O God, source of all life and goodness, you fashion human lives in your image and likeness, and through your love, give each human life dignity, sacredness, and priceless worth;
Awaken in every heart new reverence for all of your children, and renew among your people a readiness to nurture and sustain your precious gift of human life at all stages, and in all conditions.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
- Catholic Charities USA
Day 1: The Image of God
"[B]ecause all humans share a common origin, they are all brothers and sisters, all equally made in the image of God. When this truth is ignored, the consequence is prejudice and fear of the other, and—all too often—hatred." - Open Wide Our Hearts, USCCB, 2018
Day 2: The Love of God
"We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." - 1 John 4:19-21
Day 3: Love of Neighbor
"Thus the deepest element of God's commandment to protect human life is the requirement to show reverence and love for every person and the life of every person. This is the teaching which the Apostle Paul, echoing the words of Jesus, addresses to the Christians in Rome: 'The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet", and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself". Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom 13:9-10). - St. John Paul II, Evangelum Vitae, 1995
Day 4: The Sin of Racism
"Racism comes in many forms. It can be seen in deliberate, sinful acts. In recent times, we have seen bold expressions of racism by groups as well as individuals. The re-appearance of symbols of hatred, such as nooses and swastikas in public spaces, is a tragic indicator of rising racial and ethnic animus. All too often, Hispanics and African Americans, for example, face discrimination in hiring, housing, educational opportunities, and incarceration. Racial profiling frequently targets Hispanics for selective immigration enforcement practices, and African Americans, for suspected criminal activity. There is also the growing fear and harassment of persons from majority Muslim countries. Extreme nationalist ideologies are feeding the American public discourse with xenophobic rhetoric that instigates fear against foreigners, immigrants, and refugees. Finally, too often racism comes in the form of the sin of omission, when individuals, communities, and even churches remain silent and fail to act against racial injustice when it is encountered." - Open Wide Our Hearts, USCCB (2018)
Day 5: Redemption Through Christ
"Holy Scripture boldly proclaims, 'See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are' (1 Jn 3:1). This love 'comes from God and unites us to God; through this unifying process it makes us a ‘we’ which transcends our divisions and makes us one, until in the end God is ‘all in all’ (1 Cor 15:28). By the work of the Holy Spirit, the Church is called to share with all the world this gift of love. As Pope Francis points out, 'The salvation which God has wrought, and the Church joyfully proclaims, is for everyone. God has found a way to unite himself to every human being in every age.' Through his Cross and Resurrection, Christ united the one human race to the Father." - Open Wide Our Hearts, USCCB, 2018
Day 6: Examen
"What is needed, and what we are calling for, is a genuine conversion of heart, a conversion that will compel change, and the reform of our institutions and society. Conversion is a long road to travel for the individual. Moving our nation to a full realization of the promise of liberty, equality, and justice for all is even more challenging. However, in Christ we can find the strength and the grace necessary to make that journey. In this regard, each of us should adopt the words of Pope Francis as our own: let no one “think that this invitation is not meant for him or her.” All of us are in need of personal, ongoing conversion." - Open Wide Our Hearts, USCCB (2018)
Day 7: Commit to Action
"How do we overcome this evil of rejecting a brother or sister’s humanity, the same evil that provoked Cain’s sin? What are the necessary steps that would lead to this conversion? We find our inspiration in the words of the prophet Micah:
'You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you:
Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.' (Mi 6:8)" - Open Wide Our Hearts, USCCB (2018)
"Look for Christ our Lord in everyone, and you will then have respect and reverence for all." - St. Teresa of Jesus (1515-1582)