Building a Culture of Life Within Our Families
Respect Life month in the Catholic Church is well underway and is a time, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), to “reflect more deeply on the dignity of human life.” Every October, Catholics in the U.S. are “called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable from the beginning to the end of their lives, and at every point in between.”
Respect Life month in the Catholic Church is well underway and is a time, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), to “reflect more deeply on the dignity of human life.” Every October, Catholics in the U.S. are “called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable from the beginning to the end of their lives, and at every point in between.”
As Catholic parents, it can be uncomfortable at times to discuss these issues with our children. We want to protect them from the horrors of abortion, the death penalty, and euthanasia, and the massive issues of poverty, war, or immigration can seem daunting to discuss. So how do we bring a culture of life to our families without destroying their innocence? I believe living our values is often more powerful than talking about them. Here are five tips for sharing this important part of our faith with our kids.
Pray the Rosary daily and include in your intentions new pregnancies, those who are sick or dying, parents who are considering abortion, and victims of war and poverty. You can also bring these intentions to Our Lord in adoration. If your children are little and wiggly, pray one decade of the Rosary and finish it later, or spend just ten minutes in adoration. Even a few minutes with Jesus can make a lasting impression on our kids!
Participate in 40 Days for Life and March for Life events. Attending with your kids is not only a public witness to life—it’s also a witness of faith within your own family. Taking time from your busy schedule to pray for others shows your kids that you believe every life has value, even the lives of people you don’t know. Participating ina March for Life with hundreds or thousands of others also shows them, especially teens, that they are not alone in their beliefs. In a culture that often devalues life,seeing other young people who share their convictions helps them realize that they are part of the larger Body of Christ, standing up for the most vulnerable among us.
Support organizations such as pregnancy centers, food banks, homeless shelters, and nursing homes—especially those that align with your family’s interests or parish outreach. Bring your kids with you when delivering donations so they can see the impact they are helping to make. With the help of my family, I started a charity to educate the poorest girls in Tanzania. We raise money to feed, clothe, and send the girls to school. The impact on my kids has been profound;seeing people who truly have nothing opened their eyes to the blessings we often take for granted. You may not be called to start a nonprofit, but you can find a way—large or small—to live out your values as a family and uphold the dignity of others.
Be cognizant of the language you use, avoid dehumanizing or belittling others. In our divided society, it is very easy to fall into an “us vs them” mindset. Yet, every person is created in the image and likeness of God. Whether or not we agree with someone, we are still called to uphold their dignity, especially those with whom we disagree. Words matter. Pray for those who do not share our pro-life values, asking that hearts may be transformed by the grace of God and the Holy Spirit. True conversion happens not through arguments or anger, but through the grace of God and the Holy Spirit.
- Consider growing your family through adoption, foster care, or welcoming an elderly relative into your home. As an adoptive family currently caring for an elderly loved one, I can say it is not always easy. Adoption and caregiving can stretch us in unexpected ways, but Jesus did not call us to an easy life. He called us to love one another as He loves us. When we care for the vulnerable among us, we give an example to our children of how to treat others with compassion and respect. We also model for them how to one day care for their own elderly relatives (i.e., you, their parents)!
Respect for Life month is a good reminder that we need to teach our families pro-life values—from conception to natural death—every day of the year. It’s also a reminder that being pro-life is not just about babies in the womb, but the dignity of all people created in God’s image. Our work is not done until every human life is cherished
To sign up for the Diocese of Saint Petersburg's March for Life, click here.
For more information about Respect Life Month, click here.
For more information on Catholic Charities' adoption services, click here.
For more information on 40 Days for Life and other Life, Justice, and Advocacy programs, click here.
