ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL,

a PRO-LIFE PARADIGM AND AID

by Mark Douglas, Langley, BC

Mark Douglas, 17 years of age, was the 1st Prize winner of the students’ 2005-2006 Priests for Life Canada “Essay on Life” Contest.

 Of all the saints, one in particular champions the pro-life cause and that is St. Michael the Archangel. St. Michael, whose name means “Who is like God” in Hebrew, is the official protector of the Catholic Church and the patron of countless persons, places, communities, and organizations. Christian, Jewish, and Muslim ceremonies and rituals recognize him extensively; he is particularly referred to throughout the Christian Liturgy of the Mass. His title of “Archangel” denotes a higher order or rank of angelic duty or commission than that of other angels. This is attested by the many references to him throughout Holy Scripture; he appears in both the New and Old Testaments. Particularly noteworthy is the great importance that is attached to all his undertakings by both modem and historical people(s). Neither do they do so without reason. Michael has given, and continues to give, credence to humanity’s belief in him and the one whom he serves: God the Almighty, the author of life.

Holy Scripture refers to this angelic warrior four times by name. The first reference occurs in the Book of Daniel, chapter 10, where Michael comes to comfort Daniel after a vision, and promises to be his helper in all things. In Daniel 12, Michael is called “the great prince who stands for the children of Thy people”. In both these references, Daniel wanted his people to understand that God had not forgotten them, and that, even though enslaved, they had a royal champion. In the New Testament (Epistle of Jude): “When Michael the Archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses”, etc. St. Jude alludes to an ancient Jewish tradition of a dispute between Michael and Satan. In the Apocalypse (chapter 13) we find the most dramatic reference to St. Michael: “And there was a great battle in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon”. Here St. John speaks of a conflict at the end of time, which also reflects the great battle in Heaven at the beginning of time, when the wicked angels under Satan revolt against God, and how Michael, leading the faithful angels, defeats the hosts of evil and drives them out. Because of this victory, St. Michael is greatly revered in Catholic tradition and liturgy as the protector of the Church, as he was once regarded as the protector of the Israelites.

Following from these passages, Christian tradition gives to St. Michael four responsibilities: (1) To fight against Satan; (2) to rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death; (3) to be the champion of God’s people: the Jews in the Old Law, the Christians in the New Testament; (4) and to call away from earth and bring men’s souls to judgment1.

The Catholic Church honors its defender as a saint. As a member of the church triumphant, Michael has a twofold office as both model and intercessor. As in the scriptural instances mentioned above, Michael valiantly fulfills both of these offices. Emulating Michael, we should persistently attempt to resist “all the wickedness and snares of the devil” throughout everyday life with love of God as our motive. Nonetheless, this is a battle. To aid us in this ongoing conflict with sin and temptation, we need to call upon the assistance and protection of St. Michael through regular and devout prayer. In 590, a great plague struck Rome. Pope St. Gregory the Great led a procession through the streets as an act of penance. At the tomb of Hadrian (now Castel Sant’Angelo, near St. Peter’s Basilica), St. Michael appeared and sheathed his sword, indicating the end of the plague. Pope Leo the XIII composed the beautiful Prayer to St. Michael after a prophetic vision of the coming suffering of the world. So convinced was he of the efficacy of Michael’s intervention that he composed the prayer and decreed that it should be recited at the conclusion of every mass. Vatican II, however, vetoed this obligation. Recently, the late Holy Father John Paul II urged the entire Church to frequently pray this same prayer, strongly suggesting that its recitation be reinstituted at the end of Mass. Now more and more the faithful seek intercession and guidance from the renowned saint by way of prayer and contemplation. As surely as he came to David’s assistance (Dan. 10:13), St. Michael will certainly not abandon to the relentless torment of Satan those who call on him for assistance. May “the Prince of the Light” forever inspire us and intercede for us.

Many have been inspired by the example of Michael and thus have honoured him with the dedication of particular entities to his care. This custom is known as patronage. This “advocacy” extends to grocers, police officers, soldiers, knights, the sick, and even Brussels and Cornwall, to name but a few. However, St. Michael is best known as the patron saint in times of war and against temptation due, indubitably, to his most beloved history as victor over Satan.

With having such a rich legacy, tradition, and significance within the Catholic Church, it is not difficult to understand how St. Michael relates to its pro-life mission. Human Life International is the largest pro-life organization in the world that the Roman Pontiff John Paul II specially recognized. In one of its publications, HLI intentionally chose St. Michael to be its patron in its fight against “the evil forces of the Culture of Death”2. The same article proceeds to identify with St. Francis de Sales, who once wisely commented, “Veneration of St Michael is the great remedy against despising the rights of God”. What greater right does God reserve than that to create and take life as he desires? Therefore, St. Michael uniquely relates to the pro-life cause as a powerful help to those concerned with advancing it.

1. NewAdvent.org

2. HLI Report. Defend Us in Battle, Kristin Sparks; September 2000

 

JOHN PAUL II, VICAR OF CHRIST,

DEFENDER OF LIFE

by: Gabrielle Ferri, Pembroke, Ontario

Gabrielle Ferri, 18 years of age, was the 2nd Prize winner of the students’ 2005-2006 Priests for Life Canada “Essay on Life” Contest.

  On October 16, 1978, John Paul II began his Pontificate which lasted nearly twenty-seven years. Throughout those years, Pope John Paul II devoted all of his time and energy to his ministry of promoting the “Gospel of Life”. He captured the world with his distinctive personality and his fatherly love for people of every race, culture and religion. Through both his actions and his writings, John Paul II sounded the call to create a “culture of life”, constantly referring to the dignity and value of every single human person. He fearlessly took every opportunity to speak out on the most important issues of our day, especially those concerning the value of human life. Both philosopher and poet, this amazing pope had the ability to proclaim the truth with eloquence and clarity.

On March 25, 1995, John Paul II released his eleventh encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, (The Gospel of Life). In this encyclical, John Paul II illuminates the intimate connection between the Catholic Faith and the dignity of human life. He focuses on the intrinsic value of the human person, clearly states where the Church stands on such issues as abortion and euthanasia and as well, makes an urgent appeal to the Faithful to work tirelessly to build a culture of life.

The Gospel of Life holds that every human person is created by God and willed by God. By creating a human person in His image, God gives that person an intrinsic dignity and value. In willing a human person, God loves that person with unconditional love. The inherent value of a human being therefore, originates from God and no one can take that dignity away. No human has the right to directly take the life of another innocent human being or to directly take one’s own life because God is the supreme author of life. John Paul II stresses this message in Evangelium Vitae again and again and he quotes Donum Vitae, “Human Life is sacred because from its beginning it involves ‘the creative action of God’, and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end” (EV, 53). This is why the Church, in her wisdom and love, protects life at every stage of development. The unborn child possesses the same value as every other human.

Abortion is an act which completely contradicts the dignity of the human person because it takes the life of an innocent human being. The person who performs or in anyway willingly participates in an abortion attempts to usurp control over the gift of life, control which only God rightly has. Abortion is an act which attempts to subvert the mystery of life, subjugating it to one’s own selfish desires. When people reject God, they attempt to make themselves God. John Paul II made it very clear in his encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, that God alone is the author of life from its earliest moments. “There too, when they are still in their mothers’ womb—-as many passages of the Bible bear witness---they are the personal objects of God’s loving and fatherly providence (EV, 61)”.

Pope John Paul II closely examines the problem of abortion. He does not make any attempt to diminish the moral gravity of the act but on the other hand, he clearly states the Church’s position. “Christian Tradition…. is clear and unanimous, from the beginning up to our own day, in describing abortion as a particularly grave moral disorder (EV, 61)”. John Paul II’s mission, as head of the Church militant, was to build a Christian society. Never was this great man afraid to broadcast the Truth about abortion.

Christ calls us to love one another. To live in a just and upright society demands that one carry out this commandment. True love requires that one respect the rights of others, and everyone possesses the right to life. “Upon the recognition of this right, every human community and the political community itself are founded” (EV, 2). A society which fails to safeguard the basic right to life has lost its moral foundation and cannot stand for long. Pope John Paul II stressed the importance of this. He considered every consequence of abortion, starting from the personal progressing to the social. Abortion has been the most powerful force in the development of a “culture of death, as Pope John Paul II so aptly called it. Abortion leads to complete disrespect for all life. Persons who endorse abortion no longer regard life as sacred and a gift from God. These personal attitudest values, when widespread, become cultural values which affect the whole society. This is why John Paul ii implores the Faithful to imbue society with the “Gospel of Life”, and to work together to create a culture which upholds life at every stage.

Sometimes, the prospects looked grim for the pro-life cause. Yet, throughout his life, Pope John Paul II never allowed room for despair. He fearlessly sounded the call to live life to the fullest. He always defended the weak and defenseless of society. His encyclical, “Evangelium Vitae”, is one of his most powerful works in the defense of life. Although Pope John Paul II was an inspiring writer and accomplished much for the pro­-life cause by his writings, but this was not his only contribution. More important was his example of holiness which inspired millions around the world to take heart and to take action. Pope John Paul II changed the world and we are left with the legacy of this great man and the continuation of his mission and his cry to “Be not afraid!”

BLESSED MOTHER THERESA

by Sara Lévesque, Prud'homme, SK

Today, I will speak to you about Blessed Mother Theresa. Mother Theresa was a generous woman and had a very big heart. I will first talk about the life of Mother Theresa and her accomplishment. Second, I will talk about her beliefs concerning the value of human life. Finally, I will talk about the actions and messages Mother Theresa gave on the subject of pro-life.

Mother Theresa was born on August 27, 1910 in Skopie, Macedonia. Her parents were Nikolle and Drandafille Bojaxhiu. She was the youngest of three children. Mother Theresa was born into a practicing catholic family where she went to church every day and prayed each night. One of the reasons that Mother Theresa was so generous was due to the generosity that her parents showed towards the poor. By the age of 12, she already new her mission in life: she needed to help the poor. By 18 years of age, she had decided to be a nun. To become a nun, she travelled to Ireland to join the “Sisters of Loretto”. After one year in Ireland, she left to join the Loretto Convent in Darjeeling where she lived for 17 years. After teaching there, she became the principal of Saint Marie School in Calcutta. But at the age of 36 years, her life would change forever. During a train ride, she received a message from our Lord. God told her to serve the poorest of the poor. Nearly one year after receiving this message, she was given permission by the Catholic Church to work with the poorest of Calcutta and to start her own school. Sister Agnus was the first to follow, but many eventually followed as well. To better place herself among the poor, she decided to wear a white robe with just a little blue. Their mission was to take care of those who felt alone, and who needed the love and generosity of the sisters. With the governments help, blessed Mother Theresa repaired an old house which would become the “Kalighat Home for the Dying” where the poor could die with dignity. After opening many homes for the poor as well as abandoned children in India, she received permission in 1965 from Pope Paul VI to open homes for the poor globally. Mother Theresa became a symbol for the poor and those suffering. During her life, she received numerous awards for her work and for her reputation of travelling the world to help the poor. In 1985, Mother Theresa suffered a heart attack and unfortunately this was the beginning of many years of illness. However, Mother Theresa continued her work until her death. She died on September 5^th, 1997.

Mother Theresa truly believed in the value of human life. Her mission was to show everyone that each person was important even if they were not as rich as others. Each life was precious. They needed help and it was our responsibility to help in whatever way we could. Mother Theresa lived her life being this example. All she wanted was for each one of us to help those who felt abandoned or who were depressed because of the way they were treated by society. For her, every human life was important, from conception to death. She did not believe in abortion or mercy killing. In doing this, you took someone’s life, and its value, in your own hands and destroyed it. Mother Theresa believed that everyone had the right to live and it shouldn’t be our decision whether another should live or die. She also believed that no one should play the role of God, for only God can make such decisions. Life is much too precious. Each person should have a chance to live, since that person could become someone who would accomplish great things and help others.

Mother Theresa believed in the value of human life, therefore one of her missions in life was to help the unborn from being aborted. She believed abortion was not God’s choice and that no one had the right to kill a child in such a manner. Mother Theresa said that abortion was like war being raged against children, directly killing innocent children and therefore a murder being committed by the mother. She also believed that if we allow woman to kill their own child, how can we tell people not to kill each other. In one of her speeches, Mother Theresa said “How do we tell woman not to have an abortion? Like always, we do it with love”. She also reminded us that Jesus gave His life out of love. Therefore, if a mother contemplates having an abortion, she needs to be shown love. Mother Theresa once said “a country that accepts abortion is not teaching people how to love, but to use violence in order to get what they want”. People are concerned for those children who die from poverty and starvation, but we forget all the children who die from abortion. Mother Theresa truly believed in adoption therefore wanted those mothers who didn’t want to keep their children to give them to married couples who could not have children of their own, so they could guide and love them. Thousands of children were saved through adoption. And there is a great demand by couples who cannot conceive a child. Mother Theresa also said “when adopting a child, those couples receive Jesus, but when aborting a child, those couples refuse Jesus”. Mother Theresa did not want to see the child killed, but given up for adoption to a married couple who could love and be loved by that child. These were Mother Theresa’s views on abortion.

In conclusion, Mother Theresa was a wonderful woman who loved everyone. She followed God’s call and helped thousands of people. She never thought of herself but instead of all those who needed help and friendship. Her ideas on abortion were righteous since each person had the right to life. God wants us to protect these children from abortion, wants us to love and protect them from the evil of this world. We all need to be more like Mother Theresa, as she was and always will be a good role model. One of my wishes is to be more like Mother Therese and find within myself the strength to help the poor and the mothers who are contemplating abortion; to rescue those children and find couples who are hoping to adopt a child. Human life is valuable and we need to respect it. I hope everyone has the opportunity to know Mother Theresa’s story and are touched by her life so that they too help children and those less fortunate. Life is very special and we need to love and appreciate it.