Last Sunday May 1st 2011 saw the beatification of Pope John Paul ii.There are so many things one could say about Blessed John Paul 11 but for the pro-life community he is particularly remembered for his steadfast defence of life from conception to natural death and his many expressions of the necessity of doing so throughout his life.
One of his major encyclicals “The Gospel of Life” (Evangelium Vitae) issued in 1995 was considered by John Paul II to be central to his entire pontificate. Evangelium Vitae calls us to “proclaim, celebrate, and serve” the gift of life, which is the foundation of society and of all the rights and goods we enjoy as individuals and identifies abortion and euthanasia as the fundamental and most serious moral problems of our day.
John Paul II in many of his addresses called for the foundation of a civilisation of love and he once told Fr Paul Marx founder of Human Life International that he was the “Apostle of Life” and that his work was the most important work on earth.
“You must bring this pro-life, pro-family movement all over the earth; and if you do that, you will be doing the most important work on earth."
Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula, current president of Human Life International, said,
“Like all who were blessed to have met him, I was moved by the warmth with which he greeted all in attendance and how he encouraged us in a very paternal way to strengthen our commitment in the defense of life and family.” [...] “Following the example of John Paul II, let us seek the loving intercession of our Blessed Mother, so that all the members of the Church would commit themselves to a vigorous and integral defense of life and family ”.
The following short You Tube Cameo on the life of John Paul II was produced by Salt and Light
