Catholic Culture This Week: A Culture of Selfishness and Death

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A young man walked toward his classroom at the local university this morning.  He wore a t-shirt emblazoned with a message that was both shocking and revelatory: "Make Love Not Babies."  (Not kidding.  Such a piece of apparel really exists, in multiple locations, colors, and fonts.)  That single phrase proved much about our present culture; more than the designer probably ever intended.

The essence of the problem is that modern American culture has had generations to perfect the vice of lust, and so has had to move on to bigger, deadlier "adventures."  Modern American culture has added pride and selfishness to its previous vice.  We now live in a culture built on the sand foundation of personal convenience.  Nowhere is this truth more visible than in many people's attitudes toward bringing new life into this world.

To think that "love" and babies are mutually exclusive does more than destroy our human race and objectify people.  At the center of such an opinion is the fact that the Devil is wont to infect people's souls with spiritual cancer.  Recent meditations, and particular evidence from this morning, have proven that the Devil is mightily successful in our culture.  Indeed, because of his work, we worship the goddesses of hedonism and relativism.

This present situation has been illuminated more fully during recitation of the Holy Rosary, specifically meditations on the Joyful Mysteries.  The Lord has allowed this author to realize that our culture is to the point where the conception, birth, and rearing of a child is joyful on a much rarer basis.  Let's take stock.

When the "fulness of time" had come, Mary received a message from God that she was to conceive a son, Who would be the Savior of the world.  In our modern age, people fall prey to the idea that God doesn't mind if they put barriers between themselves and His creative action.  Mary provides the perfect example of removing obstacles to God's plan for bearing children, her Fiat.

After three months of pregnancy, Mary visited her sister, Elizabeth.  Upon seeing Mary, Elizabeth proclaimed that the fruit of Mary's womb was blessed.  All too often, men and women do not view those pre-born babies as blessed; they view them as nothing more than financial, emotional, and social liabilities.  In fact, too many Americans think of life inside a mother's womb as cursed rather than blessed.

When it was time to give birth, Mary and her protector, St. Joseph, trusted that God would provide the perfect place for the birth of their Lord.  Although they were in the most humble of surroundings, they knew that they were being blessed.  All too common in the current culture is the belief that children can only be brought into the world when finances are "just right," or when "we have the perfect home."  From personal experience, the joys that come from having a child far outweigh financial and residential perks; but that is not the outlook of most.

After eight days, Jesus was presented at the altar, He was dedicated to the Lord and made part of the covenant.  What a blessed event!  On the other hand, so-called progressive people in the twenty-first century believe that it is acceptable to place babies (pre-born and partially-born) on the cursed altar of abortion clinics.  Yes, those tragic sacrifices of life are the acts that continue to cement the covenant of the evil one with this world.

Finally, Jesus was found in the Temple in Jerusalem when He was about twelve years old.  Upon being questioned about the reasons for His decision, a logical reply came: the Lord said that He must be about the Father's house and business (cf. Luke 2:49).  Just as Jesus served the Father's will, our culture has reached a point that it is about the business of evil because they have been so closely united for so long.  It is only logical to believe that our minds, hearts, and lives will become like that which (or Him Whom) we worship and serve.  A culture that sits in the Father's house and studies His law will be a holy people.  A culture that allows itself to be infiltrated by Satan and his minions will be destroyed from the inside out.

In an effort to combat this current trend, people of life and for life are joining together across the nation.  They are gathering in front of abortion clinics to pray for an end to the culture of death; they are praying and fasting; and they are spreading the good news about life.  Please consider joining in that effort: pray on your own, get involved with the 40 Days for Life campaign, talk to friends and family members about what must be done to overcome these attitudes and the destruction of innocent life.  Make a commitment to serve the Lord and live His Truth!

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