"Our united prayers, sacrifices, and efforts to protect human life and heal the
wounds inflicted by abortion remain as important as ever. As our Holy Father
Pope Leo XIV has said, ‘God’s mercy calls us to protect every life, especially
those society overlooks—-the child yet to be born and the elderly nearing their
journey’s end—-because each bears Christ’s face.’ May we see the face of Christ
in every single person, in every pregnant mother, and every child in the womb.
Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure that every human life may
be protected in law and welcomed in love, and that abortion may be
unthinkable.”
--Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, Chairman, USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities
"This liturgical season [Ordinary Time] will invite us to follow the Lord together, to listen to his
Word and to imitate his gestures of love towards others. In doing so, we
confirm and renew our Baptism, the sacrament that makes us Christians, freeing
us from sin and transforming us into children of God through the power of his
Spirit of life... Dear friends, God does not look upon the world from afar, unconcerned with our
lives, our troubles or our expectations! Instead, he comes among us with the
wisdom of his Word made flesh, drawing us into a wondrous plan of love for all
humanity... He takes upon himself what is ours, including our sin, and gives us what is his: the grace of new and
eternal life."
--Pope Leo XIV, Angelus Address, January 11, 2026
"In the Christian life, it is not
enough to be knowledgeable: unless we step out of ourselves, unless we
encounter others and worship, we cannot know God. Theology and pastoral
effectiveness mean little or nothing unless we bend the knee; unless we kneel
down like the Magi, who were not only knowledgeable about planning a journey,
but also capable of setting out and bowing down in worship. Once we worship, we
come to realize that faith is not simply a set of fine doctrines, but a
relationship with a living Person whom we are called to love. It is in
encountering Jesus face to face that we come to see him as he is. Through
worship, we discover that the Christian life is a love story with God, where
what really matters is not our fine ideas but our ability to make him the
center of our lives, as lovers do with those whom they love. This is what the
Church ought to be, a worshiper in love with Jesus her spouse."
--Pope Francis, Homily, January 6, 2020
