Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate a Vigil for All Nascent Human Life on Saturday, November 27th (the beginning of the first Sunday of Advent), and invites all Catholic diocesan bishops to do so as well. The vigil will be offered to “thank the Lord for his total self-giving to the world and for his Incarnation which gave every human life its real worth and dignity” and to “invoke the Lord’s protection over every human being called into existence.”
The chairman of the Catholic bishops’s committee on pro-life activities, Cardinal Daniel DeNardo, has issued a statement for Respect Life Month. It notes, among other things, that “In many areas of public policy, the rift continues to widen between the moral principles expressed by a majority of Americans and the actions of government.”
September 29th, 2010 | 12:29 am
This wonderful and remarkable.
It is wonderful way of beginning the Advent Season, as we wait with Mary and prepare with John for the coming of the Savior. As the Son of God took up the human journey from the moment of conception through death to resurrection and ascension, He identified Himself in a mysterious way with each and every human being from the moment of conception on and sanctified human life. To have the world wide Church gather on the vigil of the First Sunday of Advent is awesome.
Secondly however, is Pope Benedict’s obvious pattern of ‘keeping vigil’. At other places in his pastoral visits I thought they were ‘merely’ to have more opportunity to gather with his people. However, I saw the distinct nature of the vigil held on the eve of the beatification of Blessed John Cardinal Newman. He is obviously calling for a renewed, perhaps better call it a resurrected ancient practice of the Church which he means for the whole Church to do.
The Holy Father is filled with wonderful surprises