Life Begins at Conception. When life is conceived in the mother’s womb, it is not just the physical form that has been created but a Soul has been created by our Heavenly Father. This Soul is eternal. It doesn’t cease to exist when life on earth ends.

Then God said, “Let us make human kind in our image, according to our likeness…..” – Genesis 1:26

“So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1: 27

Isn’t it wonderful how God created mankind in his own image to share his love with us. God created mankind and blessed him to be fruitful. He blessed man with the gift to become co-creators of life through human procreation.

God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.” – Genesis 1: 28

We are called to be faithful to God’s design. Human Life is sacred and from its very inception, it reveals the creating hand of God.

If life begins at conception, have we prevented this life at any stage? Have we destroyed a life which was created by God alone and not by our own abilities? Abortion may be a raging topic but what about Contraception?

Human Embryo - Approximately 6 weeks from conception

The Catholic Church has always opposed contraception. Never has the Church wavered on its stance on Contraception unlike the other Christian denominations. Artificial contraception is considered a mortal sin. This has been explained and expressed by Pope Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae in 1968. Some methods of natural family planning are morally permissible, as they do not oppose the natural way of conception.

Natural family planning (NFP) refers to the family planning methods approved by the Roman Catholic Church, which keeps the dignity of the human person, and excludes the use of other methods of birth control. It emphasizes the Principles of Married Love & Responsible Parenthood. NFP methods can be used to achieve and avoid pregnancy. NFP is the most effective method of Family Planning when followed correctly.

Birth Control Pills have become the norm in the Western World. Women often chose from the numerous forms of Birth Control available – be it The Pill, The Patch, Implantable Rods, Intrauterine Devices or even Emergency Contraception such as the “Morning After Pill” or “Plan B”. Men often choose Barrier Methods, Vasectomy or Sterilization. All these forms of Artificial Contraception hamper the dignity of human life and destroy the whole moral law of marriage.

How often are we ashamed as Catholics to practice Natural Family Planning. We may be devout Catholics who attend mass without fail on every Sunday, we may be reciting our Morning & Evening Prayers faithfully, we may be going for Confession regularly, we may be sending our children to Catholic Schools, but are we Open to Life? Have we failed when it comes to the Church’s Teaching on NFP? Have we ignored NFP as an impractical method? Have we ridiculed the Church for promoting NFP? Have we proudly practiced Contraception in one form or the other? Do we believe that NFP is difficult to follow and is prone to failure?

There are many Catholics who firmly believe that Abortion is a sin but completely support Artificial Contraception. Abortion and Contraception are mortal sins. They can be seen as two sides of the same coin. There are many people who do not practice NFP as they have never heard about it -  specially in the Developing countries.

Sometimes, it is heart-breaking to see friends and family practicing Contraception as if it’s the most natural thing to do. They talk about Copper T and Mirena IUDs as if it’s part of your human body. Many Catholics happily avoid Catholic hospitals and seek out Secular hospitals for undergoing contraceptive medical procedures.

Whom are we deceiving? Are we defying the Catholic Church or are we defying our Lord Jesus Christ? It’s time to wake up and realize the gravity of the sin we are committing. Let us take time to learn more about the Catholic Church’s teachings on Life, Abortion and Contraception. Let us try whole-heartedly to explore Natural Family Planning and its benefits rather than ridiculing it.

Food for Thought

1. Have I opposed the Church’s teaching which is Christ’s teaching on Abortion & Contraception?
2. Have I practiced Artificial Contraception thus becoming selfish and not open to life?
3. Have I taken steps to know more about Natural family Planning and it’s dignity?
4. Have I mistreated by body by loading it with hormones and other contraceptive devices?
5. Have I respected my Spouse and treated him/her with dignity?
6. Have I seen my children as a blessing from God or do I take them for granted?

Catholic Resources

1. Natural Family Planning – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
2. Couple-to-Couple League – An international, Catholic, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and teaching fertility awareness (natural family planning)
3. Billings Ovulation Method
4. Natural Family Planning – Key to Intimacy
5. What does the Church teach about Birth Control? – on EWTN
   

A Prayer for Life

Father and maker of all,
you adorn all creation
with splendor and beauty,
and fashion human lives
in your image and likeness.
Awaken in every heart
reverence for the work of your hands,
and renew among your people
a readiness to nurture and sustain
your precious gift of life.

Grant this through our Lord
Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in
the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

]]> http://lordcalls.com/general/life-begins-at-conception/feed 0 http://lordcalls.com/bibleadvice/when-you-are-in-need-of-forgiveness-pslam-51 http://lordcalls.com/bibleadvice/when-you-are-in-need-of-forgiveness-pslam-51#comments Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:27:18 +0000 admin http://lordcalls.com/?p=1320 Continue reading →]]>

Psalm 51 is a beautiful prayer for Cleansing and Pardon. When you have sinned and are in need of God’s mercy, open your hearts to the Lord and repent over your sins wholeheartedly. Here are verses 1 to 12 of Psalm 51 which will help us in praying to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight,
So that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgement.
Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing heart.

Amen

Psalm 15 is a beautiful Psalm of David which teaches the qualities of a Righteous Man. We are born in this world to live a righteous life, giving thanks and praise to the Lord. We are here to spread love, joy and peace. During our short sojourn on earth, we should spend each moment loving and helping others. In doing so, we are living out God’s will for us and when we come to the end of our earthly journey, we shall inherit the greatest of all gifts from God – Heaven.

Psalm 15 describes the Righteous Man who shall abide in God’ Sanctuary. These verses guide us and teach us on how we should live our lives so that we can dwell in our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom. As we read this Psalm, let us look into ourselves and ask God for forgiveness for the many times we have failed the Lord.

“1. O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?

2. Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;

3. who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbours;

4. in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honour those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;

5. who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

6. Those who do these things shall never be moved.”

Amen

Here is the list of Malayalam Christian Devotional Songs with Lyrics.

1. Suvishesha Geethikal Paadaan
2. Nithya Sahaaya Nathe
3. Nithya Vishudhayaam Kanya Mariyame
4. Ethrayum Dayulla Maathaave

Often when we sin, we feel sad and remorse and even more guilty. We feel that the Lord has moved away from our lives because of our sins. We are filled with shame and try to move further away from Jesus. We are reluctant to go back to our loving Father. We falsely believe that the Lord will punish us and that there is no escape from his great wrath – and so we continue to live in sin.

It is always good to remember that our Lord is ever merciful. No matter how big our sins are or how numerous they are, we still have chance for forgiveness and mercy. We only need to do a few things :-

• Feel truly sorry for our sins knowing that we have committed a mistake.
  
• Ask Lord for his forgiveness and healing.
• Make a decision not to fall into temptation and commit the same sin again.

If we can do the above, then we can truly experience the joy of forgiveness.

Psalm 32 dwells on the Joy of Forgiveness. It is good to read this Psalm when you need to turn away from your sins and ask God for his divine Mercy. This beautiful Psalm depicts the pain of living in sin and the joy of confession.

“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Selah

Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD “—
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Selah

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him.

You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.

Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.

Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD’s unfailing love
surrounds the man who trusts in him.

Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart! “

Amen

Psalm 23 is perhaps the most read Psalm. This wonderful Psalm of David fills our heart with peace. When Jesus Christ, our Shepherd is there with us, we can leave aside all our worries and rejoice. Whenever you feel worried or anxious, Psalm 23 can assure you of how the Lord takes cares of each one of us.

” The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths for his names sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;

for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life;

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.“

Psalm 91 is a very powerful Psalm which assures you of God’s Protection from all dangers. Whenever you fell troubled at heart, Psalm 91 can assure you, comfort you and strengthen you. It reminds you of the loving care and protection of the Almighty. You will be safe in the hands of the Almighty and you need not have any worries. When you call upon the Lord, he will answer all your prayers. It is good to include Psalm 91 as part of your Daily Prayer.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge-then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Amen

The rosary is a part of Catholic Tradition. The following steps will tell you how to pray the rosary.

1. Begin with the “Sign of the Cross.”
2. Pray the “Apostles’ Creed” while holding the crucifix.
3. Pray an “Our Father in Heaven“.
4. Prayer three “Hail Marys“.
5. Pray the “Glory Be to the Father“.
6. Announce the first mystery, then pray an “Our Father“.
7. Pray ten “Hail Marys” (called a decade).
8. Pray the “Glory Be” and the “Fatima Prayer“.
9. Before each decade, announce the next mystery, followed by an “Our Father“.
10. For each set of ten beads on your rosary, pray 10 “Hail Marys” while meditating on the mystery.
11. After the five decades are completed, pray the “Hail Holy Queen” and the “Concluding Rosary Prayer“.

The Rosary Mysteries
Every day, a mystery is chosen from the following:-

1. The Glorious Mysteries – to be prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays, and after the Resurrection of our Lord (Easter).
2. The Joyful Mysteries – to be prayed on Mondays and Saturdays, and during Christmas and Advent Seasons.
3. The Sorrowful Mysteries – to be prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays, and during Lenten Season.
4. The Luminous Mysteries – to be prayed on on Thursdays.

Concluding Rosary Prayer

O God, whose only begotten Son, by his life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of Eternal Life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Learn to Pray the Rosary in Malayalam over here

Many of us would have wondered why we bless ourselves with Holy Water while entering and leaving church.
Holy Water is a popular sacramental and religious tradition used to bless oneself.

It’s use upon entering Church is a reminder of One’s Baptism and a gesture of purifying oneself before approaching the presence of God.

So don’t forget to bless yourself with Holy Water while entering and leaving Church.

May the Lord Bless us all abundantly.

For the past eight years the North Carolina Legislature has not allowed a Choose Life specialty license plate to be brought to the floor for a vote. NC already has over 130 specialty plates in use. Your signature on this petition would show our legislators that there is support for the Choose Life plate in NC and that it should be allowed to be brought to a vote.

There are now 24 states with Choose Life license plates. NC is the only state in the southeast that prohibits the sale of the Choose Life license plate.

We need help in convincing NC Sate Legislators to allow the Choose Life license plate to be made vailable in NC.

An online petition has been created by the Carolina Pregnancy care Fellowship and can be found ar http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ncchooselife/

Please do sign for the petition.