On the occasion of the Day for Life, which is celebrated on different dates in the Anglo-Saxon countries—in England and Wales on July 28th, in Ireland on the first Sunday of October, and in Scotland on the last Sunday of May—Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican State Secretary, sent a message on behalf of Pope Francis to the Catholics of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, assuring his prayers so that the day may contribute «to ensure that human life always receives the protection that is its due, so that “everything that breathes may praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6)».
The theme of the Day is, this year, “Care for Life: It’s Worth It!”—a quote from a homily delivered by Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, in 2005, at the Holy Mass in honor of the patron saint of expectant mothers, St. Raymond Nonnatus, who according to the tradition came into the world from the body of his mother who had died on the previous day. At the heart of the 2013 edition— the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (Cbcew) and the Irish Bishops’ Conference (ICBC) say —is, indeed, the fact that there is a lack of «attention to unborn children and their mothers, to the elderly and people with suicidal thoughts and their families». The aim is «to build an environment of compassion and care that nurtures and sustains life, even in the midst of the most challenging of human events and personal circumstances», so that, as the then Cardinal Bergoglio said on the occasion from which the theme of this day is taken, «All of us must care for life, cherish life, with tenderness, warmth…».
In this message, there is the call to defend «the inherent value of human life», from conception to natural death, with an emphasis on «the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, who are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live for ever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect».
The program of the Day and useful information for participation are available on the specially dedicated website of the Bishop’s Conferences of England and Wales:
www.dayforlife.org.
The Message To the Bishops’ Conferences of Ireland, Scotland, and England & Wales
«His Holiness Pope Francis was pleased to be informed of the celebrations taking place across Great Britain and Ireland in thanksgiving for God’s great gift of life and he sends his greetings to all who are taking part. Calling to mind the teaching of Saint Irenaeus that the glory of God is seen in a living human being, the Holy Father encourages all of you to let the light of that glory shine so brightly that everyone may come to recognize the inestimable value of all human life. Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live for ever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect. His Holiness prays that the Day for Life will help to ensure that human life always receives the protection that is its due, so that “everything that breathes may praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6). With these sentiments, the Holy Father invokes upon all those involved in promoting the Day for Life 2013 the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ and he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing».
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State
