Almighty God, our Father,
you who have given us
life and intended us to have it forever,
grant us your blessings.
Enlighten our minds to an awareness
and to a renewed conviction
that all human
life is sacred
because it is created
in your image and likeness.
Help us to teach by word
and the example of our lives
that
life occupies the first place,
that human
life is precious
because it is the gift of
God whose love is infinite.
Give us the
strength to defend human
life against every influence
or action that threatens or weakens it,
as well as the
strength to make every
life more human
in all its aspects.
Give us the grace...
When the sacredness of
life before birth is attacked,
to stand up and proclaim
that no one ever has the authority
to destroy unborn life.
When a child is described as a burden
or is looked upon only as a means
to satisfy an emotional need,
to stand up
and insist that every child is a unique
and unrepeatable gift of God,
a gift of
God with a
right to a loving
and united family.
When the institution of marriage
is abandoned to human selfishness
or reduced to a temporary conditional arrangement
that can easily be terminated,
to stand up and affirm
the indissolubility of the marriage bond.
When the value of the
family is threatened
because of social and economic pressure,
to stand up and reaffirm
that the
family is necessary
not only for the private
good of every person,
but also for the common
good of every society,
nation and state.
When freedom is used to dominate the weak,
to squander natural resources and energy,
to deny basic necessities to people,
to stand up and affirm
the demands of
justice and social love.
Almighty Father,
give us courage to proclaim the supreme dignity
of all human
life and to demand
that
society itself give its protection.
We ask this in your name,
through the redemptive act
of your Son and in the Holy Spirit.