December 5, 2006
Dear Lay Missionary of the Gospel of Life:
I pray this letter finds you well and preparing for the advent
of the Lord!
We can see and experience profoundly the Liturgical and Marian
aspects of our Missionary spirituality this month.
You will see below Fr. Frank’s Newsletter summary of the
liturgical celebrations this month, and the importance of
connecting our Pro-life spirituality with them. Let us grow in
the understanding of our mission and ministry by passionately
entering into the Church’s worship of her Lord.
It is also important for us to remember that the Constitutions
of our Society were approved by, The Most Reverend John Yanta,
Bishop of Amarillo, on December 8, 2005 (Feast of the Immaculate
Conception), and the decree establishing the Missionaries of the
Gospel of Life was signed by him on December 12, 2005 (Feast of
Our Lady of Guadalupe). Let us give special thanks for Fr.
Pavone (Founder and Moderator General of the Missionaries) and
Bishop Yanta, for their willingness to be used as God’s agents
in establishing this most blessed Society of Apostolic Life.
Fr. Frank’s Newsletter: December Brings Special Pro-life Feasts
“The liturgical seasons and feasts always provide insight and
incentive to our pro-life commitment, because they point to its
source. The month of December, in particular, provides several
high points.
The Advent season, of course, is a time to adore the Unborn
Jesus. Christ redeemed human nature by assuming it, including in
its earliest stages of development. Advent urges us to accompany
in prayer, led by our heavenly Mother, all those mothers who are
carrying children within them. Christmas, moreover, is not only
the Feast of Christ’s Birth, but is more fundamentally the Feast
of the Incarnation. All who share a human nature are in some way
united with God through this event.
December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the
Virgin Mary (nine months later being her birthday, September 8).
Again, our attention is focused on the fact that God calls us
from before our birth for the mission he has for us in life.
The patroness of the pro-life movement, Our Lady of Guadalupe,
is honored on December 12, and the one to whom her image was
revealed – St. Juan Diego – is honored on December 9. Our Lady’s
image, in which she is pregnant, converted Aztecs and ended
human sacrifice. The image today stops many abortions as it is
brought to the killing centers worldwide.
December 28 is the feast of the Holy Innocents. They remind us
of the thousands of babies slaughtered each day in the womb.
Finally, on December 31 this year, the Church celebrates the
Feast of the Holy Family. The family is the sanctuary of life,
where life, both born and unborn, is to be welcomed and
nurtured. Without family, there can be no life, and without
life, there can be no family.”
May God’s grace be poured out upon you and yours this Advent,
Christmas and New Year!
Peace,
Jim Pinto, Jr.
Pastoral Associate: Priests for Life
National Coordinator: Missionaries of the Gospel of Life-Lay
Association
missionary@priestsforlife.org
P.S. I strongly recommend you see the movie, The Nativity Story.
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