In the Name of the Father......

Leader

(39). Man's life comes from God; it is his gift, his image and imprint, a sharing in his breath of life. God therefore is the sole Lord of this life: man cannot do with it as he wills. God himself makes this clear to Noah after the Flood: "For your own lifeblood, too, I will demand an accounting ... and from man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life" (Gen 9:5). The biblical text is concerned to emphasize how the sacredness of life has its foundation in God and in his creative activity: "For God made man in his own image" (Gen 9:6).

Human life and death are thus in the hands of God, in his power: "In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind", exclaims Job (12:10). "The Lord brings to death and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up" (1 Sam 2:6). He alone can say: "It is I who bring both death and life" (Dt 32:39).

But God does not exercise this power in an arbitrary and threatening way, but rather as part of his care and loving concern for his creatures. If it is true that human life is in the hands of God, it is no less true that these are loving hands, like those of a mother who accepts, nurtures and takes care of her child: "I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a child quieted at its mother's breast; like a child that is quieted is my soul" (Ps 131:2; cf. Is 49:15; 66:12-13; Hos 11:4). Thus Israel does not see in the history of peoples and in the destiny of individuals the outcome of mere chance or of blind fate, but rather the results of a loving plan by which God brings together all the possibilities of life and opposes the powers of death arising from sin: "God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living. For he created all things that they might exist" (Wis 1:13-14).

40. The sacredness of life gives rise to its inviolability, written from the beginning in man's heart, in his conscience. The question: "What have you done?" (Gen 4:10), which God addresses to Cain after he has killed his brother Abel, interprets the experience of every person: in the depths of his conscience, man is always reminded of the inviolability of life-his own life and that of others-as something which does not belong to him, because it is the property and gift of God the Creator and Father.

ALL

AMEN

A Reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

ALL The word of the Lord

Hymn

(suggestion) Make Me A Channel of Your Peace

(based on a prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi)

Make me a channel of your peace: Where there is hatred, let me bring your love;

Where there is injury, your pardon Lord, and where there's doubt, true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace: Where there's despair in life let me bring hope;

Where there is darkness, - only light, And where there's sadness, ever joy.

O Master, grant that I may never seek So much to be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand,To be loved as to love with all my soul - .

Make me a channel of your peace. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

In giving to all men that we receive, And in dying that we're born to eternal life.

A few moments of silence.

A Litany for Life to Good St. Joseph

Good Saint Joseph, Pray for us

husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pray for us

Protector of the Mother of God, Pray for us

Faithful spouse, Pray for us

Good worker, Pray for us

Good and gentle man, Pray for us

Man of faith and hope, Pray for us

Man of kindness and charity, Pray for us

Man of love, Pray for us

Foster father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Pray for us

Guardian of the Christ child, Pray for us

Teacher of virtue, Pray for us

Model of patience, Pray for us

Model of kindness, Pray for us

Loving father, Pray for us

Kind father, Pray for us

Example of holiness, Pray for us

For all unmarried fathers, Pray for them

For all who are afraid, Pray for them

For all tempted to despair, Pray for them

For all tempted by evil, Pray for them

For refugees and orphans, Pray for them

For those condemned to die, Pray for them

For those mortally ill, Pray for them

At the hour of their death, Pray for them

For doctors and nurses, Pray for them

For those who wait for death, Pray for them

For the old and the alone, Pray for them

For truth and justice, Pray for them

For legislators and judges, Pray for them

For our Prime Minister, Pray for him

For all our Members of Parliament. Pray for them

For all who work for life, Pray for them.

Together.

Good Saint Joseph, your faithful love protected and nourished the Mother of God and Jesus Christ, her son. Your fatherly care led to maturity he through whom all creation began.

Through your intercession, may God guide and protect all human life from conception to natural death, and lead this nation in the ways of truth and of love. Pray for us, good Saint Joseph, that joined with Christ Jesus, we might give praise to God forever. Amen.

Silent meditation 15 minutes

Leader

We are commanded in Scripture to pray for all those in authority,

so that we may live lives of godliness and holiness (1 Tim 2:2). Let us ask God’s blessing on our elected officials and Let us pray that our leaders will be always mindful of the importance of, and expectation that, they be men and women of integrity. We Pray that God will help them to be upright, honest and sincere in all they do. We Pray that God will also grant them the strength, vision, love and compassion they require to be effective and godly leaders. Through Christ our Lord,

All: Amen

For Our Prime Minister

that God might guide and inspire his heart with a love for the Gospel of life; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all our Members of Parliament, but especially for those who work to change our laws to reflect the Gospel of Life, that God would inspire and shepherd them; We pray to the Lord

All: lord hear our prayer

For the justices of our Supreme Court, that the silent cries of the unborn child, would move their hearts and minds; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

That justice, truth, and a love for the gift of life, might inspire our Prime Minister and all Members of Parliament We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

And may they all have the courage and wisdom to establish and promote laws which protect the dignity of human life from conception until natural death; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

That the life of every human person, from conception to natural death, might be enshrined and protected in our laws; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For the leaders of the Church, that they may be given wisdom and a sense of justice to speak the words of life to a world overshadowed by a cult of death; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For the bishops and priests of our Church, that by their commitment to the innocent child, the Gospel of Life might be preached in each of our churches; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For bishops who seek to guide Catholic politicians in the ways of truth, that by their example and their words they might witness the Gospel of Life; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all young professionals, especially doctors, lawyers school teachers and those in public service: that they might come to know and cherish the truth of the Gospel of Life; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For medical researchers: that they may be inspired and strengthened by a love for every human person, from the first moment of conception; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer and that they that be inspired by the beauty of human life so they might seek to be co-workers with God in fulfillment of his divine plan; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For those who study medicine: that they may be driven by a desire to heal and protect every human person; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For doctors, nurses and other medical personnel ,that God might give them the conviction of the Gospel of Life; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all victims of abortion

For mothers and fathers broken by the memory of a child lost to abortion, that through the intercession of the Mother of God, the gentle and merciful love of God may heal their innermost being; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For everyone who is haunted by the memory of abortion, that they might know repentance, mercy, and peace;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For the children who have died from abortion and for their mothers and fathers, for mercy, peace and the loving embrace of Christ:

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For young mothers tempted to abort their child, that God’s grace might give them the wisdom and fortitude to preserve the gift they carry within them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For doctors who perform abortions, and for those who assist them, that by our love, patience, and unswerving dedication to the truth, they might be drawn closer to the Lord of life; We pray to the Lord .

All: Lord hear our prayer.

and that God might give them the grace to turn from sin and remember the Gospel; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For expectant mothers and the fathers of unborn children: that they might rejoice in the noble vocation which God has given them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For every unwed father and mother, and for their child: that, with God’s grace, their love might bind them together and truth might preserve and protect them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For mothers and fathers who await the birth of their child, that God might fill their hearts with an ever-deepening love each day; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For young mothers everywhere, and especially those who are tempted to despair, that through the child they carry deep within, they might know hope and joy;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all mothers, especially those who are young or alone, abused or addicted; that God might heal their broken hearts and seal them with his love;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For mothers, especially those wracked with fear, depression or despair, that the new life of their child may touch them with the eternal love of God;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For fathers, especially those who are very young, that through the intercession of Saint Joseph ,they might assume the great responsibility which God has given to them; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all parents who struggle alone to raise their children, that God will give them the strength of the children of God and the support of his holy Church;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all homeless parents, that God will teach us how to love and support them; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For parents of all teen mothers, that God might grant them a full portion of his merciful love;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For Grandparents and uncles and aunts: that their expectant love, might nurture and preserve the life of every unborn child;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For parents who have grown very old that through their prayers and example they might teach their grandchildren the wonders of the Gospel of Life;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

Let us pray for all mothers and fathers and expectant mothers and fathers:

For expectant mothers and the fathers of unborn children: that they might rejoice in the noble vocation which God has given them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For every unwed father and mother, and for their child: that, with God’s grace, their love might bind them together and truth might preserve and protect them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For mothers and fathers who await the birth of their child, that God might fill their hearts with an ever-deepening love each day;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For young mothers everywhere, and especially those who are tempted to despair, that through the child they carry deep within, they might know hope and joy;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all mothers, especially those who are young or alone, abused or addicted; that God might heal their broken hearts and seal them with his love;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For mothers, especially those wracked with fear, depression or despair, that the new life of their child may touch them with the eternal love of God;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For fathers, especially those who are very young, that through the intercession of Saint Joseph ,they might assume the great responsibility which God has given to them; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all parents who struggle alone to raise their children, that God will give them the strength of the children of God and the support of his holy Church;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all homeless parents, that God will teach us how to love and support them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For parents of all teen mothers, that God might grant them a full portion of his merciful love;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For Grandparents and uncles and aunts: that their expectant love, might nurture and preserve the life of every unborn child;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For parents who have grown very old

that through their prayers and example they might teach their grandchildren the wonders of the Gospel of Life;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For expectant mothers and the fathers of unborn children: that they might rejoice in the noble vocation which God has given them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For every unwed father and mother, and for their child: that, with God’s grace, their love might bind them together and truth might preserve and protect them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For mothers and fathers who await the birth of their child, that God might fill their hearts with an ever-deepening love each day;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For young mothers everywhere, and especially those who are tempted to despair, that through the child they carry deep within, they might know hope and joy;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all mothers, especially those who are young or alone, abused or addicted; that God might heal their broken hearts and seal them with his love;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For mothers, especially those wracked with fear, depression or despair, that the new life of their child may touch them with the eternal love of God; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For fathers, especially those who are very young, that through the intercession of Saint Joseph ,they might assume the great responsibility which God has given to them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all parents who struggle alone to raise their children, that God will give them the strength of the children of God and the support of his holy Church;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all homeless parents, that God will teach us how to love and support them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For parents of all teen mothers, that God might grant them a full portion of his merciful love;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For Grandparents and uncles and aunts: that their expectant love, might nurture and preserve the life of every unborn child;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For parents who have grown very old

that through their prayers and example they might teach their grandchildren the wonders of the Gospel of Life;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For those who are forgotten

For those deprived of their human needs and their human rights, that they may be given the dignity which God confers on all his people;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all who are forgotten or thrown away, and especially for the poor, the sick and the aged, that God might change our hearts and move us to love them as the image of Christ:

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all who are lonely or afraid, for teenagers on the street, old people in nursing homes, prisoners with no one to visit them, and all whom the world has forgotten: that Christ might lead us to them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For orphaned children throughout the world, and especially those who are abused or neglected, that we might work to save them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For children who are unwanted by their parents, that God’s grace might send others to love and care for them;

We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For every little child, the elderly and the sick and those who work to defend life

let us Pray:

For every little child: That we might accept and preserve each one as a sign of the infinite love of God for us; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For every child who lives in the womb, that God might send an angel to guard and protect the innocent and defenseless; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all unborn children: that our love for them may keep them safe until the joyous day of their birth; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For little children who await the birth of a brother or sister: that they may learn to cherish the child in her mother’s womb; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For a growing love of God’s little ones, in the womb, in the nursing home or at death’s door. That we might love with the love of Jesus; We pray to the lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For the elderly who in sickness approaches death, that in his weakness he may find strength, and in his suffering see the cross of Christ; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For our elderly parents and godparents: that the love and respect of their children might sustain them and bring them joy; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all who live in nursing homes, and especially for those who are alone or in pain: that we might cherish the gift of their wisdom, and the example of their faith; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For those who are tempted to die, that God might grant them patient endurance to do his will and serve his Gospel; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all who are about to die: that through our love, care, and devotion, they might know the beauty of life, to the moment of their final breath; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For those who pray before abortion clinics, who march for life, or who witness to the rights of all human beings: that God might strengthen and guide them; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For those who work to defend the lives of the unborn; the sick, the infirm, and the aged; We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

For all those who work to promote the Gospel of Life, that God might reward them for their faithfulness and for their goodness;We pray to the Lord

All: Lord hear our prayer

Silent meditation 5-10 minutes

105. The angel's Annunciation to Mary is framed by these reassuring words: "Do not be afraid, Mary" and "with God nothing will be impossible" (Lk 1:30, 37). The whole of the Virgin Mother's life is in fact pervaded by the certainty that God is near to her and that he accompanies her with his providential care. The same is true of the Church, which finds "a place prepared by God" (Rev 12:6) in the desert, the place of trial but also of the manifestation of God's love for his people (cf. Hos 2:16). Mary is a living word of comfort for the Church in her struggle against death. Showing us the Son, the Church assures us that in him the forces of death have already been defeated: "Death with life contended: combat strangely ended! Life's own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign".

The Lamb who was slain is alive, bearing the marks of his Passion in the splendour of the Res- urrection. He alone is master of all the events of history: he opens its "seals" (cf. Rev 5:1-10) and proclaims, in time and beyond, the power of life over death. In the "new Jerusalem", that new world towards which human history is travelling, "death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away" (Rev 21:4).

And as we, the pilgrim people, the people of life and for life, make our way in confidence towards "a new heaven and a new earth" (Rev 21:1), we look to her who is for us "a sign of sure hope and solace"

O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult,

of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life

with honesty and love to the people of our time.

Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life.

Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on 25 March, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, in the year 1995, the seventeenth of my Pontificate.

IOANNES PAULUS PP. II

silent meditation