“But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child – a direct killing of the innocent child – murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love, and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even his life to love us. So the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love – that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts. By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. And by abortion, the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. That father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching the people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.” (Blessed Mother Teresa)
- Share your beliefs about abortion, contraception, IVF, euthanasia or any other pro-life issue with a friend, colleague or school friend.
Father of Life, You always defend the poor and oppressed. In Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, You raised up a voice for the voiceless and a friend to the poorest of the poor, the unborn child.
She brought women away from the despair of abortion clinics to the hope of a loving community that cared for her and her child.
She spoke the truth to men and women of power, asking them how we could tell people not to kill one another while allowing a mother to kill her own child.
Father, as we honor this humble and faithful woman, we ask you to give us the grace to follow her example.
May we be bold in word and generous in action to love and serve the unborn and to awaken our world to know, as Mother Teresa said,
that the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.
Fill us with love, bring us peace, and let us share your life forever.
We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.