Freed Women

Greetings on this the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
Readings: Heb 8:6-13; PS 85:8 and 10, 11-12, 13-14; Mk 3:13-19

Note: Today is the anniversary of the Supreme Court Roe v Wade decision permitting nationwide abortion. Vestments are violet (purple) to signal the need for restoration and penance. It is the desire of the Church to give the unborn legal status as persons in order to protect their life in the womb. The Church teaching is the protection of human life from conception to natural death.

In 313 AD, the Emperor Constantine and Emperor Licinius issued the joint Edict of Milan, which legalized Christianity. During the reign of Theodosius I (A.D. 379-395), Christianity became the official religion of the Empire, and declared other religions illegal.

While law is always helpful and certainly can result in peace, the compelling growth of the Church during the period between 100 CE and 313 CE is not the law (Anno Domini, the year of our lord).

The amazing growth of the Church during the persecutions wasn’t that is was easiest. It was the way in which women were treated. The Church offered protection for women and their children. Christian men acted rightly toward women and did not engage in abuse and enslavement of women and their children as was common in the pagan culture/religions of the day.

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The Church freed women from oppression. Women grew the Church.
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God our Creator;
we give thanks to you,
who alone have the pwoer to impart the breth of life
as you form each of us in our mother’s womb;
grant, we pray,
that we, whom you have made stewards of creation,
may remain faithful to this sacred trust
and constant in safeguarding the dignity of every human life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your SOn,
who live and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Peace be with you,

Deacon Gerry