Pope Francis, Evangelium Vitae Day, and the Year of Faith

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on June 16 to conclude 'Evangelium Vitae Day,' a Year of Faith event to celebrate life!

He said in his homily:

This celebration has a very beautiful name: the Gospel of Life. In this Eucharist, in the Year of Faith, let us thank the Lord for the gift of life in all its forms, and at the same time let us proclaim the Gospel of Life.

On the basis of the word of God which we have heard, I would like to offer you three simple points of meditation for our faith: first, the Bible reveals to us the Living God, the God who is life and the source of life; second, Jesus Christ bestows life and the Holy Spirit maintains us in life; and third, following God’s way leads to life, whereas following idols leads to death....

...  Let us say “Yes” to life and not death. Let us say “Yes” to freedom and not enslavement to the many idols of our time. In a word, let us say “Yes” to the God who is love, life and freedom, and who never disappoints....

You can read his homily on the Vatican site here. 

Learning from the Catechism during the Year of Faith

One of the pillars of the Year of Faith is becoming more familiar and comfortable with the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

OSV web editor Jen Rey wrote about her experience on the OSV Daily Take blog last week:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is my quick, go-to reference for clarity on Catholic teaching, whether simply for personal reflection or for sharing with a broader audience. But I've never actually read it cover to cover. I've studied large chunks of it in classes, and growing up I read various versions of the Baltimore Catechism in their entirety, but not the "CCC." I simply flip through the index at the back, find the right paragraph, nod with satisfaction and move on.

But one day — inspired by a family friend who converted to Catholicism after reading all 2,865 paragraphs of Catholic goodness — I decided to begin reading the entire Catechism....

Click here to read her entire post.

For an easy way to digest the Catechism, consider joining the Catechism in a Year email list from Flocknote! You'll be emailed a little bit each day, and in just a year, you'll be finished! Great way to impress your friends!

Celebrate the Gospel of Life!

The Vatican is celebrating life June 15-16 with Faithful to Life, a celebration of Blessed John Paul II’s Evangelium Vitae (“The Gospel of Life”). For those who’ve never read the 1995 encyclical — and for those who have read it many times — now is the perfect time to embrace the teaching “at the heart of Jesus’ message.”

 Visit the Faithful to Life pages to find out more about how Pope Francis is marking the anniversary of Bl. Pope John Paul II's encyclical, and for links to read the document, understand it better, and be more 'Faithful to Life'!
Let us know how the document changes your life!

Be sure to tweet, Facebook, Instagram and use your social media skills to let your friends know that you're #FaithfultoLife!

So what does 'Evangelium Vitae' mean?

It's Latin for the 'Gospel of Life,' the 1995 encyclical by Bl. Pope John Paul.

“The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus’ message” (§1.1). With these words Pope John Paul II begins his eleventh encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, published on March 25, 1995. He aptly chose the feast of the Annunciation, which celebrates Mary’s welcoming of the Son of God who took flesh in her womb, to issue a document dedicated to the value and inviolability of human life. By taking up the cause of the “great multitude of weak and defenseless human beings” (§5.4), especially unborn children and those at the end of life, the Pope continues the defense of human dignity dealt with in his three social encyclicals. Evangelium Vitae is an anguished and vigorous response to “scientifically and systematically programmed threats” against life (§17.2), assaults which have repercussions on Church teaching, touching upon “the core of her faith in the redemptive Incarnation of the Son of God” (§3.1).

... As Archbishop J. Michael Miller writes in his commentary on the encyclical. You can find his overview here, on the OSV web site; read it online or download it as a PDF file. It's great for personal study, or for a parish small group study.

You can read the entire encyclical online here (Vatican site); if you'd like to order a paper copy, please click here.

Don't forget to show your support for the #FaithtoLife campaign during this Year of Faith from now until July 4! Visit the OSV Faithful to Life page for resources and support. Tweet, Facebook, blog and tell your friends and neighbors!

Find information about the Vatican Year of Faith event 'Celebrating Evangelium Vitae' here.

Faithful to LIFE

Perhaps nothing is more fundamental to Church doctrine than its teachings on life. The Vatican is celebrating life June 15-16 with Faithful to Life, a celebration of Blessed John Paul II’s Evangelium Vitae (“Gospel of Life”). For those who’ve never read the 1995 encyclical — and for those who have read it many times — now is the perfect time to embrace the teaching “at the heart of Jesus’ message.”

 

The celebration in Rome segues neatly into the U.S. bishops’ second Fortnight for Freedom, June 21-July 4. During this time, we encourage you to embrace the “Gospel of Life," and we have some online resources to help.

Visit the Faithful to Life web page and join Pope Francis and Our Sunday Visitor as we celebrate the Gospel of Life:

• Read the OSV editorial, 'The world in prayer.'
• Read Bl. Pope John Paul's encyclical, Evangelium Vitae, and Abp. Michael Miller's commentary on it. (You can download the commentary, too!)
• Write your elected officials and let them know you support the culture of life. 
• Use the hashtag #FaithfultoLife to tweet your support for life! Follow Our Sunday Visitor (www.twitter.com/osv) for updates.
• Talk to your pastor, friends, family, and fellow parishioners about what your parish can do to join in the Faithful to Life initiative.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Feast of the Sacred Heart is June 7.

The Year of Faith is a perfect time to begin a devotion to the Sacred Heart, following the 12 Promises made by Jesus to French nun St. Margaret Mary Alacoque:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their houses.
3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death.
5. I will bestow large blessings upon all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall grow fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
9. I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in my heart, never to be blotted out.
12. I promise them in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive communion on the first Friday in nine consecutive months the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving the sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

To begin a devotion, you might find a picture portraying the Sacred Heart of Jesus (there are various versions and styles) and display it in your home. Explain to the children the story of St. Margaret Mary and the deep love that Jesus has for them. Also celebrate this day as a feast, with a special dinner and dessert, using a white tablecloth and centerpiece (maybe use the new picture or statue of the Sacred Heart). Read more here.

Plant a Mary Garden for the Year of Faith

Today is the Feast of the Visitation of Mary, recalling the visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1). It's also the last day of Mary's month of May. What better way to celebrate the Year of Faith and welcome summer than with a Mary Garden?

With the danger of frost past in most parts of the U.S., now is a great time to begin (or add to) a Mary Garden. The first public Mary Garden in the U.S. was at the Angelus Tower of St. Joseph's Church in Woods Hole, Massachusetts (1932). But pious gardeners have been dedicating gardens to Our Mother for centuries.

Most Mary Gardens have a statue of Mary as their focal point. But the choice of flowers is up to you. Here are some links to help you get started.

Here's a list of flowers with their corresponding Marian names. If you know more, please add them in the comments:

A Mary garden flower list
Amaryllis--Beautiful Lady
Baby's Breath--Lady's Veil
Bachelor's Buttons Mary's Crown
Begonia--Heart of Mary
Bleeding Heart--Mary's Heart
Canterbury Bells--Our Lady's Nightcap, Mary Bells, Our Lady's Smock
Columbine--Our Lady's Shoes, Lady's Slipper.
Daffodil--Mary's Star
English Daisy--Mary-Love
Fern--Lady's Hair
Forget-me-not--Eyes of Mary
Foxglove--Our Lady's Gloves
Fuchsia Our Lady's Earrings
Geranium--Lady Beautiful
Ground Ivy--Madonna's Herb
Honeysuckle--Lady's Fingers
Honeysuckle--Lady's Stick
Impatiens--Our Lady's Earrings
Ox-Eye Daisy--Mary's Star
Pansy--Our Lady's Delight
Petunia--Lady's Praise
Pink--Mary's Pink
Pot Marigold--Mary's Gold
Primrose--Mary's Candlestick)
Rose-White: Mary's Purity; Red: Mary's Sorrow; Gold: Mary's Glory; Red and White: The Visitation
Scabiosa--Mary's Pincushion
Sea Pink--Our Lady's Cushion
Sunflower--Mary's Gold
Sweet Pea--Our Lady's Flower
Sweet Pea--Mary's Foot
Tulip--Mary's Prayer
Violet Our Lady's Modesty
Wisteria--Virgin's Bower

Let us know 'how your garden grows'!