JUNE 2021 NEWSLETTER
Featured Article:
The Sacred Heart and the Pro-Life Movement - by Hannah Blosser
In Catholic tradition, the month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Devotion to the Sacred Heart can be traced all the way back to the second century, and has been a popular devotion among Catholics for centuries. The heart of Jesus is often depicted as surrounded by a crown of thorns, with rays of light surrounding it. The image reminds us of the Passion of Our Lord, and of the abundance of mercy that flows from His Sacred Heart. Devotion to the Heart of Jesus centers around the mercy of Our Lord, and how His Passion procured our redemption. This June, as we contemplate the Sacred Heart, let us consider how such a devotion may apply to the pro-life movement?
How may devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus be applied to the pro-life movement? First of all, the Heart of Jesus is compassionate. The word "compassion" literally means "to suffer together." Our Lord suffered and died on the cross to save us from our sins, and He suffers with us each time we fall into sin. How much must He suffer to see the scourge of abortion harming His children? As part of the pro-life movement, we see the hurt that is caused by abortion, and we work to remedy it by praying and helping women contemplating abortion. If we are approached by someone who is confused about the issue of abortion, or is suffering because they or someone they know is seeking one, we suffer with them. Just as the Heart of Our Lord offers a place of refuge for sinners seeking peace, we offer kindness and guidance to those pained from abortion.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus loves all mankind, no matter where you’re from or what you look like. Our Lord embraces all as His children, and longs for everyone to be united in His Heart. The pro-life movement is dedicated to helping others, no matter who they are or where they are from. Jesus calls us to love our neighbor, and the pro-life cause carries out His call perfectly. Abortion goes against Our Lord’s words in every way possible by ending innocent lives, and harming many families, often targeting groups of people based on the color of their skin. A devotion to the Sacred Heart focuses on the love of God, and of our neighbor, reminding us of our duty to strive for an end to abortion, both for the sake of Our Lord, and of our neighbors.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart is connected to devotion to Jesus’ Divine Mercy. The Sacred Heart reminds us of the need to make reparation for the sins which pierce Our Lord’s Heart, and of the mercy He shows to us, even though the world continues to sin against Him. In the image of Divine Mercy, the red and blue rays streaming from the Heart of Jesus represent His mercy spreading to the whole world. We are called to help spread this mercy, and we can do so by our prayers for an end to abortion. We ask that Our Lord may have mercy on the world, which has fallen into grave error.
As part of the pro-life movement, we are called to have compassion on our neighbors, and to love them as Jesus does. Devotion to the Sacred heart can give us a deeper understanding of what it means to “love our neighbor,” and will bring us closer to the love of Our Lord. His heart was pierced for the love of His children. Let us keep this in mind as we pray for the lives of the unborn, whose beating hearts are so dear to Jesus’ Heart. When the devotion to the Sacred Heart becomes better known by pro-lifers, their enthusiasm and zeal to end abortion will become even stronger.
Prayers
Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee. I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.
I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants. Amen.
— St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
A Prayer Affirming Life
God, you are the Lord and Creator of Life. You have blessed men and women With the privilege Of bringing new life Into the world. You have imparted in our hearts The desire to nurture and protect life At all its stages. I accept these gifts as a sacred trust. Through the power of the Holy Spirit Help me to affirm the value of life. Grant me the wisdom and courage To speak out and defend human life. Give me compassion So that I may lovingly counsel Those who would reject the gift of life, Which is the reflection Of Your image and likeness. Amen
News:
Supreme Court to Take Up Pro-Life Case
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. This decision will have major ramifications on the pro-life movement. In the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey Supreme Court case, the court drew the line of “viability” of a preborn baby at 24 weeks of gestation. But by reviewing this case, the Supreme Court - with the addition of Justice Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett - could allow state laws to break that 24-week threshold and open the door to even more pro-life laws.
(summarized from Kristan Hawkins’ update) For more information, read this blog post from SFLA: https://studentsforlife.org/2021/05/18/sorting-fact-from-fiction-an-upcoming-challenge-to-roe-v-wade/
Pro-Life Victory in Texas!
On May 19, 2021, Texas Governor Abbot signed SB 8, the Texas Heartbeat Bill, which protects children from abortion when their heartbeats are detected by ultrasound. “Today, Governor Abbott brought Texas one step closer to the total abolition of abortion in our state,” said Sarah Zarr, Texas and Southern Regional Manager for Students for Life and Students for Life Action. “We urge the Texas legislature and Governor Abbott to shepherd the remaining pro-life protections of this session to completion so that as many children, women, and families as possible are guaranteed protection and dignity.”
(Reported by Lauren Enquirez of Students for Life. To read the full article, click the following link: https://studentsforlife.org/2021/05/19/pro-life-victory-alert-students-for-life-action-attends-texas-governors-signing-of-heartbeat-bill/)
Upcoming Events:
June 5th - Monthly Pro-Life Prayer Meeting
June 9th - SFL ACTION Public Policy Training (tentatively scheduled, more information to come)
June 12th - “Unplanned” movie night (all HSC students and parents invited! Please invite other HSC students for this movie night and discussion! It is necessary to RSVP for this event using the link below. All students must upload a signed permission slip document. Please see Abby Johnson’s letter to parents and parental permission slip below. Hope to see you there!)
Abby Johnson’s Letter to Parents: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lsx5m7psj89bri8/Dear-Parents-Letter-about-Unplanned.pdf?dl=0
Parental Permission Slip: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6z7ohrk7gc4gjsk/Unplanned%20Movie%20Permission%20Slip.docx?dl=0
RSVP Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzEDiqDisbSVQBUW3BfM0v8rkcKhon9OfHV3PnyqhaS7jYOQ/viewform
Submit Content:
This first newsletter contains but a fraction of what is set to come; however, the success of this newsletter relies in great part on the contributions of group members. There are a number of items we are looking for:
- Creative content: We plan to implement 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.
