I had an opportunity to attend the 15th Annual Archbishop's Gospel of Life Prayer Breakfast held on Wednesday, in the ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Hosted by the Saint Louis Chapter of Legatus, an international organization of dedicated lay people, including CEOs, presidents, managing partners and business owners who devote themselves to studying, living and spreading the Catholic faith in their business, professional and personal lives. They try to become better Catholics who can impact their businesses and lives.
To celebrate this annual meeting, Gospel of Life Prayer Breakfast sponsors invited several groups of high school students from Catholic schools as well as various religious sisters and brothers.
Interestingly, the breakfast prayer program took place from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m., with praying the Rosary on the theme of pro-life issues. To meet with this early schedule, I had to get up at 4:40 a.m.
Then, the Holy Mass was presided over by the Most Reverend Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski. Breakfast followed only after praying the Rosary and saying Mass. After sharing a beautiful meal with a cup of coffee, Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, representing parts of Jefferson County in the Missouri Senate, gave her keynote address on pro-life issues while advocating for the culture of life, religious liberty and family values.
Childbirth, including birth control and abortion, is a very sensitive issue around the world. France became the first country to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution in March 2023. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said, "We are sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you." With the slogan of "my body my choice," France now protects abortion as a "guaranteed freedom."
In the United States, on the other hand, the abortion issue is one of the most divisive arguments. Among the country's states, 14 ban abortions in almost all circumstances, 17 have gestational limits on abortions, and 19 States allow abortions.
Abortions are being performed both in public and in secret in Korea, where the birthrate is the lowest in the world. It is a pity to see that the number of children is decreasing more and more at a noticeable rate nowadays. We can see the prayer corners for aborted babies either in churches or at pilgrimage sites.
Much prayer and attention are needed to protect human rights. Probably thanks to people's faithful prayers and conscious practices, more children are visible in the Catholic congregations in Missouri. It is so beautiful and encouraging to see children sitting near their parents during Mass. In terms of the presence of children and young people in the churches, I can see much hope in the United States.
The term Gospel of Life came from "Evangelium Vitae," an encyclical proclaimed in 1995 on the value and inviolability of human life by Pope John Paul II. The Gospel of life toward a fullness of life is given to each of us "as a good to be shared with all people."
The encyclical reads, "The Gospel of life is for the whole of human society. To be actively pro-life is to contribute to the renewal of society through the promotion of the common good."
The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul. Please feel free to visit her blog "A piece of sunshine" at mtorchid88.blogspot.com.
Gospel of Life Prayer Breakfast
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14.04.2024
I had an opportunity to attend the 15th Annual Archbishop's Gospel of Life Prayer Breakfast held on Wednesday, in the ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Hosted by the Saint Louis Chapter of Legatus, an international organization of dedicated lay people, including CEOs, presidents, managing partners and business owners who devote themselves to studying, living and spreading the Catholic faith in their business, professional and personal lives. They try to become better Catholics who can impact their businesses and lives.
To celebrate this annual meeting, Gospel of Life Prayer Breakfast sponsors invited several groups of high school students from Catholic schools as well as various religious sisters and brothers.
Interestingly, the breakfast prayer program took place from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m., with........
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