Life's dignity

- By Deacon Norbert Gaudet

May 26, 2025

key points from this story:

• Spring symbolizes life’s renewal and hope
• Life is a gift from God
• May honors mothers and Mary
• Modern society devalues life’s dignity
• Prayers offered for reverence of life
• Love should guide all our actions

Spring has sprung. As things turn green and new growth takes place, birds migrate, and new born calves appear, it brings to mind the life that is around us. Winter looks like everything is lifeless but spring proofs otherwise. Life does not cease to exist. And where does life come from, our very breath? It comes from God, the author of life, our creator. The beautiful life of nature and the life-filled energy that one sees in spring should renew our commitment to the dignity of life, to have a reverence for life.

May is a wonderful time to do this. Mother’s Day is in May, honouring the very beginning of each and everyone of us. May is also regarded as the Marion month, honouring Mary, the mother of Jesus, the one who said “Yes” to life in her.

Life today seems to have lost its dignity, its reverence. Death seems to be more favourable to life, the life given to us as a gift from God. It's like we don't want it but rather are willing to destroy it. Life is a precious gift from God from beginning to end. We should always defend it. As Pope John Paul II said “Never tire of firmly speaking out in defense of life”.

I would like to share with you a couple of prayers for the reverence of life.

“O Mary, to you do we entrust the cause of life. Look down, O Mother, upon the vast number of babies not allowed to be born, on the poor whose lives are made difficult, on those who are victims of brutal violence, on the elderly and sick killed by indifference or misguided mercy.

We ask for the grace to accept the Gospel of life as a gift ever new, and the courage to bear witness to it. To the praise and glory of God, the creator and lover of life. Amen” (Archdiocese of Regina).

“Almighty God, giver of all that is good, we thank You for the precious gift of human life: For life in the womb, coming from your creative power, For life of children, making us glad with their freshness and promise, For the life of young people, hoping for a better world, For the life of people who are disabled, teaching us that every life has value, For the life of the elderly, witnessing to the ageless values of patience and wisdom. Like Blessed Mary, may we always say “YES” to Your gift. May we defend it and promote it. And bring us at last, O Father, to the fullness of eternal life in Jesus Christ, out Lord. Amen” (Archdiocese of Vancouver).

As life goes on, always remember what St. Paul told the Ephesians “Your life must be controlled by love” (Eph 5:2 GNB).