This Sunday we celebrate Respect Life Sunday. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis has called for us to promote the Gospel of Life, and protect and cherish the lives of the elderly, the physically and mentally challenged, and the unborn. At a recent pro-life event in Rome, as reported in the media outlet, “Catholic News Agency”, Pope Francis stated, “Let us remember that life is a gift from God. It is always sacred and inviolable.” He also noted that we cannot “choose to manipulate, to give birth or take life as we please, as if it were the exclusive consequence of individual choice.”
As we reflect on the profound words of Pope Francis, this Sunday we are invited to reaffirm our appreciation for the precious gift of life. There will be a series of “Life Chains” which will be conducted throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta. We are invited to participate in the “Life Chain” that will be held between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Old Alabama Road in an area that will include the space in front of our Church. The “Life Chain” will be a peaceful, public, and prayerful witness concerning the dignity of all life, especially the lives of the unborn. We will pray for our nation, our people, and our political leaders, and we will be exercising our responsibility to speak out on behalf of the sanctity of life.
The following prayer called “A Pro-Life Prayer for Our President and Public Officials”, provided by Bishop Robert Baker, asks Our Lord to inspire our public officials to support the dignity of all human life. As we reflect on this prayer, we are challenged to commit ourselves publicly to the protection of all human life as we strive to enhance the moral integrity of our great nation. If we cannot be at the “Life Chain” in Johns Creek this Sunday, we are invited to speak for the most vulnerable through prayer in the silence of our hearts.
May God continue to bless you and your families for all you do to embrace a culture of life.
Lord, Author of Life and Source of Eternal Life,
Move the hearts of all our public officials and especially our President, to fulfill their responsibilities worthily and well to all those entrusted to their care.
Help them in their special leadership roles, to extend the mantle of protection to the most vulnerable, especially the defenseless unborn, whose lives are threatened with extermination by an indifferent society.
Guide all public officials by your wisdom and grace to cease supporting any law that fails to protect the fundamental good that is human life itself, which is a gift from God and parents.
You are the Protector and Defender of the lives of the innocent unborn. Change the hearts of those who compromise the call to protect and defend life. Bring our nation to the values that have made us a great nation, a society that upholds the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all.
Mary, the Mother of the living, help us to bear witness to the Gospel of Life with our lives and our laws, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.