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What a blessing Pope John Paul II is for the Church. He recently celebrated the 21st year of his pontificate by writing a beautiful, inspiring letter to the elderly. The pope continues to amaze us with his insight on the human condition. Reading the letter is like overhearing a private conversation between two old friends.
"I felt a spontaneous desire to share fully with you my own feelings at this point of my life after more than 20 years of ministry on the throne of Peter and as we await the arrival, now imminent, of the third millennium," the pope wrote. "Despite the limitations brought on by age,I continue to enjoy life. For this I thank the Lord. It is wonderful to be able to give oneself to the very end for the sake of the kingdom of God."
"It remains true that the years pass quickly, and the gift of life, for all the effort and pain it involves, is too beautiful and precious for us ever to grow tired of it."
How appropriate it is for us to reflect on these words during the autumn season, as our hearts and minds naturally reflect on family and friends, both living and deceased. The pope's words not only give encouragement to his contemporaries, many of whom have endured a century of war and despair, but they also give hope to future generations, as we prepare for the dawn of a new millennium.
"Dear elderly friends who feel insecure because of ill health or other circumstances, I assure you of my closeness and affection. When God permits us to suffer because of illness, loneliness or other reasons associated with old age, He always gives us the grace and strength to unite ourselves with greater love to the sacrifice of His Son and to share ever more fully in His plan of salvation. Let us be convinced of this; He is our Father, a Father rich in love and mercy."
The pope encouraged his "elderly brothers and sisters" to live their final years with serenity. He finds great peace in thinking of the time when the Lord will call him home --- "from life to life." He find himself saying the prayer recited by priests after the celebration of the Eucharist: "at the hour of my death, call me and bid me come to you."
His final words are an inspiring prayer that we should keep close to our hearts.
"Grant, O Lord of life, that we may be ever vividly aware of this and that we may savor every season of our lives as a gift filled with promise for the future.
"Grant that we may lovingly accept your will and place ourselves each day in Your merciful hands.
"And when the moment of our definitive 'passage' comes, grant that we may face it with serenity, without regret for what we shall leave behind. For in meeting You, after having sought You for so long, we shall find once more every authentic good which we have known here on earth, in the company of all who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith and hope.
"Mary, mother of pilgrim humanity, pray for us 'now and at the hour of our death.' Keep us ever close to Jesus, your beloved Son and our brother, the Lord of life and glory. Amen.
Copyright ©1999 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.
This article was published in the Arlington
Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 24, No 45,
page 4, dated November 11, 1999.
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A note from the Web Master:
It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion. Let us not forget that ordinary everyday run of the mill abortion is also murder. We must understand that aborting the life of a baby is murder no matter the method. Because one method of abortion seems to be horrible does not make the other methods less so. We should be horrified and sickened by any abortion regardless of the method. The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly:
"Thou shalt not kill."
A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul.
Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any abortion occurs. Please
contact both of your Senators and Representative, via letter or phone,
to let them know how horrified you are that abortions are legal and to
stop, once and for all, Partial-Birth abortions and all other abortions
as soon as possible.
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