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The theme for the March for Life 2025 that will take place on January 24 is a simple affirming statement, “Life: Why We March”. While this statement may seem an obvious assertion, it is so important to renew the reason we march because it is so greatly misunderstood. Let’s think about it.

Because of the grace of their God-given faith, the Halpin family was able to cry out to the Mother of God with hope that, as sure as Jesus Christ rose from the dead, they too, would rise to new life from the ashes of the fire. May they and all those affected by the California fires be buoyed up by hope.

Every year on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, we hear at Mass the gospel passage from St. Matthew that speaks of the visit of the Magi to the Child Jesus, their falling down in adoration before Him and offering Him the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This passage describes also their journey to find Him and their arrival in Jerusalem asking, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews?”

The nine days before Christmas, from December 16 through December 24, is a time of intense prayer in preparation for the Solemnity of Our Lord’s Birth. During these days, no matter what is happening our life, no matter what may be preoccupying us, what may be giving us stress, or no matter what burdens we are placing on ourselves, peace can be ours if we enter into the preparation that is above all spiritual.

Our Lady is for us the most pure, the most beautiful woman, she who is our Mother and our advocate before God. It is through her that Jesus comes to us, and it is through her that we go to Jesus. The beauty of Mary is the reflection of the holiness of God Himself.

In a world where everyone wants to be propped up, admired, complemented, validated, and valued, stooping down is not a popular activity. Amazingly, we find that it is only by stooping down before God and others that we come to know our true identity and our true purpose in life.

Advent is a time to keep our hearts open and readied for the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord on Christmas Day. Here are a few suggestions to prepare for the birth of the Great King who comes to us as a tiny, poor Child.

We live in a world that stands in dire need of love that can only come from the Heart of the Savior. When we accept this tremendous love from the Heart of Jesus, our hearts will be transformed and we will become beacons of that love as we love one another as Jesus taught us to love by His laying down his life for us.

With Jesus in our midst, we are reconfirmed in the truth that He proclaims through His Body the Church, the same truth He proclaimed during His life here on earth. United with Him and cooperating with the power of His grace, we continue to persevere in love and truth.

We as Catholics know that no political system, human theory or ideology is our compass on how to live well in this world, with our hearts and our eyes set on the Kingdom. While science and human studies can provide us with helpful and even important information, our true compass is always Jesus Christ and his Gospel, taught by His Body the Church.

Pope Francis’ deep devotion to Our Blessed Mother has inspired him to ask us to appeal to her for peace. In October, the Month of the Holy Rosary, and all through the year, let us take up our rosary and ask the Queen of Peace to bring peace to her children throughout the world.

The storm in which we find ourselves is one that howls from the very depths of the cosmos, from the forces of good versus evil, of creation versus anti-creation, of life versus death. So the question arises, “How do we survive the storm?” Maybe the question is better put, “How does our culture and our civilization survive the storm?”

The message of Fatima is a profoundly Eucharistic, because it encourages us to offer ourselves, our lives and our actions in union with the Sacrifice of Jesus offered on the altar at Mass.

We know that Christ by His Passion, Death and Resurrection defeated Satan, our Ancient Foe and rescued us from the darkness of sin and death. How do we tap into His Paschal Mystery. The Second Vatican Council teaches that taking part in the Eucharistic Sacrifice is the “source and summit of the whole Christian Life.”

Jesus provides for us the great Paschal Feast of the Lamb at Mass—the Supper of His Body and Blood. Then He asks us to go forth on mission and to invite the sheep of His flock to come to the Supper of the Lamb, to Mass.

The third pillar, Eucharistic Life, manifests to us that as missionary disciples we are strengthened and renewed in our Eucharistic Identity by participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. As we come to love Jesus more and more by receiving Him in Holy Communion, our lives are configured more and more to His.

This intimate communion with the Lord Jesus is made possible by our coming to His Eucharistic Sacrifice, receiving Him in the Eucharist, and adoring His Body and Blood. This is what gives us our Eucharistic Identity. We are His and we become more and more like Him.

Coming and participating in the celebration of Holy Mass, receiving our Lord Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in Holy Communion, and coming to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest preparation to become missionary disciples.

As we center our lives more and more on His Eucharistic Presence and saving action, we are empowered by Him as His Eucharistic Missionaries to bring His hope and love to people who so need to find meaning and purpose and love in their lives.

We do not serve distortion and division. Rather we serve the God Who is One, Good, True, Beautiful, and Holy. We serve the God Who is Love.