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Apostles for Life News

Advent Christmas 2006

Dear Friends,

As I start this newsletter it is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Most of you will know that the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe is a most apt one for those who wish to see the gift of life reverenced. The gift of life is the most precious gift from God. However a person is conceived, in whatever conditions he lives, however sick, disabled or mistreated he may be, the human person has a dignity which is beyond anything that human respect can offer him, because it is God Himself who bestows the gift of life.

Many of you will also know that, in the seven years following the apparitions of the merciful Mother and the gift of her miraculous portrait at Guadalupe, Mexico, eight million pagans were converted to the Catholic Faith. As a consequence the people were freed from the cruel Aztec civilization, which demanded human sacrifices at each of the 371 pagan temples, the total number was at least 50,000 slayings a year. It is estimated that one out of every five children was sacrificed, and it is known that entire tribes numbering in the tens of thousands were, on several occasions, exterminated by sacrifice.

How does our civilisation compare with the Aztec? Do we not sacrifice an even larger proportion of our children through abortion, without even taking into account those who are aborted with contraceptive devices and pills, and discarded or abused in IVF and embryonic stem cell research? Are we not in more dire straits than they were, in that some of us freely choose to partake in the sacrifices of human life to the false gods of our modern society?

It appears that as time goes on the situation worsens. We seem to be losing the fight against the evil one whose traps cause so many souls to fall into his clutches.

What are we to do? Is it a matter of getting more people to write more letters to politicians? How are we to overcome the misinformation and brainwashing that is so constant in our schools and in magazines and newspapers, on our TVs and at the movies – all so influential in corrupting our youth? Where does the rot originate? Can we find the source and stop it there? Is it a matter of greater efforts in our spiritual life? Our Lady of Guadalupe is our advocate in the great battle for the conversion of hearts, and it is only the conversion of hearts that can bring victory in the cause of Life.

Many of our readers will have already heard that, on August 10, Apostles for Life were told that we were no longer part of the Cathedral parish. We may not pray our Rosary for Life there, nor use any parish facilities, including meeting rooms and photocopier. Parishioners now have less chance to hear the message of life, and to take part in campaigns to defend life. This had to come. If one speaks the truth without compromise, as we try to do, one is bound to be a thorn in the side, which must be removed to make life comfortable once more.

Here we are in the season of Advent – the time when we especially anticipate the second coming of Jesus to establish His Kingdom here on earth. We beg Him to come soon! Maranathá! Come Lord Jesus!

As we celebrate the great Feast of Christmas, let us call to mind the wise men from the east.

These exceptional men went in search of Jesus with the pure intention to adore him. Going to Herod they proclaimed:

“We have seen his star in the east and have come to adore him …….. And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh”. (Matthew 2:2, & 10-11)

What was the significance of the three gifts offered by the Magi?

• Gold was traditionally offered to a King by his subjects. By offering gold, the Magi acknowledged Jesus as King.

• Frankincense is an expensive sweet smelling resin, burned during worship. By offering frankincense, the Magi acknowledged Jesus as God.

• Myrrh is a perfume used to embalm the dead. This gift is a reminder of the death that Jesus would endure for us.

All of us could take a leaf out of their book and ask: What does he want of us? These few words from Saint Matthew’s Gospel are a treasure trove of answers to this questions. We must be alert and watching to do his will in our lives; we must rejoice at his presence among us; humility is what prompts us to fall down in front of him; but most of all it is adoration that he wants of us. This means giving Him what is His due: putting Him first in every circumstance in our life.

We pray that this Christmas will be a time of peace, joy and love for you and those you love. Please keep Apostles for Life in your prayers in this Holy season.

amartello@apostlesforlifesite.org