. 7-14) and World Marriage Day (Sunday, Feb. 12) are opportunities to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family. This year's theme, "Marriage...one flesh, given and received" highlights the one-flesh union of husband and wife that is willed by God. It also indicates the personal self-gift of each spouse, one to the other. These concepts point to Christ who gives Himself under the appearance of bread and wine—as real flesh and blood.
The over 60 million abortions since the 1973 decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton reflect with heartbreaking magnitude what Pope Francis means by a “throwaway culture.” However, we have great trust in God’s providence. We are reminded time and again in Scripture to seek the Lord’s help, and as people of faith, we believe that our prayers are heard.
And while, on June 24, 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade, right now state and federal laws, in many instances, are still hostile to preborn children. So, great prayer and advocacy is still very needed.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 373, designates January 22 as a particular day of prayer and penance, called the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children”: “In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.”
During this time of preparation and expectant waiting, we also remember expectant mothers who are preparing for the birth of their children. May we look to the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph and follow their example of cherishing and protecting human life.
For women who are unexpectedly pregnant: May they be filled with trust in God’s providence and lovingly welcome the gift of their child. God is with us always.
in the case of an unexpected pregnancy, you may be unsure of how to help or what to say. Learn how to support those in their new journey of motherhood HERE.
In 2020, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released the letter Samaritanus bonus, “on the care of persons in the critical and terminal phases of life.” The letter reaffirms the Church’s teaching on care for those who are critically ill or dying and offers additional pastoral guidance for increasingly complex situations at the end of life.
Read a brief overview of key points from this important document with a specific focus on what it says about palliative care and hospice HERE.
Let's help build a culture that cherishes and protects every human life.
Pray and take action for Life when you sign up for Respect Life Prayer & Action
Help women in your community choose life with walkingwithmoms.com
Read the Respect Life Month Chairmen's Statement
Read a short reflection that connects our personal call as Christians to live out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy with care for moms and respect for life.
See the flyer The Truth About Abortion and Women's Health
Pray for the care of all human life.
Throughout salvation history, God has welcomed repentant sinners with special joy. Jesus concludes the parable of the lost sheep with these words: ‘there will be more joy in heaven over one who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance’ (Lk 15:7)
For all whose hearts ache from participating in abortion: may they be strengthened to seek the Lord’s compassion, mercy, and healing in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Mary’s Assumption into heaven reminds us that life on earth is a pilgrimage to our ultimate destination. We prepare in hope for our own passage into eternal life by the choices we make today. When we choose to love and follow God in our daily lives, we strengthen our relationship with Him, and this relationship is the true meaning of heaven: “To live in heaven is ‘to be with Christ’” (CCC, 1025 citing St. Ambrose, In Luc.,10,121:PL 15 1834A.).
We can see how, throughout her life, the Blessed Mother continually chose to go deeper into her relationship with God. She modeled how to value and respect His precious gift of human life, from the moment of conception to its natural end. In the Annunciation, through her “yes,” Mary witnessed to the undeniable humanity of unborn children as she conceived and carried the Christ child in her womb. After the Annunciation, having learned that her cousin Elizabeth was with child, she went in haste to her aid.
Our Blessed Mother shows us how the way we live today can prepare us, in hope, to also enter into heavenly glory at the end of our lives. Are we open to God’s precious gift of new life? How do we support expectant mothers and parents of young children? Do we prioritize showing our love and care for loved ones who are ill or aging? Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen
“We thank you, heroic mothers, for your invincible love! We thank you for your intrepid trust in God and in his love. We thank you for the sacrifice of your life.” (EV 86).
The witness of our Blessed Mother invites us to become more aware of the needs of pregnant and parenting moms in our own parish and communities. A woman with an unexpected pregnancy may have any number of fears and challenges: facing judgment from her friends and family, losing her job or housing, or being abandoned by the father of her child.
Following Mary’s example, we can ask ourselves how to better know these mothers, listen to them, seek understanding, and help them obtain the necessities of life for themselves and their children.1 How can we, like the Blessed Mother, lovingly support mothers in welcoming and caring for God’s gift of life? One option is to support the TLC of Hastings Pregnancy Resource Center.
Religious freedom allows the Church, and all religious communities, to live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all. Beginning June 22, the feast of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, the USCCB invites Catholics to pray, reflect, and act to promote religious freedom.
June 22: Walking with Moms in Need June 23: Church Vandalism
June 24: Adoption and Foster Care June 25: Taxpayer Funding for Abortion
June 26: Religious Freedom in China June 27: Pregnancy Resource Centers June 28: Health Care Wokers
June 29: Free Speech
Find all prayers for the week on one page HERE.
Mother's Day and the month of May are wonderful opportunities to highlight the beautiful vocation of motherhood and the gift of life.
On Tuesday, May 31, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast Commemorates the Blessed Mother's visit to her cousin Elizabeth and the encounter of Jesus and St. John the Baptist while in the wombs of their mothers. Join us in praying the Novena for Life from May 22-30 in honor of this special feast day.
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9
National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect and promotes the social and emotional well-being of children and families.
When a child is abused, the effects are grave and can last a lifetime. Some of the most common effects of abuse include:
• Loss of faith and trust in God.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological distress, and other indirect signs of trauma, such as anxiety, trouble sleeping, chronic stomach pain, and headaches.
• A greater risk of developing behavioral problems, substance abuse, and suicide.
The sense of violation goes deep into a person’s psyche and feelings of anger, shame, hurt, and betrayal can build long after the abuse has taken place.
Click here for the Novena for Protection and Healing from Abuse.
We celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on March 19th. This occasion is an opportunity to highlight the gift of adoption by seeking the intercession of St. Joseph for the many people whose lives are touched by adoption. invite others to join in prayer leading up to the solemnity, March 10-18.
Intentions
The novena is also available to download as a PDF or Microsoft Word document.