WYOMING CATHOLIC FAMILY AND RESPECT LIFE MINISTRIES

Life Lesson #2

All Life is Sacred - Younger Child Lesson

Scripture
In the Bible, in the Book of Wisdom, we learn that God made all things and gave human beings, who are His very best creation, the job of caring for the whole world. Wisdom 9:1-3

The prophet Jeremiah says that before we were even conceived inside of our mothers, God knew everything about us. He made each of us and chose us to be the precious child we are. Jeremiah 1:5

Before Jesus died on the cross, He told His apostles and all of us to, "Love one another." He told us to follow His example of how to be kind and loving. John 13:34-35

After Jesus ascended to heaven to be with His Father, one of the saints named John wrote a letter to the people of the early Church. In it he said that we should not just talk about loving but really do it. John said that when our behavior is loving, then we will know that God's truth is important to us and be "at peace before Him." 1John 3:16-19

Important writings of our Church
In the last lesson you learned a little bit about The Gospel of Life, a special letter written to all of us in the Church by Pope, John Paul II. In it, he told us that we must take very good care of God's earth so that all the people who are living now and all the people who will live here in the future will be able to enjoy this beautiful world.
In The Catechism of the Catholic Church we learn that, not only are we God's most special and wonderful creation, but also that we and all people have very important rights. The most important right we have is the right to life. That means that from even before we were born until the minute we die we should be safe and protected. It means that all people should be safe and protected, no matter where they live or how rich or poor they are. So, we must take good care of ourselves and good care of each other because God created us. We must not be mean or violent to each other. We must choose to be kind and good to each other so that violence in our world will end.

More about our lesson
Have you ever seen a beautiful flower, or a very interesting little bug and wished you could keep it alive forever? Have you ever looked up at the twinkling stars or felt cold, icy snowflakes on your face and felt happy in your heart just because of all the beauty and fun of God's wonderful creation? Well, do you know what? You are the most beautiful and fun creation God ever made and you will live forever with Him now on earth and in heaven after you die All of God's creation is awesome, but only people are created in His very own image to be able to be like God in how we live.
Sometimes it is hard to believe that every single person is that special and meant to live with God forever, but it is true. Sometimes people don't act like their best selves. Sometimes we don't either. Sometimes we can be mean and cruel and hurt each other's feelings with words or actions. But God always knows and believes we can be the good and loving person He made us to be. He wants us to help each other be kind and good at home and at school so that everyone can feel peaceful and happy inside.
One of the very best ways to remember to treat ourselves and each other with special respect is to think of the good people in our lives as gifts. It might make you laugh to imagine a pretty bow on your Mom's head or your brother or sister popping out of a brightly wrapped package, but maybe that would get you started. We are God's special gifts to each other. Every person is a one of a kind gift that will never be repeated. When we see each other that way, it's much easier to be kind and loving and to take very good care in how we treat each other.

Thinking and talking about our lesson
Are there ways you can help to keep God's earth beautiful in your own yard or neighborhood or town? Can you save things or share or take better care of things in your home so you won't waste some of God's gifts to you? What are other gifts of God's creation you are most thankful for?

You are a special gift. Who in your life makes you feel most special? Who are God's special "people gifts" to you? Is there someone you should be treating more kindly? How will you try to do that?

Something to do at home with your family
Draw names. Write or draw a picture of how your person is "precious in God's sight." Begin your writing or drawing by writing the following words or having someone help you write them. "person's name: Dad or Susan, for example, you are precious to God and to me because...." Then complete the sentence with all the words that tell why your person is so special. When everyone is finished, give your person what you have drawn or written. Give them a hug or kiss as a sign of peace. Then talk about ways you can take better care of each other and the earth. Start a family list of "Little Ways to Stop Violence in Our Lives." Put it on the refrigerator and add to it throughout the month.

Prayer
This is a prayer that can be said as a grace before meals. Maybe it is the one you already say. Say this or another grace each day before meals. Try to be especially aware that the gifts we receive when we share a meal together are not just food gifts but people gifts too. When we think of people as God's most special gifts, we can say this prayer at many different times, not just at meals.

"Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive form your bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen."

Life Lesson #2

All Life Is Sacred - Teen/Older Child Lesson

Scripture
"O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy, who have made all things by your word, and by your wisdom you have formed mankind to have dominion over the creatures you have made, and to rule the world in holiness and righteousness."
Wisdom 9:1-3

"...Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you..." Jeremiah 1:5

"I give you a new commandment: Love one another. Such as my love has been for you, so must your love be for each other." John 13:34-35

"The way we came to understand love was that He laid down His life for us; we too must lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. I ask you, how can God's love survive in one who has enough of this world's goods yet closes his heart to others when they are in need? Little children, let us love in deed and truth and not merely talk about it. This is our way of knowing we are committed to the truth and are at peace before Him..." 1 John 3:16-19

Church documents - the important writings of our Church
"As one called to till and look after the garden of the world, man has a specific responsibility toward the environment...toward the creation which God has put at the service of his personal dignity, of his life, not only for the present but also for future generations...."
Evangelium Vitae, paragraph 42

"Respect for life is not just a slogan or a program; it is a fundamental moral principle flowing from our teaching on the dignity of the human person. It is an approach to life that values people over things. Respect for life must guide the choices we make as individuals and as a society: what we do and won't do, what we value and consume, whom we admire and whose example we follow, what we support and what we oppose. Respect for human life is the starting point for confronting a culture of violence." Confronting A Culture of Violence, U.S. Catholic Bishops

"... human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his (or her) origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard are every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death." Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2273, quoting Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Donum Vitae III

Some more thoughts about our theme
Because God is its Creator, all life is deserving of care and respect. When God made man and woman in his divine image and conferred on them the authority to rule over all the earth, He imparted to them a special responsibility to use their every gift and talent to preserve, protect and defend life in ways that respect the great good of all creation and the special dignity of human life. Therefore, we do not have the freedom to use or misuse or dispose of the things of the earth without regard for nature and for future generations. At World Youth Day in 1994, Pope John Paul II said clearly that, "The culture of life means respect for nature and protection of God's work of creation. In a special way it means respect for human life from the first moment of conception until its natural end."
It is the human person who is the very pinnacle of God's creation. The most beautiful sunset, the most majestic mountains call us to praise our God in gratitude, but they are not as awesome as the wonder of one man, woman, or child. Often it is not as easy to find beauty in the homeless, the stubborn, the outcast, or those who disagree with us. Nevertheless, we must look until we see and not turn our eyes away or close our hearts. There is an inherent dignity in each human person that is not dependent on condition or location of life -- a dignity which is a part of the very nature of the person simply because he or she has been created in the image of God. Again and again, and at many World Youth Days, the Holy Father urged us to remember that, "Violence in any form is a denial of human dignity..." one which, "is always a failure to respect God's image and likeness."

Reflection and group discussion
Was there anything "new" in this Life Lesson that challenges you regarding your personal attitude toward caring for all of creation? If so, what and why? Are there ways in which you could recycle, support the sharing of resources, eliminate unnecessary waste, etc. in your home or at school?

Can you think of a time when you responded to the need of another person? Were you able to see or find Jesus in that person? When is it most difficult for you to find the "image of God" in others? How do you work to overcome that difficulty? Do you really believe that, at your best and even at your worst, you are more precious in God's eyes than all of creation? Why or why not? Who has helped you believe? How might you help someone else believe?

Faith-building at home
Draw names. Write about or draw a picture of how your person is "precious in God's sight." Begin your writing or drawing with the words, "person's name, you are precious to God and to me because...." When everyone is finished, exchange your writings or drawings with a sign of peace and love. Talk about ways you can take better care of each other and the earth. Start a family list of "Little Ways To Eliminate Violence In Our Lives." Put it on the refrigerator and add to it throughout the month.

Prayer
The following prayer is a traditional grace before meals. Say this or another grace each day before meals. Be especially aware that the gifts we receive when we share a meal together are gifts of the earth and gifts of the people who are present with us. When we think of people as God's most special gifts, we can say this prayer at many different times, not just at meals.

"Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Life Lesson #2

All Life Is Sacred - Adult Lesson

Scripture
"O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy, who have made all things by your word, and by your wisdom you have formed humankind to have dominion over the creatures you have made, and to rule the world in holiness and righteousness." Wisdom 9:1-3

"...Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you..." Jeremiah 1:5

"I give you a new commandment: Love one another. Such as my love has been for you, so must your love be for each other." John 13:34-35

Church documents
"As one called to till and look after the garden of the world, man has a specific responsibility toward the environment...toward the creation which God has put at the service of his personal dignity, of his life, not only for the present but also for future generations...."
Evangelium Vitae, paragraph 42

"Respect for life is not just a slogan or a program; it is a fundamental moral principle flowing from our teaching on the dignity of the human person. It is an approach to life that values people over things. Respect for life must guide the choices we make as individuals and as a society: what we do and won't do, what we value and consume, who we admire and whose example we follow, what we support and what we oppose. Respect for human life is the starting point for confronting a culture of violence." Confronting A Culture of Violence, U.S. Catholic Bishops

"... human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his (or her) origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard are every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until natural death." Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2273, quoting Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Donum Vitae III

Further development
Because God is its Creator, all life is deserving of care and respect. When God made man and woman in his divine image and conferred on them the authority to rule over all the earth, He imparted to them a special responsibility to use their every gift and talent to preserve, protect and defend life in ways that respect the great good of all creation and the special dignity of human life. Therefore, we do not have the freedom to use or misuse or dispose of the things of the earth without regard for nature and for future generations. Pope John Paul II stated clearly that, "...when it comes to the natural world, we are subject not only to biological laws, but also to moral ones..." Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, Dec. 1987. He and the bishops of the world challenged developed nations, and particularly the United States, to take very seriously the obligation to consume less of the earth's depletable resources and to do all that can be done to assist less developed nations as well as the poor of this country and the world in ways which are selfless and respectful of the human rights of all people. It is a challenge each one of us must continue to take seriously.
Our own part in responding to this challenge calls us to remember that it is the human person who is the very pinnacle of God's creation. The most beautiful sunset, the most majestic mountains call us to praise our God in gratitude, but they pale in comparison to the wonder of the human person. Often it is not as easy to find beauty in the homeless, the diseased, the stubborn or the unstable. Nevertheless, we must look until we see and not turn our eyes away or close our hearts. There is an inherent dignity in each human person that is not dependent on condition or location of life -- a dignity which is a part of the very nature of the person simply because he or she bears the divine image of God. Any initiation of violence against self or others is an affront to that dignity and is therefore morally wrong.

Think of times when your heart has been moved to respond to the need in the life of another person. Were you consciously aware of that person as a child of God, a brother and sister in the Lord? How do you find Christ in others? When is it the most difficult for you?

Faith-building at home
Draw names. Write about or draw a picture of how your person is "precious in God's sight." Begin your writing or drawing with the words, "person's name, you are precious to God and to me because...." When all are completed, exchange your writings or drawings with a sign of peace and love. Talk about ways you can take better care of each other and the earth. Start a family list of "Little Ways To Eliminate Violence In Our Lives." Put it on the refrigerator and add to it throughout the month.

Prayer
The following prayer is a traditional grace before meals. Say this or another grace each day before meals. Be especially aware that the gifts we receive when we share a meal together are gifts of the earth and gifts of the people who are present with us. When we think of people as God's most special gifts, we can say this prayer at many different times, not just at meals.

"Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.