Priests for Life Establish Society of the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life

Priests for Life (www.priestsforlife.org) have been given permission to establish through Bishop John Yanta of Amarillo, Texas, a lay society called the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. Christians of all denominations are associated with this effort and may request additional information from priests for life if they are not Catholic

This new Pro-life Society is a direct response to the call issued by Pope John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae: "What is urgently called for is a general mobilization of consciences and a united ethical effort to activate a great campaign in support of life. All together, we must build a new culture of life" (EV, n.95). The Society seeks to give people in the Church an opportunity to do pro-life work according to spirituality recognized by the Church and embraced by people around the country.

Some people do this pro-life work full-time as priests, deacons, or lay members of the community. Others, known as lay associates, would continue to do the pro-life work they do now, within their own vocation and in conjunction with the groups with which they work already (or would start doing some pro-life activities if they don't already) and would do so with the added benefits of belonging to the Society, as described below.

The members of this Society witness before the Church and the world to the priority of the right to life as the foundation of all other rights, and to the absolute claims to respect and protection that this right makes upon every individual and community in the human family. The Society promotes and defends the natural human right to life, in the light of the Gospel, focusing in particular on ending the scourge of abortion.

The members of the Society undertake a process of spiritual and pro-life formation, and then make special promises to defend human life and to collaborate with the Society by following its spirituality and sharing its mission to the extent that their duties allow. The four spiritual disciplines are:

1. Prayer: Each member is committed to praying the prayers of the Church and specific daily prayers as provided by the Society (prayers of commitment, consecration, periodic novenas). Members are encouraged to participate frequently in the sacraments of Communion and Reconciliation and to take part in spiritual devotions such as the rosary, adoration and chaplet of Divine Mercy.

2. Study:  Members, individually and corporately, will be expected to participate in ongoing study and  formation. The teachings that shape the life and mission of our Society come above all from theWord of God. Profound study of the Scriptures is paramount. Among the documents of the Magisterium we study Pope John Paul II's encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). We see John Paul II as the Pope of Life, and his encyclical, as well as the witness of his life, lay out the contours of our mission and spirituality. Likewise, the teaching and example of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, a strong voice for the unborn and vulnerable, are a special source of instruction and  inspiration for us. We also take particular guidance from the teachings put forward by Priests for Life.

3. Community: Those in the Society are expected to be faithful members of a local parish fully participating in its life. We would also provide opportunities for local Society gatherings in which one could learn the spirituality of the Society and be with other people who are making a similar commitment. Regional or national gatherings may also be offered for further training and witness. The ongoing spiritual unity of the members through common promises, prayers, study and witness is continually recognized and cherished.

4. Witness: Societies like this are formed to respond to a particular problem in the world, and in this case, that problem is specifically the taking of innocent human life by abortion and euthanasia. Whatever pro-life work you are already doing can now be done in the context of the spiritual commitment to belong to this Society, and with the special blessing of the Church which such membership brings. The Society will also promote and inform you about numerous other ministries that have proven effective in building a culture of life. Our Spirituality is Biblical, Prophetic, Liturgical, Ecumenical and Eucharistic. In the light of our spirituality, there are certain key virtues that we seek to foster in ourselves and others. These include: a spirit of joy, a serene confidence, a deep compassion, a radical solidarity, a strong courage, a constant readiness for public witness, and a passion for justice.

If a person wants to be a lay associate of the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life, there is a period of discernment and study, after which, upon mutual agreement of the Society and the individual, a commitment is made through the special promises mentioned above.

Jim Pinto is one of the Pastoral Associates, who guides members through the process, should one decide to pursue this opportunity. The email address for the Lay Missionaries of the Gospel of Life is missionary@priestsforlife.org.  Assisting Jim at the office is John Fagundes, whom you can reach at vocations@priestsforlife.org.