As
you know, I recently promulgated a Mission
Statement for the Diocese of Scranton. This
Mission Statement commits us to foster
human life and dignity at every stage of
human development, from conception to
natural death. Our Mission Statement tries
to help us replicate in the 21st century the
prayerfulness, sacramental life and
missionary commitment of the Church as we
read about it in the Acts of the Apostles
(cf. Acts 2, 42-47).
The
Acts of the Apostles often speaks
about the boldness of the early Christians
as they spread the Word of God. They were
not afraid to suffer for the Name of Christ.
In fact, they found such suffering a true
honor. They did not enjoy suffering, but
they were so transformed by their encounters
with the Risen Jesus that their love for Him
helped them to be determined and bold.
We
might say that we are less fortunate
than the early Christians. Unlike them, we
say, we have not met the Risen Savior.
Therefore, we often too easily excuse
ourselves from the boldness which
characterized the early Christians. But we
cannot say that in the 21st
century we have not met the Risen
Christ. Indeed we do meet Him, every time we
participate in the Holy Eucharist. In the
Mass, Jesus is truly present in His Body and
Blood. He is just as present to us now as He
was in the earliest days of the Church.
Therefore, we cannot be any less bold in
giving to the world the Word of Life.
Let
us commit ourselves to being bold in our
proclamation of the sanctity of human life.
Let us be equally bold in translating our
pro-life sentiments into bold, concrete
actions. I call especially on Catholic
public servants to not only say that they
are committed to human life at every point
of its development, but to prove their
pro-life credentials by their voting record.
As
we engage in our Forty Hours devotions and
other forms of Eucharistic adoration, let us
remember that Jesus, in giving us His Body
and Blood, elevates human life far above any
level of dignity which we sinners could
reach on our own. As we say the Rosary to
Mary, our Mother, let us boldly ask her to
open the hearts of all men and women to the
Word of Life – her Son, Jesus.
Please
pray for the success of the annual March for
Life in
Washington
on Monday. I commend the large delegation of
participants, especially our high school
students, from the Diocese of Scranton who
will be there to boldly proclaim the Word of
Life to the nation!
Sincerely
in Our Lord,
Most
Rev. Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D.
Bishop
of Scranton
