Not long before he died, Pope John Paul told the young
people in Rome , ‘There is no
authentic celebration or adoration of the Eucharist that does not lead to
mission’. In a world where human life itself is under attack, we have a
particular and critical mission. The other day a member of the Apostolate
of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration told me – I am offering up my holy hour each
week before the Blessed Sacrament so that, even at this late stage, the
government may have a change of heart and not introduce legislation for
abortion into our country.
The organisation ‘Precious Life’ is calling on all of us to
offer forty days of prayer and fasting from the 12 May for the protection of
unborn children in this country. I support these initiatives, because if we are
in ‘communion’ with Christ, the Bread of Life, at Mass or during adoration,
then we are also ‘commissioned’ to bring the Good News about Life out there
into our community. How can we be in communion with the Bread of Life at Mass
or here tonight and not speak the ‘Gospel of Life’ in our daily lives,
especially these days when unborn human life is under such a direct threat in
our country?
Fasting would mean of course doing penance during this time, giving up things we like etc. Similar to what we do at Lent.
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