Holy Hour marks the beginning of Respect Life Month
“Every human person, at every stage of life, merits dignity.”
That was the message Bishop James Ruggieri shared with the faithful who gathered at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland for a Holy Hour that marked the beginning of Respect Life Month, which is celebrated annually in October.
The bishop said while all life issues are woven into a moral fabric, each thread worthy of care, the greatest priority must be placed on the fundamental right of each human being to exist from the moment of conception.
“If a society fails to guarantee that right, the right that a human being, once conceived, has a fundamental right to exist, then every other life concern becomes precarious. Once non-existence by design is normalized, the moral scaffolding for protecting life at all later stages is undermined. In that vulnerable hem lies abortion. It is not merely one among many; it is the thread whose removal puts the integrity of the rest at stake,” the bishop said.
Bishop Ruggieri said that moral instinct tells us that without existence, no other rights follow.
“If a person is never born, then rights to health, education, care, or support never arise. Thus, in moral priority, defending life at its beginning, especially the weakest, the unborn, must be foundational,” he said.
During the Holy Hour, held on Sunday, October 5, the faithful joined in praising God and in praying for those who are struggling: that the hungry would be fed, the sorrowful consoled, the weak strengthened, and captives freed. Prayers and hymns included the Litany for Life, Psalm 111, and the Magnificat, which were accompanied by periods of silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Respect Life Month, which has been celebrated in the United States since 1973, provides opportunities to reflect more deeply on the value of each human life and on efforts to protect life from conception to natural death.
In the Diocese of Portland, Prince of Peace of Parish will host First Fridays at Holy Family Church in Lewiston throughout the month. This evening of prayer, mercy, and fellowship will be offered in reparation and intercession for the protection of human life. The evenings begin with the opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation at 5 p.m., followed by Mass at 6 p.m.
On October 29, Bishop Ruggieri will celebrate at Respect Life Mass at 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Wisdom Church/The Newman Center at the University of Maine. Mass will be followed by a eucharistic procession, Benediction, dinner, and an awards ceremony.
