December 2024 Newsletter
Featured Article
by Genevieve Norris
The Nativity and the Gift of Life
Christmas is a celebration of the greatest gift ever given: the birth of Jesus Christ. His humble arrival in a stable reminds us that every life, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, holds immeasurable value. Just as Mary and Joseph welcomed the Savior of the world into their lives under less-than-ideal circumstances, we are reminded that the gift of life is always worth cherishing, even when it comes with challenges.
The Christmas story highlights the profound courage of Mary, who said “yes” to life despite uncertainty and potential hardship. Her trust in God and willingness to embrace her role as the mother of Jesus reflect the heart of the pro-life message. Every child is a gift, created with purpose and love, even in difficult situations. This message of hope is particularly important during the holiday season, a time to reflect on the value and dignity of all human life.
As we celebrate the Nativity, we are called to recognize and protect the gift of life in our own communities. Whether it’s through supporting mothers in need, volunteering at pregnancy centers, or simply spreading a message of love and hope, there are countless ways to affirm the value of life this Christmas. Just as the birth of Christ changed the world, each new life carries the potential to bring light and joy into our lives.
This Christmas, let us honor the sacredness of life and the beauty of saying “yes” to it. By doing so, we carry forward the message of the Nativity: that every life is a gift, and every child is a blessing.
Prayer: Redeemer in the Womb
Lord Jesus Christ, You took our human nature upon Yourself. You shared our life and death, our childhood and adulthood.
You also shared our time in the womb. While still God, while worshipped and adored by the angels, while Almighty and filling every part of the universe, You dwelt for nine months in the womb of Mary. You were our Redeemer in the womb, our God who has a preborn child.
Lord Jesus, we ask You to bless and protect the children who today are in their mothers’ womb. Save them from the danger of abortion. Give their mothers the grace to sacrifice themselves, in body and soul, for their children. Help all people to recognize in the preborn child a brother, a sister, saved by You, our Redeemer in the womb.
Source: Catholic Digest
(https://www.catholicdigest.com/amp/news/nationworld/pro-life-prayers/)
Pro-Life Quotes
"Abortion is not just an act of violence against a single individual. It is an act of violence against the very foundation of society. If a society allows the most innocent, the most vulnerable to be killed, then that society is doomed to lose its moral compass and to lose its ability to care for others."
– Dr. Alveda King
"Every human life, at every stage of development, is a priceless gift from God, and society has an obligation to protect and preserve that life. When society abandons that commitment, it compromises the fundamental dignity of all people."
– President Ronald Reagan
News
Gabriella Oropesa, a Florida woman, was convicted on Thursday, December 19th for conspiracy targeting pro-life pregnancy resource centers. Oropesa was convicted under the FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances), which has been used in the past to allegedly target and convict many pro-life activists. The FACE Act prohibits “violent, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health services.” Oropesa and three others vandalized pregnancy centers that provided alternate options to abortion by spray-painting threatening messages onto the buildings. A sentence hearing is scheduled for March 19, 2025. Oropesa will face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, according to the DOJ.
CNA
Upcoming Events
Monthly Pro-Life Rosary: January 7th at 7PM Eastern Time.
Monthly Meeting: January 20th at 6:30PM Eastern Time.
Apologetics Night: January 14th at 7pm Eastern Time.
We hope to see you at our events in the new year!
Thank you so much for reading this month's newsletter and supporting us throughout the year! Have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year, from everyone on the Students for Life Leadership Team.
Submit Content
This newsletter relies heavily on the contributions of group members. There are a number of items we are looking for:
Creative content: We have implemented a segment of the newsletter dedicated to the topically relevant artistic contributions of group members, regardless of medium. If you have anything to share, please send it in. We'll accept most mediums, including (pictures of) paintings, graphic design pieces, songs, videos, poems, etc.
Articles: We are accepting topically relevant articles from group members. Please note, however, that the newsletter editors reserve the right to modify articles in order to make them suitable for publication. Such modifications may include grammatical corrections and removal of potentially offensive content.
Quotes & Literary Passages: We are also looking for any topically relevant quotes or literary passages to fill a segment of the newsletter. Anything from a simple sentence spoken by a saint to a paragraph from a book can be accepted.
If you want to submit anything from the above categories, or you simply want to provide feedback or suggestions, please email us at hscstudentsforlife@gmail.com and we will get in touch with you shortly.
