Tag: Christianity

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled April 9 that a 160-year-old near-total abortion ban still on the books in the state is enforceable, a move that could shutter abortion clinics in the state. But, Arizona may have the issue of abortion on its ballot in November, which could undo those restrictions.

The state’s highest court said that following the recent reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, there was no federal or state law preventing Arizona from enforcing a 19th-century abortion ban — with an exception for the life of a mother — that had become dormant following Roe.

In a 4-2 decision, the state Supreme Court said the 1864 law, which predated Arizona’s statehood, is “enforceable”; however, the court also paused the ruling in order to send the case back to a lower court to hear additional arguments.

The ruling, in effect, overturns a lower court’s ruling that found a 15-week ban from 2022 superseded the 1864 law.

But the state Supreme Court found the 15-week ban “does not create a right to, or otherwise provide independent statutory authority for, an abortion that repeals or restricts” the previous ban, “but rather is predicated entirely on the existence of a federal constitutional right to an abortion since disclaimed” following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that overturned Roe and its related abortion precedent.

In a statement, Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Jake Warner, who argued before the court, said, “Life is a human right, and today’s decision allows the state to respect that right and fully protect life again — just as the legislature intended.”

“Life begins at conception. At just six weeks, unborn babies’ hearts begin to beat,” Warner added. “At eight weeks, they have fingers and toes. And at 10 weeks, their unique fingerprints begin to form. Arizona’s pro-life law has protected unborn children for over 100 years, and the people of Arizona, through their elected representatives, have repeatedly affirmed that law, including as recently as 2022. We celebrate the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision that allows the state’s pro-life law to again protect the lives of countless, innocent unborn children.”

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, called the ruling “unconscionable and an affront to freedom.”

“Make no mistake, by effectively striking down a law passed this century and replacing it with one from 160 years ago, the Court has risked the health and lives of Arizonans,” she said in a statement. “The Arizona Court of Appeals decision, which the Supreme Court has struck down today, was well reasoned and aligned with how courts harmonize different legislation.

“Today’s decision to reimpose a law from a time when Arizona wasn’t a state, the Civil War was raging, and women couldn’t even vote will go down in history as a stain on our state,” she continued. “This is far from the end of the debate on reproductive freedom, and I look forward to the people of Arizona having their say in the matter. And let me be completely clear, as long as I am Attorney General, no woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law in this state.”

Earlier in April, a coalition called Arizona for Abortion Access, which includes organizations such as the ACLU of Arizona and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, said it had gathered enough signatures to qualify for a ballot measure to enshrine abortion access in the state constitution, well before the July 3 deadline to submit the signatures to Arizona’s secretary of state.

The Arizona Catholic Conference has urged Catholics and other citizens of Arizona not to sign that petition.

The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred and must be respected from conception to natural death and, as such, opposes direct abortion as an act of violence that takes the life of the unborn child. After the Dobbs ruling, the U.S. bishops have reiterated the church’s commitment to serving both women and unborn children.

“We believed our first responsibility was to create fairness and competition in the NAIA,” NAIA president Jim Carr told CBS Sports. “We also think it aligns with the reasons Title IX was created.”

The new policy requires that students who participate in NAIA-sponsored women’s sports must be biologically female and not under the influence of any masculinizing hormone therapy.

Female athletes who take masculinizing hormones cannot compete in NAIA-sponsored women’s sports but may participate in internal activities such as workouts, practices, and teams, according to the individual college’s discretion, the policy stated.

The NAIA’s policy does not specify sex for NAIA-sponsored male sports, meaning that women taking masculinizing hormones may participate in male sports if they wish.

The policy will go into effect Aug. 1.

The decision follows recent controversy over University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, a biological male, winning an NCAA Division I Championship.

“We work for a Europe where women can live their maternity freely and as a gift for them and for society and where being a mother is in no way a limitation for personal, social, and professional life. Promoting and facilitating abortion goes in the opposite direction to the real promotion of women and their rights.”

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights cannot include rights that are not recognized by all and are “divisive,” the bishops noted.

“The right to life is the fundamental pillar of all other human rights, especially the right to life of the most vulnerable, fragile, and defenseless, like the unborn child in the womb of the mother, the migrant, the old, the person with disabilities, and the sick. The Church has always taught this,” the bishops continued.

The European Parliament is a directly-elected body made up of over 700 legislators from EU member states and tasked with adopting EU legislation. Changing the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights to include abortion would require unanimous agreement from all member states, the body says.

The enshrining of abortion rights in the EU’s rights charter has long been debated. Abortion activists have for years pushed for the modification to union law, with initiatives such as the Simone Veil Pact calling for broad abortion rights throughout the continent.

In contrast to the highly permissive legal framework found in many U.S. states before and after Roe v. Wade, many European countries restrict abortion after 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy; some European Union member countries also impose waiting periods and other regulations.

Exercises in Fulfilling the Commandments During Great Lent. Part 1Just go and try to fulfill a single commandment as you should. And it will slowly become obvious that, as you fulfill it, you observe other commandments as well!

“>Part 1

    

33 SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

Based on the Gospel commandments

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5: 3).

The extreme need for God, the realization that we are helpless without His grace—this is what I will make the root and foundation of my life, both spiritual and physical.

2. Blessed are those who mourn: for they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4).

I will make an effort to weep over my sins, to wash away the sins I have committed and avoid new ones. No tears? But even a single heartfelt sigh can be more valuable than tears (St. Paisios the Athonite).

3. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5: 5).

Today I will try not to spread any negativity and I will labor to soften my heart.

4. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).

I will strive all day to do what is pleasing to Christ with all honesty, strictness, and earnestness, never yielding or indulging myself.

5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7).

I will give my attention today to kindness and love, remembering that “God works on this frequency” (St. Paisios the AthonitePaisios the Athonite, St.

“>St. Paisios the Athonite).

6. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God (Matthew 5: 8).

Today I will keep special vigilance over my heart and remember that not only impure thoughts, but also anger, condemnation, and other passions make up the impurities of the soul (Elder Ambrose of Optina

“>St. Ambrose of Optina).

7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the sons of God (Matthew 5:9).

Today I will be vigilant over the peace in my heart that stems from the certainty that I, at least consciously, do not allow anything that offends God or what is unpleasing to Him (Theophan the Recluse

“>St. Theophan the Recluse).

8. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake (Matthew 5: 10–11).

I will meet all the temptations of this day with the assurance that everything works for good for them who love God. Therefore, I will not lose the peace of my heart.

9. Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is it to thee? follow thou me (John 21:22).

I will set my heart so that all my actions, words, and thoughts today will correspond to Christ. “So, whenever evil thoughts enter into our minds, we shall say as follows: I will not do it, because Jesus Christ does not like it. Whenever good thoughts come to mind, let us say to ourselves: I will do it because Jesus Christ loves it” (Archpriest Rodion Putyatin).

10. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19).

Today I will not allow myself to think about any sinful deed, word or thought, saying, “It’s nothing.” I won’t set a bad example to those who are near me.

11. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison (Matthew 5:25).

I will spend this day talking to my adversary, my conscience. I will force myself to finally hear what I avoid hearing. I will admit as wrong that which my heart supports so strenuously. I will try to either cut off everything that is wrong or, if it is impossible to correct it, to mourn it.

12. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Matthew 5:44).

I will dedicate this day, whenever possible, to performing at least the smallest good to those who are hostile towards me. If it is impossible, I will pray for them with all my heart.

13. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore, thine eye be single, the whole body shall be full of light (Matthew 6:22).

I will pay special attention today to my mind, which is called the eye of the soul. I will cleanse all impure and unkind thoughts by instantly calling out to the Lord.

14. But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).

I will ask myself: What does the Kingdom of God mean to me? Do I seek it within myself? And where does it stand for me? All day long I will put the words of Christ in the first place, while my own wishes, desires, or, I’d say, “our wish lists,” in the second place.

15. Judge not, that ye be not judged; For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again (Matthew 7:1–2).

I will dedicate this day to generosity. By generously dedicating my time to my family, I will readily forgive all mistakes and errors and forbid myself any condemnation.

16. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye (Matthew 7:5).

When my neighbor’s sin of catches my eye, I will immediately think about myself and realize that this sin is mine, but mine is to a much greater degree.

17. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12).

“Lord, do unto me as I do unto my neighbors.” I will try to live this day in such a way that I can sincerely say this prayer in the evening.

18. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat (Matthew 7:13).

Today I will suppress my vanity in whichever way it manifests itself, remembering that even a little coercion can become truly priceless.

19. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7:19–20).

These fruits, “Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22), I am supposed to bring to the Lord at least in their initial stages.

20. Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm (Matthew 8:26).

I will try to labor over my faith and hope today. I will fear neither inner disturbances nor outer storms.

21. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward (Matthew 10:42).

In the morning I will ask: “Lord, teach and reveal to me how I can serve my neighbors today.” I will link the whole day with a chain of small deeds, and will never be put off by their insignificance (Archimandrite John (Krestiankin).

22. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:12).

I will try to spend the whole day today with cheerful and good-hearted exertion, never slacking in body or spirit.

23. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Matthew 11:29).

I will labor today to keep my heart in a meek and humble disposition. I will remember the words of the Venerable Silouan of Athos that any sorrow will sink in a humble heart like to the sea.

24. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:36–37).

I will especially watch my tongue today, so that only good words come from me. I will especially protect myself from harsh words, rudeness, mockery and sarcasm, condemnation and gossip.

25. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise (Luke 10:36-37).

I will dedicate this day to Why Is Charity Important?From the very earliest days of the existence of the Church, acts of mercy and charity were an essential part of church life.

“>charity in the material and spiritual sense, and I will serve whoever needs me with patience and hospitality.

26. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15: 5).

Today I will try to say my morning prayers with particular zeal. Inviting Christ in my heart by the living faith and prayer (St. John of Kronstadt), I will try all day long to keep this unity by carefully observing all my words, thoughts and deeds.

27. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies (Matthew 15: 29).

I will stand today at the doors of my heart with attention, and once the head of the serpent—a passion—appears from behind them, I will strike it with the name of the Lord. “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me!”

28. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24).

I will face all the sorrows and tribulations of today with peace, thanking God for everything that I still consider particularly dispiriting to me.

29. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21).

Today I will pay increased attention to fasting—bodily and spiritual, as well as to a heartfelt and focused prayer.

30. Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).

I will try today, especially when I pray, to put aside my complexity and ambiguity and, no matter what, turn to God with the sincerity and simplicity of a child loved by the Father.

31. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! (Matthew 18:7).

I will look carefully—is there any temptation coming from me for my neighbor?

I will look carefully—am I the reason of any temptation for my neighbor? Do I set a bad example on a large or small scale? Could it be that I corrupt my neighbors, especially my loved ones, with indifference, coldness, insensitivity, mindlessness, condemnation, selfishness?

32. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses (Matthew 18:35).

Perhaps, beginning from Forgiveness Sunday, my heart has already been poisoned with the filth of resentment, anger, and spitefulness! The time is ripe to get rid of it, and I will dedicate this day, the last before the end of the Holy Forty Days, to remedy this.

33. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: (Matthew 22:11).

The days of the Holy Forty Days are over. I will dedicate my time today to a careful examination of my wedding garments; merely in eight days, I am to attend the wedding feast of the Risen Christ.

Did I make any large or small stains on them? I will cleanse them by repentance. Has the dust of unkind thoughts settled on them? I will cleanse it with repentance and sobering. Has it turned gray or faded from the coldness of my heart? I will cleanse it with repentance and heart-warming prayer:

“Thy Bridal Chamber I see adorned, O my Savior and I have no wedding garment that I may enter, O Giver of life, enlighten the vesture of my soul and save me!”

While intense feelings or drive — passions — are natural, Christians know they must be tamed and channeled toward what is good, Pope Francis said.

The virtue of fortitude, “the most ‘combative’ of the virtues,” helps a person control their passions but also gives them the strength to overcome fear and anxiety when faced with the difficulties of life, the pope told visitors and pilgrims at his weekly general audience April 10.

Continuing his series of talks about virtues, the pope quoted the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions.”

Fortitude “takes the challenge of evil in the world seriously,” he said, and that is increasingly rare “in our comfortable Western world.”

Some people pretend evil does not exist, “that everything is going fine, that human will is not sometimes blind, that dark forces that bring death do not lurk in history,” the pope said. But reading a history book or even the newspaper shows “the atrocities of which we are partly victims and partly perpetrators: wars, violence, slavery, oppression of the poor, wounds that have never healed and continue to bleed.”

“The virtue of fortitude makes us react and cry out an emphatic ‘no’ to evil to all of this,” he said.

Fortitude, he said, helps Christians say “‘no’ to evil and to indifference; ‘yes’ to the journey that helps us make progress in life, and for this one must struggle.”

“A Christian without courage, who does not turn his own strength to good, who does not bother anyone, is a useless Christian,” he said.

At the end of the audience, Pope Francis asked people to pray for Ukraine and Palestine and Israel. “May the Lord grant us peace. War is everywhere,” he said. “Do not forget Myanmar,” where the military staged a coup in 2021 and fighting has continued since then. “Let us ask the Lord for peace and not forget these brothers and sisters who are suffering in these places of war.”

In the modern world, especially over the past 100-150 years, humanity has made huge breakthroughs in science and life in general. If for many centuries people lived mostly by crafts and agriculture, today everything is different. There is medicine, technology, new professions, new opportunities. Fashion and social rules have changed many times, from decade to decade. Today some people work in outer space, while others, sitting at a computer, manage very complex processes, such as the movement of trains in the city or the assembly of automobiles on the conveyor belt. It seems that we should have all changed and become more perfect, but something that never changes in us is our propensity to sin.

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Fragment of fresco of the Holy Trinity Kalyazin Monastery     

Any human being, regardless of his education, upbringing, social status, lifestyle, views and worldview, is prone to sinful passions. So the instructions of the Holy Fathers of Antiquity, such as The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John of the Ladder (Climacus)It is known from St. John’s life that he ate what was allowed by the rule of fasting, but within measure. He did not go without sleep at night, although he never slept more than was needed to support his strength for ceaseless vigilance, and so as not to negatively affect his mind. ”I did not fast beyond measure,” he said of himself, ”and I did not conduct intensified night vigil, nor did I sleep on the ground; but I humbled myself…, and the Lord speedily saved me.

“>St. John Climacus, are relevant to this day, because the human soul remains the same as before: vulnerable and weak in the face of sin. Science changes, the world around us changes, like the scenery in a theater, but human beings remain the same, with their sins and passions. So what are these On the Struggle with the PassionsIn order to overcome all the passions without exception, it is necessary to learn abstinence.”>passions?

Sin and passion are inextricably linked, but they should be considered separately. We call sin a person’s action which violates one of God’s commandments: when someone judges his neighbor, tells him a lie, stealssomething, offends someone, and so on. Passion is a person’s propensity for a particular sin. If we compare sin with illness, as the saints often did, calling sins “illnesses of the soul”, then sin is a one–time illness, while passion is a chronic one.

Each one of us has his own passions. Some are susceptible to It Is Hard to Come to the Faith When You are Used to LyingIf you are used to such a life, when you are deceived all the time and permanently lie to others, bringing yourself to believe is a far more exceptional podvig than the Apostle Peter’s readiness to walk on the raging sea at the Savior’s command.

“>lying, others to On Repentance and LustNowadays the passion of lust acts with excessive fury and zeal. This demonic spirit feels no sympathy for innocent babies, withered breasts or childless parents. It hardens mothers’ hearts into stone, turns spouses into murderers, and makes the young immoral. It defeats everyone to make them children of Hinnom.”>lust, others to We Are Born Sober. Help in the Struggle Against Alcoholism. Part 1Our help to alcoholics and their relatives is organized in three stages.”>drinking, Pride and Vanity Destroys Good DeedsThe experience of the spiritual life of our brothers in Christ, who achieved knowledge of the purpose and meaning of life, provides examples of the attitude with which we must enter the opening gates of the Holy Lenten days.”>pride, jealousy, etc. According to the Holy Fathers, there is a tempter next to each one of us, who, figuratively speaking, constantly whispers in our ear, enticing us into sin. And if for some it is only an occasionally passing thought, for others it is a temptation, a real passion, which eventually becomes a problem, maybe even an addiction.

The Holy Fathers identify seven main passions that correspond to the seven deadly sins: pride, love of money (avarice), anger, envy, lust, gluttony and despondency. Sometimes, apart from pride, vanity is added to this list as the eighth passion. Lying is not included in this list, since it is an invariable companion of many mortal sins: for instance, it is impossible to commit adultery without lying, or to be arrogant and vain without pretending to be a modest person so as not to be judged, or to envy without demonstrating it, and so forth. In addition to the main (mortal) sins, there are also other ones that can enter into a person’s soul in a state of passion.

H. Bosch. Gluttony: Fragments of the painting, The Seven Deadly Sins. 1500.     

I think everyone has met in his life, especially in childhood, a friend with a rich imagination who would invent interesting tall tales right on the go, and therefore it was interesting to take walks with him. And even though we understood that it probably wasn’t the truth, we wanted to believe such fantasies. Over time, as we grow up, each one of us realizes that that a bent piece of iron behind the garages is unlikely to have fallen off a “flying saucer that had flown over the area”, and in the unfinished building in the next block there could hardly have been a hidden treasure that we “will definitely find”. And then you probably noticed that this friend lies not only during a walk to impress his peers, but also in all sorts of small things: Now he tells others about things that you didn’t do, then he tells you some lies, and so on. And he doesn’t do it for the sake of profit. He does it for no particular reason, just for fun.

And constant lying in everything and everywhere is a passion. I know a young lady who lied to everyone all the time and couldn’t explain why she did it. Moreover she repeatedly suffered from her own lies; her relations with her loved ones were ruined, she lost a number of jobs, but still continued to lie. Actually, we first met when she came to church, trying to figure out what her curse was and who had put it on her, since everything in her life was falling apart. But, as it turned out, the cause was in herself, in this passion, and not in magic curses. Over time, she to tried to overcome this bad habit, going to church for confession and Communion. I hope she will succeed.

And whatever sinful passion you have, be it lying, jealousy, lust or anger, the result can be detrimental not only for your spiritual life, but also for your physical life. Someone who is prone to passions gradually spoils his relationships with his relatives, colleagues, and superiors, and will ultimately have no one around him who can support him physically, morally, or by prayer– which is the most important thing.

In terms of the influence of passions on a person, St. Barsanuphius of Optina divided people into three groups: the carnal, the struggling, and the perfect. Carnal people are those who are enslaved by their passions, like that young lady. They do not even notice this sinful habit in themselves, or they have simply drowned out their voice of conscience in order to sin for their pleasure and not to feel its pangs. Only awareness of your passion, sincere repentance, and attempts to improve can bring you closer to salvation, as was the case with the Good Thief on the Cross who repented and was saved by Christ.

St. Barsanuphius of Optina     

People of the second category are those who struggle with their passions. This is the second step in the fight against sin. St. John Climacus advises us to combat sins with the opposite virtues. A person who is susceptible to anger can be saved if he does good to his opponents and prays for them, as Christ commanded us: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Mt. 5:44). And A judgmental person should mentally try to justify everyone he wants to judge, just as we justify ourselves if we do something bad to soothe our conscience. And the Lord will definitely not abandon those who struggle, and He will help them.

Lastly, perfect people are those who keep their passions in check. Although they do have passions, they keep them under control. There have been very few such people in history. Of course, we are talking about saints. Not everyone has this level of control over their desires and souls. It would be good for us sinners to keep on the second step without falling.

But the most important thing that we can learn from the Gospel and Patristic works is that a person cannot overcome these passions by himself. We cannot do without God’s help. If a person decides to challenge himself without God and change one of his bad personality traits, then yes, he can achieve success, but only outwardly. However, spiritually this bad trait will only be replaced by pride. He will say, “I’ve done it! Good for me! I am special and better than many people around me!”, like the Pharisee from the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee (cf. Lk. 18:9-14). It is impossible to overcome your passions on your own: God alone can do it.

However, a person must himself make efforts; unless he tries to work at self-improvement, the Lord will not violate his free will. It is important to keep in mind that we are not puppets in His hands. God has given us freedom and guidance on how to live according to His will, and we can and should make our own choices. It is necessary to pray regularly, participate in the sacraments of confession and Communion so as not to walk away from God but to stay in contact with Him, and try to avoid evil and do good works.

As for the general principles for combating passions, the following steps can be pointed out:

Awareness of your passions. The first step to fighting passions is to become conscious of their presence. Everyone should understand exactly what desires and bad habits have begun to take control over us and cause negative emotions in us or in people around us, and what actions make them stronger. It is important to learn to discern our passions and try not to yield to them.

Turning to God. According to the ancient saying: “Without God you can do nothing.” It is impossible to get rid of your sins and passions without God’s help. We can easily drown out our voice of conscience and get a swelled head over our successes. Keeping in mind that we are weak in the face of sin, we must begin to live a spiritual life. Many try to justify their independence, saying, “God is in my soul, but churches are just a business based on faith, and I don’t want to pay them.” This opinion, or rather excuse, is shared by many laypeople who are simply too lazy to embark on their Orthodox path. But you don’t need money to come to church!

Priest Alexei Taakh     

In Orthodoxy no one forces anyone to buy candles or order special prayer services. The most basic things in churches have always been and will be free of charge: to pray for yourself and your loved ones at services is free, confession and Communion are free too. It all depends on you—do you really want this? Are you ready to start working at self-improvement and change your life? It is a long, painstaking and life-long labor. It is not without joys, but also not without obstacles. The Holy Fathers say that the Church is a hospital for both the spirit and the soul, and healing both your body and soul requires time and effort. One pill cannot cure a chronic physical disease. The soul is the same in principle.

The next step is to find a priest who is close to you mentally. All priests are human beings. Every priest has his own temperament, character and sins. There is no doctor who never falls ill. And as with all people, it is easy to communicate with some and it is not so easy with others. Someone needs a strict mentor, someone else needs an easy-going and open one. Find someone with whom it will be easy for you to talk about your spiritual life.

And of course, if you have close people around you who understand you, then you will be able to share your worries and fears with them. Love and mutual support are an integral part of spiritual life. The Lord spoke about this: By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another (Jn. 13:35).

In conclusion, I should say that sinful passions bring misfortune to both the person himself and to his loved ones. Fighting with passions takes a lot of time, effort, and patience. But if you live a spiritual life, you can not only get closer to salvation in the Heavenly Kingdom, but , you can live a happier and more harmonious life already here, on earth.

The blind Athonite elder Dionisie the Romanian (1909–2004) shone with the gift of clairvoyance during his lifetime and was revered as a spiritual patriarch of Athos, and a year from now, he will be canonized. The Elder’s numerous counsels were diligently recorded by his spiritual children and pilgrims, and then books were compiled from them. Let’s look into one of them and enjoy an abundant spiritual meal, offered to us by the divinely wise and venerable Elder, the newly revealed Venerable Dionisie the Athonite.

​Elder Dionisie of Romania     

“Why did the Holy Fathers say we should consider the people around us to be saints? So that you would become a saint. Because if you consider them holy, you thereby humble yourself. And if you humble yourself, then you become a saint. After all, according to all the teachings and decisions, the greatest transgression before God is the elevation of the mind.”

If you don’t think about God, what can you do?

—Father, lay believers come to our monasteries and tell us that they suffer many failures in their undertakings, that they can’t do what they planned. And they ask why.

—You see, the thing is, when someone cries out: “God, help me!” God immediately comes to help him. But not all our desires are good. And since our desires lead to evil, to the destruction of our souls, then God is slow to help. And it may happen that He doesn’t help you for your own good!

When we ask for something and our request corresponds to the will of God, and He, as God, knows that when He fulfills your request, you’ll keep your word and stay near to Him, He immediately helps you. For only God is without deceit, and only God possesses goodness. But sometimes we see that when we ask for something that is unto our own destruction, God doesn’t give it to us. Why? Because He loves us.

—That is, maybe either our petition wasn’t good, or perhaps our prayer wasn’t enough.

—Pray without ceasing! (1 Thess. 5:17). Of course, the Church has a variety of prayers for asking for what we want. But within every one of us, About the Jesus PrayerIn order not to get lost in the various methods and definitions of the Jesus Prayer, it’s enough to follow these teachers: St. John Climacus, St. Nilus of Sora, Fr. Seraphim of Sarov, and Dorotheos.

“>one prayer, quite short, but strong, can be established in our soul and mind: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” And if you cry out with every breath: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” then you sweep the sins out of your thoughts and ideas, and Jesus Christ takes root in your heart.

—Father, we know people who bear a lot of responsibility and are very busy. How would you advise them? Should they have a How Should We Build Our Prayer Rule?It is impossible to imagine a meaningful Christian life without a daily prayer rule. But what should this prayer rule be? How long or short, and consisting of which prayers? How can we prevent our daily prayer rule from becoming purely a formality? What should we pay particular attention to, and what mistakes should we avoid? And what is the most important thing in a prayer rule?

“>prayer rule too?

—Yes, of course. As a Christian, you should have one. You can’t pray as they do in monasteries, and you can’t be like the monks, but is it even possible for a Christian not to pray? At least read the canon to the Most Holy Theotokos when you get home in the evening or before laying down to rest. Of course, if you’re not too busy, it’s very good to read Compline in the evening. Come on, what if all of us Christians read Compline? It has prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos; it’s very, very useful and very helpful for prayer.

And don’t do it so that when you get up in the morning, you make the sign of the Cross or even don’t make it, and you say: “Come on, hurry up, we’re off to work.” Let us ask for God’s help first; let us prayerfully ask for God to be with us. And if you don’t think about God, then what can you do? You’re not going to do anything. After all, the Savior Himself says: Without Me ye can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). And since we can’t do anything without God, let us appeal to His goodness. We can’t do many, many, many things; a bit at a time, but let’s not be inattentive, and then God will be with us.

But as a Christian, you should have some kind of rule. Families should have an hour of prayer. In the evening an hour of prayer; in the morning, before you leave, another hour of prayer, and then the grace of the Holy Spirit will help you. The whole point is that we not be careless, this is quite dangerous.

—Father, what should we do with those who repeatedly make mistakes? At work, you forgive once, you forgive twice (of course, we’re talking about earthly mistakes), and sometimes you kick them out if they make too many mistakes.

—Look, how many times did the Savior say we should forgive? Not seven times, but up to seventy times seven (cf. Mt. 18:22). Do you see? If we only forgave seven times… A man sins hundreds of times a day, and therefore the Savior Himself says that no matter how many times he’s sinned, when he turns and says: “Lord, please forgive me, for I have sinned,” let him be forgiven (cf. Lk. 17:4).

Because a man isn’t to blame for everything. He’s guilty of putting sin into his mind and all his ideas, that is, the whispers of satan; we’re guilty in that we commit all the sins that we know are sins. But it’s the whispers of the enemy that are to blame.

(Talk with a group of pilgrims from Alba County)

Let us ask with humble-mindedness

The goodness of God helps us every time we have recourse to Him and cry out: “Lord, I pray Thee, help me!” At that very second, the grace of the Holy Spirit descends and helps you. But let us only ask, as the Holy Fathers say, with humble-mindedness. Let us consider ourselves sinners before God, unworthy of help: “Grant me, O Lord! Thou Who didst descend from the Holy Trinity and didst receive a human body to deliver us from the evil one, I pray Thee, help me.” When it’s said with humble-mindedness, then it’s impossible that God wouldn’t help us, under any pretext.

But we’re so sluggish: “Eh, God, help me. Eh!… If you want to, help me. And if not, that’s fine.” No! Let us consider ourselves unworthy, which is what we are. After all, look at what God says: Be ye holy; for I am holy (1 Pt. 1:16, Lev. 19:2). And look, we’re always sinning, so we can’t ever consider ourselves worthy of Him helping us. No, because we always flout the will of God, whether we want to or not. So if we ask for God’s help with meekness, with humble-mindedness, then the grace of the Holy Spirit will come that second to help us. Eh!… May God help us.

(Talk with nuns from Oașa Monastery, November 15, 2002)

Confession of your conscience

Let us be zealous, because we live in this world as it is today, but let us, as much as we can, not be indifferent to the truth, because that is the greatest danger. We can’t do everything exactly as the Church advises us, as the Holy Fathers advise us, as the sacred books advise us. Well, we can’t be exact, but let’s at least not be indifferent; let us admit that indeed, “I should have done it today, but I didn’t.”

Therefore, the Holy Fathers say that when a man comes home in the evening and goes to bed, let him think about what he did that day, what good things he did, what bad things he did, what he shouldn’t have done; “where did I go and what did I say?” “What should I have done but didn’t? How many prostrations should I have done today—I could have done fifty, a hundred, or more, but I only did two or three?”

That is, so it would be a kind of confession before God, before our conscience, so we could thus establish ourselves in the truth, for the truth is the Church. “And if I ate, drank, or something else, eh!… No! I went to see a friend, and what did we talk about? Instead of saying something peaceful, look, we spoke ill of someone else. Do you see? Look, may God help me not do that anymore.” Or: “I was supposed to go somewhere to help such and such a friend, because he needed something, but I didn’t go.”

And it turns out to be a confession of your ConscienceEvery person is familiar with his inner voice, which on occasion accuses and oppresses him, and on occasion brings him joy.

“>conscience, so you can amend the path of your life. You see, the Holy Fathers taught us only good things. We have to work as hard as we can, and God will be with us.

(2001)

How to admonish others?

—When you counsel someone to correct themselves, how can you do it in a spirit of humility?

—Let us not distance ourselves from the counsels of the Holy Fathers, but when you give someone advice, you must always have humble-mindedness. You who preach must have humble-mindedness. People have become such… Don’t advise as though you’re giving orders. A man today won’t listen to you, no matter how faithful he is, no matter how close to God he is, when you talk to him as though you’re giving orders. He definitely won’t listen to you about anything. He’ll consider you to be at fault.

Therefore, the Holy Fathers advise us that those who preach must show that they have every virtue. And even if you don’t have it, admonish those who need advice as though you’re consulting with him, not ordering him.

Of course, also point out to him the decisions of the Holy Fathers who say that if we don’t do what’s necessary, we’ll go to hell—the end. But counsel him more like this: Look, this is what the Holy Fathers have written for us, this is how the Savior Himself teaches us. And he will feel an inclination towards the truth in his soul.

After all, the wisdom of this world is nothing other than a titanic battle to alienate man from the truth, so he would walk according to the laws of this world. All the wisdom of this world is enmity with God, for this is how its adherents ensure that man no longer worships God.

I can give you an example by looking at our youth. A young man goes and studies at several schools. When he goes back home, and his parents are below him in terms of education, and they start talking about the Church (for example, “this is what the Church teaches us; this is what elders advise us”), what does the young man say? “Oh, come on, mom and dad, give it a rest. I’ve spent so many years warming a seat in academic halls, toiling away at the bedrock of science. Those unfortunate people you talk about existed once, but their time has passed.”

Did you hear the response? It’s like he knows everything now, having studied for so long. Yes, he studied, but what did he learn? He learned how to follow the life of this transitory world.

And the lord of this world is the tempter. The Savior Himself, when He was tempted, said: The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me (Jn. 14:30). You see, mankind is in the power of satan. Therefore, satan isn’t permitted to act with his full power, because then he would destroy the whole of mankind in his malice. But he shows patience, and we—all of mankind—worship satan.

People like the modern governance of the world, which caters to every human desire; they worship satan and drift away from God without even noticing it. Therefore, as the Holy Scriptures say, whoever who can extract the worthy from the unworthy will be like the mouth of Christ (cf. Jer. 15:19).¹ But to win over the unworthy, you have to have much patience and meekness to convince him to uproot the destructive passions from his heart and soul.

—Fr. Dionisie, how can you accept dishonor if you can’t accept it as praise?

—Aha! If we can accept dishonor as praise, that means we’re spiritual people. The Holy Fathers say that if we receive dishonor as praise, we draw nearer to God. You see? I was brought low and He saved me (Ps. 114:6).

The great saints humbled themselves before everyone. Some so humbled themselves that they said: “I’m worse than any man.” Even if they saw someone committing a sin, they didn’t think about it. They would say: “He committed this sin, but before God he’s better than me, holier. For at night he stood and bowed to God with humble-mindedness, and God forgave him; but I, having thought something bad,”—he didn’t even say anything bad about him—“if I only think something bad, I’ll be judged by God.”

See? God doesn’t allow us to judge someone else under any pretext, because then we subject ourselves to the same condemnation.

—Why do we sometimes like to compare ourselves with others? Can we sometimes calm our conscience by looking at others as devoid of conscience?

—Because there’s malice in our souls. If you see that he’s fallen, you owe it to God to help him get back up. That is, as I’ve already said, “whoever who can extract the worthy from the unworthy will be like the mouth of Christ” (cf. Jer. 15:19). For it’s not easy to correct someone who is unworthy and far from God, far from all the graces of the Holy Spirit. Unless you counsel him with meekness, not like you’re bossing him around… Give him advice, because if you talk to him like you’re giving him orders, there are no longer people who would accept this… Well, there are still, but we say this because we see that people aren’t inclined towards humility at all. Everyone walks around with their noses in the air. Since they’re like this, they have to be guided with great care so you could extract the worthy from the unworthy.

(Talk with Fr. Spyridon from Țeț Monastery, January 12, 2004)

“You can’t do anything without humility”

The most blessed thing is when a man has humble-mindedness, because then comes spiritual peace. What can I say? Spiritual peace and joy come, because no matter what happens, you have the strongest weapon—humble-mindedness. For you say: “I’m more sinful than him”—him whom you see sinning. “Woe is me, but I’m much worse than him. Much worse. What should I do?”

Yes, but don’t just say it with your mouth. Say it as St. John of Damascus said in the The Theotokarion, if you noticed: “Lord, save me by the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mother, for I am more sinful than any man on the face of the earth.” But he didn’t say it just to say it. He believed it in his soul, his mind, and his heart, in abundance. See, that’s why God elevated him to such a height of blessing. Eh, and what do you say in your soul? “Come on, I say that, but I’m not actually more sinful than everyone else.” You see? No! Believe what you’re saying, and convince yourself that it’s true.

That’s why St. John of Damascus began to get the good things of this world. The abbot sent him, a former dignitary in Damascus who went to become a monk, to the market to sell baskets: “Brother, go to Damascus, because people buy them there, and you’ll make more money. But ask so much for each basket. No more, no less. Ask this much, because the monastery needs it.”

And he didn’t reply, “Listen, Father, haven’t you thought about the fact that I was a dignitary in Damascus? And I’m supposed to go there now with baskets?” That’s how people talk today… He didn’t say anything, he just took the baskets and left. He stood there at the bazaar, but no matter how much he asked, no one gave him anything—not a penny: “That’s too expensive, man. What are you doing, Father?” But one of his old friends recognized him—he had been a high-ranking dignitary there–“Father, how much are you selling these baskets for?” “Look, this is what my abbot said—they’re this much.” And he took money out of his pocket and bought them all. He didn’t need the baskets, he just had compassion on him and thought, “Just look at the humility.”

He took the money and went back to the monastery, and the elder himself was surprised.

Do you see this real humility? Where can you find such a thing today? That’s why the Mother of God gave him the severed hand that she healed, and he went and cleaned the toilets in the monastery with it. Do you see what a terrible thing it is? You can’t do anything without humility. He didn’t say: “Yuck, why would I clean the bathrooms with these hands, for which God gave me a blessing?”

You see? Because that’s pride. He was assigned to clean them because he was a great psalmist, a gifted man, and one monk asked him to compose a troparion. He didn’t have a blessing for it, but he composed the troparion for him, and the elder heard about it. Not the abbot, but the elder. Whenever a newcomer came, the abbot would entrust him to some old monk, who would then guide him. And so, this elder sent him to clean the bathrooms for his disobedience, and he went.

Oh, we know very well how we should live, but we know in vain if we don’t use what we’re talking about. But the mercy of God is given to all people. The mercy of God!

(2002)

On the spiritual struggle

—What weapon can we use to fight pride and establish peace between proud people?

—You can always correct a loved one, but when you speak with meekness, it’s as if you’re also giving him the right… And slowly, slowly, slowly, the Heavenly Father, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, shapes us, and the man is corrected.

—And when you fight to humble yourself and be delivered from pride, how should you pray and what’s important to do first?

—Fight with all your might to establish humble-mindedness in your heart and soul. That’s the only way to overcome pride.

—How can we wage this fight?

—By asking for God’s help and voluntarily showing that you’re a man. And if you show that you have courage and ask for the help of the good Heavenly Father, then slowly, slowly, slowly you can lay the foundation for all the virtues.

—How can we fight with coldness in prayer, with a lack of zeal for spiritual struggle?

—No matter how you see yourself, no matter how cold you are—try. You don’t have true reverence when you go to church, but “I’ll go anyway.” I’ll go today, I’ll go tomorrow, and the grace of the Holy Spirit sends down blessings and you amend yourself. Butif you see that you’re leaving church without any benefit—today without benefit, tomorrow without benefit, and the day after too, you say: “So why should I go anymore? I mean, I can see that I come back the same as I was,” and then the tempter takes you away, and the danger becomes greater.

In your patience possess ye your souls (Lk. 21:19). Do you see? Be patient. Because no matter how careless I am, I’m in the Church, I’m in Noah’s Ark, so I have hope that I won’t drown. And if you don’t go at all, then the danger is much greater.

This Easter, we welcomed nearly 3,600 new Catholics to the family of God here in Los Angeles, including more than 2,000 catechumens who were baptized at the vigil Masses across the archdiocese, and more than 1,500 candidates who were newly confirmed in the faith.

Of course, these are not statistics. Each is a precious soul, a brother or sister who by grace has found joy and life in Jesus Christ. Praise God!

As I’ve been praying for these new Catholics and their families, I find myself reflecting on the beautiful rites of initiation that we use for adults preparing to enter the Church.

There is a powerful moment in the welcoming ceremonies when the priest traces the sign of the cross on the foreheads of catechumens and candidates; in some celebrations, they may also be “signed with the cross” on their hearts and hands, as well as on their eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

This practice is thought to date back to the first baptisms performed by the apostles, who Jesus commanded to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

St. Paul said to the newly baptized in Ephesus: “In him you … who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”

Catechumens are signed with the cross to signify the “seal” that the Holy Spirit places upon our souls in baptism. The sign is the “imprint of Christ.” It means our lives belong now to Jesus. It assures us that by his sacrifice on the cross, we can have salvation.

In the Bible’s final book, the redeemed are identified by the sign of the cross — called “the seal of God” or “his Father’s name” — written on their foreheads.

The cross is the great sign of Our Lord’s victory of love over sin and death, the great sign of the paschal mystery of his passion, death, and resurrection that we celebrate during these 50 days of Easter.

And Easter is a good time for us to renew our practice of this ancient prayer.

For many of us, this is the first prayer that our parents taught us when we were young. And I know many of you are teaching this prayer to your own children now. 

With this simple gesture we invoke the most holy name of the triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — and we recognize that we live now under the sign of the Lord’s cross.

The early Christians would begin and end their prayers with the sign of the cross, as we still do.

They would cross themselves many times during the day to remember the Lord’s love and to sanctify all their chores and duties. Still today, making this sign can be a powerful way to remind ourselves that everything we do, we should do for the glory of God.

St. Cyril of Jerusalem said in the fourth century, “Let us make the sign of the cross … in all circumstances: when we eat, and when we drink, when we come in and when we go out, before we sleep, when we lie down and when we arise. Here is a great protection.”

Catholics have always made the sign of the cross to seek strength to overcome their temptations, to ask God’s protection against evil, and to help them in their daily struggles against sin and selfishness.

It is a holy sign, so we should always make it slowly, thoughtfully, reverently. Not casually or in a hurry.

“Make a large cross, taking time, thinking about what you do,” the Servant of God Romano Guardini recommended. “Let it take in your whole being — body, soul, mind, will, thoughts, feelings, your doing and not-doing.”

As you trace the sign of the cross from your forehead to your heart and across your shoulders, remember that by this sign Jesus gave his life for you.

“When you make it,” St. John Chrysostom said, “remember what has been given for your ransom, and you will be the slave to no one.”

By making the sign of the cross we are declaring our love for Jesus and our identity as Catholics. We are saying yes once again to his call to take up our own cross and follow his way for our lives.

Pray for me in this holy season, and I will pray for you.

And as we thank Jesus for the gift of new life that we receive by our baptism, let us remember the sign of the cross.

May holy Mary our mother help us to live from the cross, as her Son showed us: as sons and daughters of the Father, sealed with his Spirit, and strengthened by his love until the day of our redemption.

St. Fulbert was born around the year 952, likely in Rome. He received an education from the famous teacher Gerbert, who went on to be Pope Sylvester II.

In 990, Fulbert opened a school at Chartres, which quickly became the most popular place for learning in France, drawing scholars from across Europe. Fulbert also served as chancellor of the church of Chartres. He was known for his teaching style, and typically urged his students never to put their own dialectics above the teachings of the Church and the Bible.

In 1007, Fulbert was consecrated as Bishop of Chartres. He continued to teach in his school, and when the cathedral burned down in 1020, he began to rebuild an even greater house of worship. Fulbert advocated for clergy reform and rebuked bishops who spent too much time focused on wars.

St. Fulbert died in 1029.

A number of Catholic pastoral leaders in the U.S. are applauding a new Vatican declaration on human dignity for its specific treatment of several key — and contentious — issues.

“Dignitas Infinita” (“Infinite Dignity”), released April 8 by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, recounts the biblical and magisterial basis for the Catholic Church’s understanding of human dignity as inherent, since it ultimately flows from the human person’s creation “in the image and likeness of God” and redemption in Christ.

The document, written by dicastery prefect Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, was approved by Pope Francis March 25, following a five-year course of preparation that “reflects the gravity and centrality of the theme of dignity in Christian thought,” the cardinal wrote in his opening presentation.

He also noted that “the text required a considerable process of maturation to arrive at the final version that we have published today.”

Cardinal Fernández wrote that while there is “widespread agreement” on the importance of human dignity, the term “risks lending itself to a variety of interpretations that can yield potential ambiguities.”

“We are grateful to receive this declaration on human dignity, and the U.S. bishops along with the whole church, will be studying and reflecting on it,” Chieko Noguchi, spokesperson for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, told OSV News.

Noguchi said that “the document emphasizes the long tradition of the church on the importance of always recognizing, respecting, and protecting the dignity of the human person in all circumstances, and how that needs to be understood, celebrated, and applied to the various situations and challenges we face today.”

The declaration specifically addressed “some grave violations of human dignity that are particularly relevant,” specifically poverty, war, threats to migrants, human trafficking, sexual abuse, violence against women, abortion, surrogacy, euthanasia and assisted suicide, the marginalization of people with disabilities, gender theory, sex change interventions and digital violence.

The list was not “exhaustive,” said the text.

Catholic pastoral leaders interviewed by OSV News said they welcomed the declaration’s direct treatment of such topics.

Jesuit Father James Martin, founder of the Outreach ministry to LGBTQ Catholics, told OSV News the passages on gender theory and sex change were “not surprising” as they “seem in line with previous Vatican statements.”

While deploring violence and discrimination against those struggling with their gender and sexual identity, the declaration reaffirmed church teaching on gender, describing sexual difference as “the greatest possible difference that exists between living beings,” which in humans “becomes the source of that miracle that never ceases to surprise us: the arrival of new human beings in the world.”

Father Martin said he was “grateful especially for the condemnation of violence against LGBTQ people worldwide, including the criminalization of homosexuality and the execution of gays and lesbians.”

“I hope that it reminds people, including our pastors and bishops, of the church’s stance against harassment or any kind of violence against LGBTQ people,” he said. “At the same time, I hope that the sections on ‘gender ideology’ aren’t used as a weapon against transgender people themselves, who already suffer from the severest persecution and violence.”

The declaration blasted surrogacy as a practice in which “the immensely worthy child becomes a mere object” and the woman, even if she freely participates, a “mere means subservient to the arbitrary gain or desire of others.”

Ann Koshute and Kimberly Henkel, founders of Springs in the Desert — a Catholic ministry to those struggling with infertility — commended that stance.

“We are grateful for the clear condemnation of surrogacy by the Holy Father, and exposing it for what it is — human trafficking,” Henkel told OSV News. “It is a tragedy when a mother is separated from the child she has carried within herself for nine months. This rupture of the bond between a mother and her child can create an attachment wound for both.”

“We hope this document initiates a wider conversation in the church about the pain and vulnerability of couples struggling with infertility,” said Koshute. “And we want couples carrying this cross to know that they are seen and loved, to recognize that their marriage itself is a great good, and that they are especially powerful witnesses and signs of contradiction in the world.”

The declaration called for “every effort” to be made “to encourage the inclusion and active participation of those who are affected by frailty or disability in the life of society and of the Church,” stressing that “each human being, regardless of their vulnerabilities, receives his or her dignity from the sole fact of being willed and loved by God.”

Charleen Katra, executive director of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, told OSV News that “recognizing the innate dignity of every human person initiates from an appreciation of one’s own dignity, having been made in God’s image, and a selflessness that impels us to freely share the love we first received from Jesus Christ.

“Bonds of human love allow relationships to be built and faith communities to flourish, moving us away from a ‘throwaway culture’” — a term often invoked by Pope Francis — “or a ‘benefit vs burden’ mentality,” said Katra. “An impairment or a disability never diminishes what it means to be a human person. God’s artistry is on display calling us to slow down, to see our sister or brother in Christ as someone who can lead us in prayerful reflection and deepen our spiritual growth.”

The declaration warned that euthanasia and assisted suicide present “a special case of human dignity violation that is quieter but is swiftly gaining ground,” and refuted claims that such practices constitute “death with dignity” since “suffering does not cause the sick to lose their dignity, which is intrinsically and inalienably their own.”

Amanda Achtman, who works to end euthanasia and assisted suicide in her native Canada through her “Dying to Meet You” cultural conversation project, told OSV News that “conceding to a person’s suicidal ideation does not affirm their dignity; it offends against it.”

“To have reverence for a person’s dignity is to faithfully affirm that the world is better with them in it,” said Achtman, adding the document clarified that “people are not burdens; they have burdens.”

She also praised the declaration’s “explicit reference to the personalist tradition,” which “seeks a synthesis between the subjective and objective dimensions of … human life.

“This is particularly important when considering ethics because, in the face of objective truths, the drama of moral life consists in the human subject making a response to these truths with personal freedom and responsibility,” said Achtman.

The declaration’s rejection of the death penalty, prisoner mistreatment and torture was “encouraging,” said Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Washington-based Catholic Mobilizing Network, which works to end capital punishment while fostering restorative justice.

“Every time the church reiterates its full rejection (of) the death penalty — whether from the Vatican, from a local bishop, from a parish pulpit, or through a social ministry of the church — it is an opportunity to evangelize about what it means to uphold the sacred value of each life,” she told OSV News. “Our U.S. context shows the dire need for such catechesis and instruction. … A unified Catholic voice against capital punishment in the U.S. has significant power to tip the scales towards the abolition of this deadly practice which defiles the sanctity of human life.”

Digital technologies, though offering “many possibilities for promoting human dignity,” increasingly tend “toward the creation of a world in which exploitation, exclusion, and violence grow, extending even to the point of harming the dignity of the human person,” said the declaration.

The document’s inclusion of “digital violence” as an affront to human dignity is a “prophetic witness” to a violation that is “too often … obscured online,” Brett Robinson, associate professor of the practice in Catholic media studies at the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, told OSV News.

“What the online environment lacks is an embodied encounter with others, direct contact with flesh and blood. It is in our bodies and in looking into the face of another that empathy arises and sustains us in more authentic forms of human community,” Robinson told OSV News. “It is why Christ himself chose the medium of flesh and blood to save us. The prevailing problems of the digital age will require a creative retrieval of embodied human practices like hearty handshakes, hugs, festive gatherings and true attentiveness to the other who sits across from us at the dinner table.”

Lesley Kirzeder, program director at the McGrath Institute’s “Contours of Wonder” initiative — which focuses on childhood and the liturgical imagination — agreed.

She told OSV News that “our ever increasing time in the virtual world” results in mistaking “the created world around us as one that is to be overcome and controlled rather than a symbol of God’s gratuitous love for us, to which we are compelled to respond.

“In the digital age, we have come to operate in thinner realities that we or others create, realities that turn us inward, instead of in the full and rich reality of God — one that points us outward toward the other, toward our neighbor and toward the Lord,” said Kirzeder.