In 1979, Mother Teresa was granted the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the poorest of the poor. In her acceptance speech she boldly proclaimed that “the greatest destroyer of peace is abortion”.
The saint’s wise words acknowledge the violent nature of abortion. It is violent firstly, for the pre-born child who is poisoned, starved, or barbarically torn apart in their mother’s womb. Secondly, abortion’s violence profoundly impacts mothers, fathers, siblings and the whole of society.
Mother Teresa’s blunt words cut right to the heart of the matter. Abortion kills a pre-born child. Abortion will never bring about peace for individuals or for society. Abortion’s only fruit is discord.
Reflection
In her speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, courageously challenged the nations to stand by the unborn child.
“And I feel one thing I want to share with you all, the greatest destroyer of peace today is the cry of the innocent unborn child. For if a mother can murder her own child in her own womb, what is left for you and for me to kill each other? Even in the scripture it is written: Even if mother could forget her child – I will not forget you – I have carved you in the palm of my hand. Even if mother could forget, but today millions of unborn children are being killed. And we say nothing.
In the newspapers you read numbers of this one and that one being killed, this being destroyed, but nobody speaks of the millions of little ones who have been conceived to the same life as you and I, to the life of God, and we say nothing, we allow it. To me the nations who have legalized abortion, they are the poorest nations. They are afraid of the little one, they are afraid of the unborn child, and the child must die because they don’t want to feed one more child, to educate one more child, the child must die.
And here I ask you, in the name of these little ones, for it was that unborn child that recognized the presence of Jesus when Mary came to visit Elizabeth, her cousin. As we read in the gospel, the moment Mary came into the house, the little one in the womb of his mother, lift with joy, recognized the Prince of Peace. And so today, let us here make a strong resolution, we are going to save every little child, every unborn child, give them a chance to be born.
And what we are doing, we are fighting abortion by adoption, and the good God has blessed the work so beautifully that we have saved thousands of children, and thousands of children have found a home where they are loved, they are wanted, they are cared. We have brought so much joy in the homes that there was not a child, and so today, I ask His Majesties here before you all who come from different countries, let us all pray that we have the courage to stand by the unborn child, and give the child an opportunity to love and to be loved, and I think with God’s grace we will be able to bring peace in the world.
Action
Decide today to courageously stand by the unborn child, by doing all you can, according to your state in life, to protect their lives.
Mark your calendars for upcoming pro-life events such as the National March for Life on 5th December in Wellington, and the Candlelight Vigils for Life being held in Auckland and Wellington on 1st November.
Prayer
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.
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