Prayer: Day of Reparation for euthanasia

On Sunday 7 November 2021, euthanasia and assisted suicide will become legal in New Zealand. The End of Life Choice Act, 2019 permits terminally ill people who experience “unbearable suffering” to request to die at the hands of a health practitioner, or to be prescribed lethal drugs that they administer to themselves.

The Catholic Church is very clear in her proclamation that human life is a gift from God, and as such is sacred. In the 1980 document Declaration on Euthanasia, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith affirmed the gravity of requesting euthanasia or participating in the killing of a person in this way, saying:

It is necessary to state firmly once more that nothing and no one can in any way permit the killing of an innocent human being, whether a fetus or an embryo, an infant or an adult, an old person, or one suffering from an incurable disease, or a person who is dying. Furthermore, no one is permitted to ask for this act of killing, either for himself or herself or for another person entrusted to his or her care, nor can he or she consent to it, either explicitly or implicitly. Nor can any authority legitimately recommend or permit such an action. For it is a question of the violation of the divine law, an offense against the dignity of the human person, a crime against life, and an attack on humanity.

Declaration on Euthanasia, Part II

The End of Life Choice Act coming into force on Sunday legalizes a grave crime against life.

Friday, being the day Jesus died for our sins, is a day of penance and lends itself as a perfect opportunity to make reparation for this great evil that is about to occur in our country. Because we are “restored to grace through the merits of Christ’s Death,” the Catholic Encyclopedia states, “we can thus make some sort of reparation to the justice of God for our own offences against Him, and by virtue of the Communion of the Saints, the oneness and solidarity of the mystical Body of Christ, we can also make satisfaction and reparation for the sins of others.”

Please join the team at Family Life International in praying in reparation for the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide in New Zealand.

How the Day of Reparation works

We are suggesting that you participate in the Day of Reparation by praying the Fatima Angel Prayers, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and making some kind of sacrifice throughout the day, for instance, fasting.

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Fatima Angel Prayers

Pardon Prayer

My God, I believe, I adore, I trust, and I love Thee! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust and do not love Thee. (Repeat 3 times)

Angels Prayer

Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifferences by which He is offended.  And through the infinite merit of His Most Sacred Heart, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners. Amen.

Divine Mercy Chaplet

Make the Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening Prayers

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You! (Repeat 3 times)

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Eternal Father

Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

On the 10 Small Beads of Each Decade

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Repeat for the remaining decades

Saying the “Eternal Father” on the “Our Father” bead and then 10 “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion” on the following “Hail Mary” beads.

Conclude with Holy God

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. (Repeat 3 times)

Closing Prayers

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

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Please feel free to participate as little or as much as you wish, and to add in your own prayers as well. Here are some other suggestions:

• Pray the Sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary
• Attend Holy Mass if you are able
• Pray the Stations of the Cross in Reparation for Sins Against Life

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are now on New Zealand’s doorstep. Let us beg God for mercy, and pray for all those who are suffering deeply, and are contemplating bringing their lives to a premature end. Let us also pray for the conversion of all those who believe these practices are a compassionate and merciful response to suffering.

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