It's a shame that I've been to quite a few Theology of the Body congresses and only now have I actually sat down and read Paul VI's Humanae Vitae. It's short and very clear. It is amazing to think how counter-cultural he had to be to publish it. I still remember standing in Fatima and hearing the story of how he caught an express plane to Fatima months before publishing it to seek special intercession and guidance. Here are some of my favorite quotes.
But the most remarkable development of all is to be seen in man's stupendous progress in the domination and rational organization of the forces of nature to the point that he is endeavoring to extend this control over every aspect of his own life—over his body, over his mind and emotions, over his social life, and even over the laws that regulate the transmission of life. (n. 2)
The question of human procreation, like every other question which touches human life, involves more than the limited aspects specific to such disciplines as biology, psychology, demography or sociology. It is the whole man and the whole mission to which he is called that must be considered: both its natural, earthly aspects and its supernatural, eternal aspects. (n. 7)
Though this fidelity of husband and wife sometimes presents difficulties, no one has the right to assert that it is impossible; it is, on the contrary, always honorable and meritorious. (n. 9)
But to experience the gift of married love while respecting the laws of conception is to acknowledge that one is not the master of the sources of life but rather the minister of the design established by the Creator. (n. 13)
In preserving intact the whole moral law of marriage, the Church is convinced that she is contributing to the creation of a truly human civilization. She urges man not to betray his personal responsibilities by putting all his faith in technical expedients. (n. 18)
I hope you had a great St. Patrick's day. I finally got around to making these cream-filled chocolate cupcakes I've been wanting to try for forever. My idea was to make a little green swirl on top... which didn't work out. Unfortunately, marshmallow cream is not readily available in the third world country I live in, so I tried putting a marshmallow in the middle before baking. I was disappointed because the marshmallow completely dissolved. Next time I am buying an apple corer and finding some marshmallow cream. But the recipe is great.
I finally finished reading JPII's Evangelium Vitae (Gospel of Life) when I went on retreat last month. It is great and available here.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
For this reason, man-living man-represents the primary and fundamental way for the Church. (n. 2)
At the same time a new cultural climate is developing and taking hold, which gives crimes against life a new and-if possible-even more sinister character, giving rise to further grave concern: broad sectors of public opinion justify certain crimes against life in the name of the rights of individual freedom, and on this basis they claim not only exemption from punishment but even authorization by the State, so that these things can be done with total freedom and indeed with the free assistance of health-care systems. (...) Even certain sectors of the medical profession, which by its calling is directed to the defence and care of human life, are increasingly willing to carry out these acts against the person. In this way the very nature of the medical profession is distorted and contradicted, and the dignity of those who practise it is degraded. (n. 4)
...respect, protect, love and serve life, every human life! Only in this direction will you find justice, development, true freedom, peace and happiness! (n. 5)
Looking at the situation from this point of view, it is possible to speak in a certain sense of a war of the powerful against the weak: a life which would require greater acceptance, love and care is considered useless, or held to be an intolerable burden, and is therefore rejected in one way or another. A person who, because of illness, handicap or, more simply, just by existing, compromises the well-being or life-style of those who are more favoured tends to be looked upon as an enemy to be resisted or eliminated. In this way a kind of "conspiracy against life" is unleashed. (n. 12)
Yes, every man is his "brother's keeper", because God entrusts us to one another. And it is also in view of this entrusting that God gives everyone freedom, a freedom which possesses an inherently relational dimension. (n. 19)
These requirements were already present in the Old Testament, where legislation dealt with protecting and defending life when it was weak and threatened: in the case of foreigners, widows, orphans, the sick and the poor in general, including children in the womb (cf. Ex 21:22; 22:20-26). With Jesus these positive requirements assume new force and urgency, and are revealed in all their breadth and depth: they range from caring for the life of one's brother (whether a blood brother, someone belonging to the same people, or a foreigner living in the land of Israel) to showing concern for the stranger, even to the point of loving one's enemy. (n. 41)
But in fact, "from the time that the ovum is fertilized, a life is begun which is neither that of the father nor the mother; it is rather the life of a new human being with his own growth. It would never be made human if it were not human already. (...) Precisely for this reason, over and above all scientific debates and those philosophical affirmations to which the Magisterium has not expressly committed itself, the Church has always taught and continues to teach that the result of human procreation, from the first moment of its existence, must be guaranteed that unconditional respect which is morally due to the human being in his or her totality and unity as body and spirit: "The human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception; and therefore from that same moment his rights as a person must be recognized, among which in the first place is the inviolable right of every innocent human being to life". (n. 60)
All the same, "it is not right to deprive the dying person of consciousness without a serious reason": as they approach death people ought to be able to satisfy their moral and family duties, and above all they ought to be able to prepare in a fully conscious way for their definitive meeting with God. (n. 65)
True "compassion" leads to sharing another's pain; it does not kill the person whose suffering we cannot bear. Moreover, the act of euthanasia appears all the more perverse if it is carried out by those, like relatives, who are supposed to treat a family member with patience and love, or by those, such as doctors, who by virtue of their specific profession are supposed to care for the sick person even in the most painful terminal stages. (n. 66)
But would these crimes cease to be crimes if, instead of being committed by unscrupulous tyrants, they were legitimated by popular consensus?
Democracy cannot be idolized to the point of making it a substitute for morality or a panacea for immorality. (...) Even in participatory systems of government, the regulation of interests often occurs to the advantage of the most powerful, since they are the ones most capable of manoeuvering not only the levers of power but also of shaping the formation of consensus. In such a situation, democracy easily becomes an empty word. (n. 70)
This was a set up Addie's godmother had ready for her when we visted her a couple weeks ago. It was so thoughtful. I have been trying to get more visiting in, although it feels like a day's work to visit anyone for just a short while. It's the driving, I can't take it. I dream of a village where everyone I wanted to visit lived very closeby. Or at least lots of neighbor friends for kids to play with, so playdates and playgroups wouldn't feel like such hard, hard work.
Even though it takes five million years to get to someone's house and three months to get through two simple things on my to-do list, I know we are growing as a family. Usually the right kind of growth isn't immediately (or ever) visible. We are building a house on the rock and only when winds come along do you test out the foundation.
I once came across a blog called My Domestic Monastery and, even though I don't read it, I like her blog motto: "When my firstborn was a baby, I realized there was an almost monastic rhythm to our days - work, pray, play sleep." It often feels like I can't get anything "extra" in, whether that be visits, friends over for dinner, crafts, projects, errands, etc. But when all four of us are sleeping well, eating together, praying routinely and having time to play it all seems okay.
Finger painting... a simple idea I got from a friend in the US...
I have been quiet here recently, partly due to limited access to a computer and partly due to demanding schedules... but productive. I am telling people I want to hibernate for the next few weeks. My hubby went on a weekend retreat, then I went on a separate weekend retreat, then we did a labor preparation course this weekend that was 10-7pm Saturday and Sunday. Phew.
The retreats were fabulous and the labor course (with a doula) was life-changing. We learned there were a lot of things we didn't know with Addie's birth, even though we did the best we could. Like the instructor said, your first birth prepares you for your second. So we're thankful for life experience, for being open to change and for finding people to guide us in life. Funny how God always places who you need for your journey in your path.
Meanwhile we are continuing to juggle playgroups, trying in vain to get things done, enjoying family life and... finger painting...!
