The Positive Language of Life

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Herald Columnist
(From the issue of 8/4/05)

The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde at the Respect Life Mass, the Mass of Mary: the New Eve, at St. James Parish in Falls Church June 25.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen tells the story about a group of Russian soldiers who broke into a barn and found hundreds of people in prayer. The soldiers screamed that they violated Soviet law and that anyone left in the barn after five minutes would be shot. In response to the threat, two people left. The soldiers entered the barn, dropped their guns and joined the group (Through the Year with Fulton Sheen, p. 164). Prayer and action identified these Christians.

This story comes to life today as we celebrate our monthly Respect Life Mass and then pray at a local abortion facility. Today, in this Eucharistic celebration, we honor Mary under the title of the New Eve. We find the word "new" repeated over and over throughout the liturgy. And why not? The Blessed Virgin Mary is seen by the Church as the New Eve or the new woman, intimately associated with Christ, the New Adam, in the work of salvation (cf 1 Cor 15:45, "Lumen Gentium," 56).

"First" and "new" are terms repeatedly used in today’s Mass texts to describe Mary, Our Mother.

In the opening prayer of today’s liturgy, we prayed, "You chose the Blessed Virgin, formed by the Holy Spirit, as the first fruits of the new creation."

In today’s first reading we again find the concept of newness. "Behold, I make all things new." And in the Gospel (Jn 2:1-11), Mary tells her son, "They have no wine!" "Woman how does this affect me? My hour has not yet come." "Do whatever He tells you." Thus the New Eve signaled the start of the public ministry of her Son, the New Adam.

Indeed, as the New Eve, Mary undoes the harm done by the first Eve. The first Eve brought sin into the world. But, "despite [Eve’s] disobedience, she receives the promise of a posterity that will be victorious over the evil one, as well as the promise that she will be the mother of all the living" (Catechism of the Catholic Church No. 489, cf. Gen 3-15, 20).

"Newness" implies a fresh and radical beginning, rooted in God’s grace. As we pray during this Eucharistic Sacrifice and throughout next week, may we come to a new attitude, a new way of thinking and acting about life, and thereby creating a new culture — the culture of life!

Through Mary’s prayer and with the grace of her Divine Son, may the present culture of death be transformed by the Gospel of Life! May the old attitude of pro-death be changed to a new attitude of pro-life!

Our witness is our example. Abortion has taken a cruel toll on life in America. Over 1 million lives snuffed out every year. In this city of Falls Church, Virginia, 98.8 percent of the deaths which occurred in 2003 were due to abortion (Va. Health Statistic). Why such dreadful statistics when we have tried for so many years to educate the American public of the evil of abortion and its devastating consequences?

I propose that it is time to change the style and tone of our language. We need a language that will embrace the hearts of all of our sisters and brothers, to include those who do not accept the fact that abortion is wrong, to include those who are currently pregnant in crisis, and to include those who are broken and suffering from the shame, guilt and loss caused by a deeply regretted decision to abort a child. We need a language that invites all our sisters and brothers to experience the beauty of life face to face. Rather than fighting against death, it is time to engage the culture on our terms — and fight for life. We need the positive language of life — words and deeds of hope, healing and reconciliation — in order to change hearts.

Regrettably, the pro-life movement in America already has a negative image. It is up to us to create a new image to demonstrate that we hate the sin but truly love the sinner. God is love. We must be God-like — ready to reach out to others. We must show the beauty of life in its fullness. We must show something positive about life, as in a baby. Mother Theresa was once asked how she could evangelize and teach the Gospel to those she removed from the streets. Her answer was that she didn’t, she took care of them and showed them love. They then asked her, "Is Christ like you?" No, she would say, "but I try to be like Him" (Sheen 163).

The cure for the anti-life culture is a change in behavior — a change in attitude toward Christ. Several years ago, Pope John Paul II told the bishops of the Western U.S., "The unconditional defense of life must always include the message that true healing is possible through reconciliation with the Body of Christ."

Is all lost? By no means! Let’s return to our story and ask the question, "Why did the soldiers drop their guns?" They said that they made the threat because they "wanted to be sure that those left were truly Christians."

Let us call our Mother, the New Eve, for help. May Mary give us the courage to change not only our hearts but also the hearts of those who are misguided or forgotten! May the fire of her love for us enflame our hearts so that they will become new with God’s grace and love!

"Be with us Mary, along the way, Guide every step we take, Lead us to Jesus, your loving Son, Come with us, Mary come" (Missionaries of Charity and Lay MC Prayer Book, p. 112).

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