The New Zealand Conference of Catholic Bishops have set aside Sunday 11th October as a Day of Prayer to Respect Life. This year the theme is Valuing the Vulnerable.
It is important to set aside time to specifically pray for the direct attacks against human life. This day is a perfect opportunity for parishes to come together, pray, and recommit to what Saint John Paul II called our “obligation to be at the service of life.”
In this year of 2020 where abortion is now available on demand throughout all nine months of pregnancy, and where an Act legalising euthanasia and assisted suicide is waiting for the approval of the people in the upcoming referenda, this Day of Prayer to Respect Life is needed more than ever before.
Reflection
From the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference document Giving Life, Giving Love (2001).
“We invite you who are called to bring life and love into the world to recognise anew the privilege that is your calling. We invite you who become pregnant no matter what the circumstances of conception to welcome your little one in the way you would like to be welcomed yourself. We invite you who are not yet married to practice the self-respect, the respect for others, and the self-restraint that you will need for a marriage based on mutual respect. In these ways we can all work together to reverse a culture of self interest and fear that tends to cut life off, and we can open ourselves anew to the wonder of it all – becoming channels of life-giving love.”
Action
The NZ Catholic Bishop’s Conference has appointed October 11th, 2020 “Respect Life Sunday“.
- Ask your parish priest to include prayers for New Zealand to promote, defend and protect life from the moment of conception through to natural death.
- If there are pregnant mothers in your parish, your priest may be willing to bless them and their pre-born children. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have published an approved Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb.
- Host a pro-life rosary and Eucharistic Adoration in your parish church.
Prayer
Suggested Prayers of the Faithful.
- That all mothers and fathers will see human life as a precious gift from You and a manifestation of Your will,
we pray to the Lord. - Help all mothers, especially the troubled woman who has just conceived and is considering aborting her child,
we pray to the Lord. - Help fathers to be mindful of their responsibilities toward the children whom they have begotten, we pray to the Lord.
- O Lord, convince those who feel guilt and shame for having aborted a child that You can, and will, forgive them,
we pray to the Lord. - For all medical professionals, that they will have the courage to refuse to assist in abortion and euthanasia,
we pray to the Lord. - That assisted suicide and euthanasia will not be legal in New Zealand, we pray to the Lord.
- For those who make our laws, that they will be truly wise and willing to uphold the dignity and life of every human being from conception to natural death,
we pray to the Lord. - For the conversion of all those who participate in, and promote, a culture of death. May they come to know the truth, repent, and experience your merciful love,
we pray to the Lord. - May each of us have the courage to love, protect and defend life at every stage, and without counting the cost to ourselves,
we pray to the Lord.
(The first four prayers are taken from the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants Prayer Book.
