DAY SIX: January 23, 2018
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Intercession

May those near the end of their lives receive medical care that respects their dignity and protects their lives.

Prayers

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be

Reflection

When Maggie's active father suffered an accident that eventually led to his passing, he taught her that pain and loss of autonomy doesn't diminish our human dignity, and that life—however much is left—is worth living.

As a 50-year-old wife and mother of three, Maggie needed this message when she was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Instead of giving up hope, she embraced her father's legacy: "[M]y life is, always has been, and always will be, worth living."

Meet Maggie in a 3-minute video , and read the brief article it inspired: " Maggie's Story: Living like Dad. "
Acts of Reparation (choose one)

  • Pray a decade of the Rosary for your deceased friends and family, as well as those who have no one to pray for them.

  • We look forward to eternal life by preparing now, in hope, for our passage from this life to the next. Spend some time prayerfully reflecting on "Catholic Considerations for Our Earthly Passing." Several considerations are given as starting points for understanding and preparing for our earthly passing in a way that respects God's gift of human life.

One Step Further

Proponents of doctor-assisted suicide try to draw a sharp (and tragic) distinction between those with a mental illness who want to end their lives and those already nearing death who express the same wish. Although polls indicate the public is receptive to the general concept of assisted suicide, when people understand the associated dangers, they are less likely to support the practice.

Learn seven compelling reasons you can share for opposing assisted suicide: " Top Reasons to Oppose Assisted Suicide. "
Copyright © 2018, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.
Watch John, Jeanette, and Luke's stories to learn
why they oppose assisted suicide.
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Born without arms, John Foppe speaks to a way of life beyond independence, namely interdependence. Assisted suicide sells everyone short, so in times of illness or disability, he encourages us to “step into life!”

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When Jeanette Hall had less than a year to live, she asked her doctor for the pills to commit suicide. Dr. Kenneth Stevens got to know her better, inspiring her to have treatment instead. Fifteen years later, Jeanette says: “It’s great to be alive!"
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You don’t discourage suicide by assisting suicide. “Every suicide is tragic – whether you’re old or young, healthy or sick, your life is worth living,” says Luke Maxwell, 19, who survived an attempt to take his own life.
Hope after Abortion