There are many times throughout the year to recognize the great beauty of life and to invoke the Virgin Mary's protection over the most vulnerable of society.
St. John Paul II lived out this reality throughout his entire life, constantly advocating for the protection of life as well as keeping a close relationship with the Blessed Mother.
These two spiritual themes are present in a beautiful prayer John Paul II wrote at the end of his encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, "The Gospel of Life." It is a prayer that is extremely fitting for "Respect Life Month," especially as we honor the Virgin Mary.
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.
