Respect Life


(This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)



Much has been written about the miraculous intervention which altered the direction of the bullet, thus sparing damage to the heart and other critical organs in Pope John Paul II’s body. Much has been written about the painful suffering of our Holy Father in the weeks, months and years since that day. He wrote in his encyclical, The Christian Meaning of Human Suffering, “The cross of Christ throws salvific light, in a penetrating way, on man’s life and in particular on his suffering… Christ has led us into [His] kingdom through his suffering. And also through suffering those surrounded by the mystery of Christ’s redemption become mature enough to enter [His] kingdom” (21).

We recently celebrated the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary — Mary’s triumph over her suffering — Mary’s triumph over the adversity which came with her words to the Archangel Gabriel, “Let it be done to me as you say” (Lk 1:38).

Imagine the suffering of Mary at the disappearance of the youngest member of the Holy Family. Imagine the stress facing the holy parents upon realizing that they had just lost the Son of God. Imagine the prayer that must have flowed from Mary and Joseph during those three days followed by joy and relief when they found their missing Son, teaching in the temple — going about His Father’s business. The gospel passage reveals that Mary did not forget, but contemplated these events in her heart.

Picture Mary at the foot of the cross watching the capstone event of salvation history, the death of her Son, the God-man. We know how the story ended, but imagine the intense suffering of Mary as she was handed the limp body of her Son. Even the Pieta by Michelangelo cannot quite capture the pain Our Lady embraced on that day. She was still pondering the meaning of the words of Simeon, “This child is destined to be the downfall and the rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed — and you yourself shall be pierced with a sword — so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare” (Lk 2:34-35).

It was through God’s grace that she was able to go on. Anxiety and overwhelming mental and physical exhaustion sapped the strength of Our Lady. “My grace is enough for you, for in weakness power reaches perfection,” reads 2 Cor 12:10. In the end, the grace of Mary’s own Son was sufficient, her heart triumphed as she saw her risen Son and years later was assumed into heaven, body and soul. Such was the reward for “this lowly servant” whom “you raised … to be the mother of Jesus Christ … Our Lord, the savior of all mankind” (Preface of BVM II).

So many lessons can be learned by recalling these events in salvation history. We are reminded that the sacrificial love of Our Lady for her Son required physical pain and suffering. True love is sacrificial love — one requiring the total giving of self to the other person. Such was the love of Christ for us as He completely gave Himself for us on the cross. Such was the love of Mary for Christ and for us as she actively participated in His redemptive death.

We are reminded that as we strive to be Christ-like, we can learn much from the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She becomes our model to reform our hearts to become like hers. St. Lawrence Justinian instructs us that in all that we do, whether in work or in prayer, we must imitate Mary. “Enter into the deep recesses of your heart so that you may be purified spiritually and cleansed from your sins.”

Christ longs for worthy temples in which to dwell. He prepared His mother with her Immaculate Conception to have a pure heart. Each of us must strive to have a pure heart as well.

Today, we ask Our Lord and Our Lady to purify our hearts and the hearts of others, especially those involved in the abortion industry. Please pray for the purity of heart of those who are enabling women to keep their babies, so that they can remain focused on their purpose of truly helping whoever may come through their doors. Please pray that each of us may remain a person of life and for life, inviting those involved in the abortion industry to change their hearts. Our Project Rachel Office routinely receives calls for help from those whose heart has been left in the abortion facility. They call because they trust that we as a Church can help them.

Recall how Norma McCorvey, Ms. Roe in the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Roe vs. Wade, rejected evil and turned toward good — through the love of a child in a nearby pregnancy help center. While on earth, we may never know how the salvific power of God works in our lives and in the lives of others. But, by our Catholic faith, we assume that such action is at work.

As we live our lives, let us keep in mind the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church which tells us that the Church offers this Eucharistic Sacrifice, “In communion with and commemorating the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints…. In the Eucharist, the Church is as it were at the foot of the cross with Mary, united with the offering and intercession of Christ” (CCC 1370). Let us unite ourselves with Mary’s Immaculate Heart just as she united herself with the Sacred Heart of her Son. Let us pray that “we may become a more worthy temple” of God’s glory. Yes, may each of our hearts become a fitting home for Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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Bp. Paul S. Loverde is the bishop of the Diocese of Arlington in Virginia.

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