VI "A Week of Prayers for the Protection of Life" (2026)

To parents and educators – to accept all kid with love, to imitate the Holy household of Nazareth wisely: Mary and Joseph − and to search advice from them in educational difficulties.

Being a parent – a father, a parent – is simply a substance of large importance. Both accepting a fresh life and leading the kid through the paths of the planet to ripen and make advancement in human and supernatural wisdom are not easy tasks. Here nothing will “do” itself, “spontaneously”, “so somehow”, “just”. Parenting requires commitment – it is toil and sacrifice, but even more so: the beauty of love.

Did Mary and Joseph face educational difficulties? No, but that doesn't mean being parents was easy for them. After quoting Simeon’s prophetic message about small Jesus, the Evangelist Luke noted: “His father and parent wondered what was said of him” (Lk 2:33). After 3 days of searching, Mary and Joseph found a 12-year-old Jesus in the temple and heard: “Why did you search me? Did you not know that I should be in what belongs to my Father?” (Lk 2:49) they did not realize this answer.

Even erstwhile Jesus was a tiny child, Mary and Joseph bore unanswered questions in their hearts. Though God’s designs were mostly hidden from them, they did not ask God to justify what was happening. They just followed him. With confidence. Step by step − and further until God's plan is fulfilled. As God’s unbounded trust mixed with amazement, they knew the most crucial thing: that nothing was above love and nothing but love.

Since Joseph and Mary – so saints and chosen for a mission rather exceptional – did not know everything and understood, it is not amazing that in average life too, the difficulty of parental care meets questions which are hard to find the answer. The second man, even the closest, remains a mystery to us. All the more reason for us to be the mystery of God's intention toward him. All the more request for no parent, among the tiny and great, temporal and spiritual matters, to halt at his own "methods" or "intuitives" of education, but to search the light of fact and love with him who "only is Good" (cf. Mt 19:17).

Today, let us ask for parents and educators--that all kid receive and wisely guide them in God's ways; and that in this work they may be open to God's inspiration, so much needed erstwhile 1 touches the mystery of another.

Prayer of St John Paul II from the encyclical Evangelium vitae and Lithuania to the Holy household (pp. 17-18)

For children and young people – for good life decisions, faithfulness to Christian values and the ability to separate truth, goodness and beauty from what is their denial.

John Paul II erstwhile said to the youth, "I remember that erstwhile I was young, like you, and read the Gospel, it was for me the strongest argument for the truthfulness of what I read that there was no inexpensive promise." usually what is most beautiful and most valuable takes the most effort. A mature, molded man, with the baggage of life experience, understands it well. A young man needs aid to gradually discover this hard truth.

The planet as a supermarket for inexpensive pleasures tempts with a false hope. What's his source? Quick, intense, sensual life according to the ideology of immediacy: why bother, form, wait, grow up erstwhile almost everything can be already, now, immediately? Many young people are tempted to scope out for what is at hand. And sometimes he pays a advanced price for it.

On the another hand, there is simply a desire for something large and beautiful in many young hearts. Our young friends want the truth. They hatred hypocrisy and do not want to be deceived. They discover, like St Augustine, that "the human heart is anxious until it rests in God." They are not intimidated by the evangelical requirements – as long as they meet good guides in their path. They may be people with strong and tender hearts at the same time, who will show that Jesus' teaching, so unfulfilled as the expectations of the world, is not only to preach it, but to live it. actual witnesses for the young generation can be married couples, priests, spiritual sisters, people surviving alone—say: all who live their vocation at 100% and have peace and joy at the same time—such joy and peace as the planet cannot give. The evidence of specified people – women and men who love wisely and faithfully – is like light for young people to find their way. And especially needed and valuable to the young generation are present examples of brave and delicate, wise and modest women who trust – like Mary – that all “yes” to God brings life to the world.

Today let us ask for children and young people − to meet authentic witnesses of Christ on their way. Let us besides ask ourselves to be credible witnesses of the values we are talking about.

Prayer of St John Paul II from the encyclical Evangelium vitae and Lithuania to the Holy household (pp. 17-18)

As mothers and fathers expecting to have a baby – to accept it with love besides erstwhile from a human point of view it seems that the time has come.

No pregnancy in planet past has been as unplanned as Mary's. Even she herself, despite her complete integrity, did not realize how God’s intent could have been fulfilled: “How will this happen if I do not know my husband?” − she asks (Lk 1:34). But in spite of surprise and misunderstanding, Gabriel responds: “Let it be so” (cf. Lk 1:38). These words do not express a resignation, a passive submission to what is inevitable, but a fervent desire to do God’s will.

Looking humanly, God's plan was not easy for Mary. any claim that she had previously married a virgin; others say that she intended to lead a average matrimony life with Joseph; however, regardless of everything, The proclamation changed everything. Almost everything – due to the fact that she inactive loved God with all her strength and with all her heart.

And Joseph? For him, Mary's pregnancy was more hard to accept. Did he fishy treason? Even if he did, he didn't halt caring about the 1 he loved. Having heard in his sleep an instruction from an angel, he accepted Mary to himself (see Mt 1: 20). He took on a large work – so different from anyone he would choose for himself.

Mary and Joseph – 2 pure hearts, which, before the news exceeding all their plans and predictions, keep trust in God and take full account of the large work which He entrusts to them. They can be a model for all fathers and mothers, for whom the news of a developing kid in the womb is humanly hard to accept.

Many judaic women dreamed of becoming the Messiah’s mother. After the Savior's arrival, specified expectations are already unwarranted, but the same Savior said, “Whoever receives 1 of these children in my name receives me” (Mk 9:39). So, are akin stories not happening today? Yes, all small kid is entrusted to his parents by God himself. Everyone is His gift.

Let us pray for mothers and fathers for whom it is not easy to accept this gift − that, like Mary and Joseph, they should environment the helpless kid with caring love.

Prayer of St John Paul II from the encyclical Evangelium vitae and Lithuania to the Holy household (pp. 17-18)

For doctors and pharmacists – to be faithful to the principles of Christian ethics, so that they always usage their cognition and experience for the service of life.

Of all the people who bowed down to the Baby Jesus, the most crucial figures—in earthly terms—were the Wise from the East. They reached Bethlehem after a star who “stopped over the place where the kid was, went into the home and saw the kid with his parent Mary; they fell on their face and bowed down to him” (cf. Mt 2: 9–11).

It is simply a beautiful scene: erstwhile those who mean something in the planet – scholars, thinkers, people of influence – kneel before the Child, who in the eyes of the planet seem to mean nothing. In him, however, they admit fact greater than all the truths they have studied. Human wisdom kneels before God, who is only Wisdom. This is an image of all authentic search for truth: reason finds its fulfillment erstwhile it comes to humble designation that God is the origin of all truth.

Wise men besides face Mary − and in her, which we call the Capital of Wisdom, can see a function model throughout their lives. In Mary, wisdom and tenderness meet in perfect harmony − harmony which is so frequently lacking present where power and money lead. So in the beautiful scene of Christmas fame is accompanied by modesty, wealth – simplicity, book wisdom – this life.

Today we are reasoning about the improvement of discipline and technology. It is not an end in itself. Ultimately, the real improvement of man takes place erstwhile he grows and matures in love with God and neighbor. Everything else is to service or express this love. The meaning of human fact searches is fulfilled only erstwhile they service the good of man – erstwhile they aid heal, defend and defend life. In harmony with God’s purpose, which does not limit human reason, but guides it.

Today, let us ask for doctors, pharmacists, and all whose professional mission is to care for human life: to combine their cognition with the wisdom of the heart; that in a planet where even medicine is subject to the logic of gain or ideology, they should stay faithful to the law of conscience; that they may have the courage to argue everything that pertains to human dignity—from genetic manipulation to euthanasia. Let their work be a sign of the same humility with which the Wise men of the East kneel before the Divine Child. For he who kneels before God can besides stand by a man with love.

Prayer of St John Paul II from the encyclical Evangelium vitae and Lithuania to the Holy household (pp. 17-18)

To politicians to make them right was on defender of matrimony and household according to natural law and respected the inviolability and holiness of human life.

The Holy Family's escape to Egypt touches us deeply. The angel wakes Joseph up at night and says: “Get up, take the kid and his parent and go to Egypt...” (Mt 2: 13). Hurry, hurry!

But what do you mean? Why? Could Herod’s wrath scope the boy of God? That's impossible, so possibly you'd better stay here in Bethlehem...

What did Mary think then? We don't know. But we see that she trusted Joseph fully. Now there's no time to translate. At this point, the bond of love that unites them is adequate for an explanation: a bond permeated by God’s presence.

The life of the small Savior was in real danger. And protecting this life took quite a few effort. However, we look at this effort: the toil of the road, the fatigue, the fear of the oppressors, the uncertainty of next day − and nevertheless we see beauty here: we see the beautiful heart of Mary, who does not lose the assurance of God, and we appreciate Joseph's concern, who takes work for his wife and foster kid to the end.

The measurement of humanity is to care about him who, from a human point of view, can give me nothing: he has little strength, little money, little ability, little arrangement – or possibly just little happiness. While in the eyes of the planet specified people sometimes mean little, this is what we intuitively desire, even regardless of our faith: to defend the weaker one; to make certain that the rich do not look at the poor; to make the skillful guide to the lost; to usage them in the service of the helpless. For parents to always take their children's side; doctors – for their patients; politicians – for citizens.

We know that the planet will never be rather like this – there will always be much harm, pain and injustice. However, this should not be an excuse for anyone to escape responsibility: both in private and social life. For although it is not in our power to change the full world, yet each of us can be a servant of the kingdom of God in all that is dependent upon it.

Herod, for the sake of power, will decide the slaughter of the Bethlehem Youths. Stronger will kill the weaker – this is 1 of the top injustices of people. The desire to preserve power is the temptation of politicians of all times – including those present.

All the more so, let us pray for those who exercise authority: that, like St. Joseph, they courageously stand up for those who cannot defend themselves, and do not run distant from work even erstwhile faithfulness to the fact does not bring polling benefits.

Prayer of St John Paul II from the encyclical Evangelium vitae and Lithuania to the Holy household (pp. 17-18)

Social justice, which manifests itself in real state aid to people with disabilities, as well as in the improvement and promotion of perinatal hospices.

When we read the Gospel, we see clearly that our Lord does not exclude anyone: he teaches elites and average people; he performs miracles among Jews and Gentiles; he is with the rich and with the poor; he heals lepers, but besides takes children and blesses them. He's not indifferent to anyone, but he wants to give everyone his love.

Imitating Christ frequently involves coming to the aid of those who are aid asks − but not only on this. For there are besides our brothers and sisters whose cries for aid we will not hear for any reason. To see them, to inform them of the silent cry for love – besides as disciples of Christ we are called upon.

Children before and after birth, teenagers, adults, as well as the elderly; affected by the crisis, illness, physical or intellectual disabilities − in them all God calls for love. He wants to give it to them all through our hands and lips through our hearts.

The beauty of love is expressed in its unconditionalness. In a peculiar way, we see this in the love of a parent who loves her child, regardless of the difficulties she encounters. And while love frequently requires sacrifice, sometimes quiet and undervalued, he who does not even forget the loving “cup of fresh water” (Mt 10:42), will not forget the difficulty of caring for life, which needs care and presence.

Lord, who, out of love for us, has become a small, defenseless Child, we ask that all fragile and weak life be cared for. And wherever you like it, make us your associates in this work.

Prayer of St John Paul II from the encyclical Evangelium vitae and Lithuania to the Holy household (pp. 17-18)

For journalists and people of the media – to usage the tools available to them to boldly proclaim the fact about human life and dignity.

We can say that in a sense the real prophet, erstwhile he speaks, is silent. For if he proclaims the fact of God, he himself is not its source, but simply its bearer. He is the voice – but not the Logos he serves.

This was the Lord's predecessor, the top of the prophets--St John the Baptist. He said of himself, “I am the voice of the 1 crying in the wilderness: Straighten the way of the Lord” (Jn 1:23). Earlier his father, Zechariah, said of him: “You will go before the Lord to prepare for him the ways” (Lk 1:76).

John served the fact with all of himself. And in this service of truth--the service of Christ--he gave his life. Rather, he would alternatively die than be unfaithful to the mission of preaching the truth. Yet, in order to preserve his life, he did not gotta call evil good or false truth—it would be adequate if he escaped in silence.

What a temptation this is: a way of cowardly silence that is so easy justified by shifting work to others or striving for applicable effectiveness. The same temptation is present today.

There is specified a way of witnessing the fact that is more related to deeds than to words. In particular, the same - sacrificing concern of mothers about their children is simply a mute cry in defence of the fact about the value and dignity of human life. all life. And under all circumstances. It's a sign of opposition to the civilization of death. This preaching of fact through life with it in the end of everyday life – it is and will always be essential and crucial. This is the way of Mary, Elizabeth and many other, well-known and unknown holy women throughout history.

But we besides request people like John – those who preach the fact with the word: courageously, without compromises and at the same time with love. due to the fact that without her, preaching the fact hurts her more than it helps her.

Let us ask for the media today: that, like St John the Baptist, we should boldly proclaim the fact – even if it is not worth it in human terms. Let us especially ask that in a culture marked by hedonism and relativism they should not be afraid to talk about human life and dignity.

Prayer of St John Paul II from the encyclical Evangelium vitae and Lithuania to the Holy household (pp. 17-18)