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Posted on 05/31/2004 4:43:16 PM PDT by cpforlife.org
Many people falsely state that Jesus never taught about the sacredness of Life in the womb. These need to reread and pray over the first chapter of Luke.
Not only did Jesus teach that life in the womb is sacred, HE TAUGHT THIS TRUTH FROM THE WOMB!
There are many places in Scripture that teach about the sacredness of life within the womb, but none more beautifully than St. Luke's account of the Visitation.
Scholars believe Jesus was perhaps a couple of weeks along from conception and John the Baptist about Six months from conception at the Visitation.
Tertullian who lived 160-240 was one of the early Church Fathers. He teaches on the Visitation in his work De A ninta 26:4 "They [John and Jesus] were both alive while still in the womb. Elizabeth rejoiced as the infant leaped in her womb; Mary glorifies the Lord because Christ within inspired her. Each mother recognizes her child and is known by her child who is alive, being not merely souls but also spirits."
Both of these unborn Children were manifesting their Personhood, their unique individual identity.
Pro-choicers say that the unborn are of the human species but are not "persons", and yet clearly from all Christian teaching the Unborn Person in the womb of Mary was none other than the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. God became man, took on Himself the flesh of the Virgin. He became like us in all things but sin.
In all truth it can be said that the Baptist already was making known the coming of the Messiah! This unborn person was already living out his calling. John the Baptist who years later would be heard to cry out "Behold the Lamb of God" (John 1:29) was already crying out Behold the Lamb of God--silently, for both he and the Lamb were yet unborn.
By the Spirit John knew before his mother that Mary was pregnant with the Savior of the world. Elizabeth is acknowledging that Mary is carrying "my Lord." There can be no doubt whatsoever that Elizabeth knew the Lord was a person, even if unborn. So we see unborn persons communicating with each other as well as born and unborn communicating with each other.
What better place could Jesus have taught the truth of the sacredness of life in the womb than from inside the womb Himself. And how profound it is that the first person He would teach was also in the womb.
Consider this passage from The Gospel of Life - Section 45:
The New Testament revelation confirms the indisputable recognition of the value of life from its very beginning. The exaltation of fruitfulness and the eager expectation of life resound in the words with which Elizabeth rejoices in her pregnancy: "The Lord has looked on me... to take away my reproach among men" (Lk 1:25). And even more so, the value of the person from the moment of conception is celebrated in the meeting between the Virgin Mary and Elizabeth, and between the two children whom they are carrying in the womb. It is precisely the children who reveal the advent of the Messianic age: In their meeting, the redemptive power of the presence of the Son of God among men first becomes operative. As Saint Ambrose writes: "The arrival of Mary and the blessings of the Lord's presence are also speedily declared... Elizabeth was the first to hear the voice; but John was the first to experience grace. She heard according to the order of nature; he leaped because of the mystery. She recognized the arrival of Mary; he the arrival of the Lord. The woman recognized the woman's arrival; the child, that of the Child. The women speak of grace; the babies make it effective from within to the advantage of their mothers who, by a double miracle, prophesy under the inspiration of their children. The infant leaped, the mother was filled with the Spirit. The mother was not filled before the son, but after the son was filled with the Holy Spirit, he filled his mother too".[36]
Consider also this excerpt from footnote #60 of the same work:
"So too the Evangelist Luke in the magnificent episode of the meeting of the two mothers, Elizabeth and Mary, and their two sons, John the Baptist and Jesus, still hidden in their mothers' wombs (cf. 1:39-45) emphasizes how even before their birth the two little ones are able to communicate: The child recognizes the coming of the Child and leaps for joy."
Homily by Fr. James Gilhooley Fr. Gilhooley homilies (cycle C) available on CD at: 112 Patchett Way, Montgomery, NY 12549. 24 DEC 2000 Fourth Sunday of Advent - Cycle C Luke 1:39-45 Fr. Gihooley states "Jesus has clearly taught us that abortion is wrong, He declares, by the decisive facts of His early days in Mary's womb."
Here it must be remembered that Jesus taught in many different ways: With parables, from the Scriptures, and through events around Him. But His greatest teachings were the ones where He taught not with words but by example--preeminently, His Holy Passion. The Unborn Jesus most fittingly taught about the sacredness of life within the womb, not with words, but by His own Sacred Life within the womb, which if prayerfully studied teaches volumes.
Today the Catholic Church celebrates The Feast of the Visitation which is taken directly from the first chapter of Luke. It should become a very important day for all Pro-Lifers to contemplate.
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***HE TAUGHT THIS TRUTH FROM THE WOMB!***
Don't supposed He used powerpoint.
Would this ammount to an ex-Madonna pronouncement?
???
:-)
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BTTT! I've noticed that Christ was only a couple of weeks past conception, when His presence created a major impact. (My babies do the same; I start throwing up!)
The Annunciation is the Feast that cautions us against contraception; Our Lady said "Yes" to conception. The Visitation is the Feast that categorically negates abortion, at any point during gestation. The Baby and His soul were THERE.
Elizabeth's babe (John) leaped in her womb and she was filled with the Holy Ghost.
My very favorite, Chapter 1 of St. Luke.
Shouldn't the above read John the Baptist was six months from birth?
Excellent passage which well highlights the significance of a baby in the womb. Thank you for reminding me.
bump
No.
"And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren." Luke 1:36
Bears repeating:
"Elizabeth can truly be said to be the first Christian, the first to confess Jesus as Lord when she declares "who am I, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?"
Just a piece of tissue---NOT!"
Visitation bump!
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May 31, 2007
 Visitation
This is a fairly late feast, going back only to the 13th or 14th century. It was established widely throughout the Church to pray for unity. The present date of celebration was set in 1969 in order to follow the Annunciation of the Lord (March 25) and precede the Birthday of John the Baptist (June 24).
Like most feasts of Mary, it is closely connected with Jesus and his saving work. The more visible actors in the visitation drama (see Luke 1:39-45) are Mary and Elizabeth. However, Jesus and John the Baptist steal the scene in a hidden way. Jesus makes John leap with joy—the joy of messianic salvation. Elizabeth, in turn, is filled with the Holy Spirit and addresses words of praise to Mary—words that echo down through the ages. It is helpful to recall that we do not have a journalist’s account of this meeting. Rather, Luke, speaking for the Church, gives a prayerful poet’s rendition of the scene. Elizabeth’s praise of Mary as “the mother of my Lord” can be viewed as the earliest Church’s devotion to Mary. As with all authentic devotion to Mary, Elizabeth’s (the Church’s) words first praise God for what God has done to Mary. Only secondly does she praise Mary for trusting God’s words. Then comes the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Here Mary herself (like the Church) traces all her greatness to God. Quote:
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Beautiful.
Thank you.
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