Letters

Anniversary of Humanae Vitae

Ken Bayliss

Contents - Sep 2013 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Catholic voters and the 2013 Federal Election Hobart's new Archbishop ready for the challenges of leadership - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Cardinal Burke: What is good liturgy? World Youth Day 2013: Pope Francis inspires Rio - Peter Westmore Oasis: Finding rapprochement and peace among the Abrahamic religions - Patrick Byrne The Church's crises old and new - Bishop James D. Conley A covenant: essence of true marriage - Anne Lastman Frassati: The Holy Terror: a model for young Catholic men - Br Barry Coldrey Letters: Natural law - Fr Bernard McGrath Letters: Anniversary of Humanae Vitae - Ken Bayliss Letters: Year of Faith - John Frey Letters: Contraception is harmful - Anne Lastman Letters: Anti-life values - Andrew Foong Letters: Abortion link - George Simpson Letters: Inconsistency - John H. Cooney Letters: Causal connection - Francis Young Books: A PILGRIM'S JOURNEY: Autobiography of Ignatius of Loyola, Joseph N. Tylenda SJ - Michael E Daniel (reviewer) Books: WAYS OF PRAYING, by Father John Edwards SJ - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: MYSTICS IN THE MAKING: Laywomen in Today's Church, by Carolyn Humphreys - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: Put on Christ: Pope Francis' World Youth Day homily - Pope Francis

A prayer issued, with ecclesiastical approbation, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Humanae Vitae follows for readers' interest:

"Eternal Father, we beg pardon for the times we have offended You by sins of impurity when we have not regulated our lives in accordance with Your teaching, so beautifully and simply expressed by Your Church (through Your Vicar Pope Paul VI in his encyclical letter Humanae Vitae).

"We promise to make reparation for these sins, and the sins of all our brothers and sisters.

"We pray that all married couples may live their lives in accordance with Your Divine Law in the transmission of life.

"We consecrate our lives to the Sacred Heart of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, wounded by our sins and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, His mother and ours.

"Jesus send Your Holy Spirit upon us, and all our brothers and sisters, for the grace to have great love and fidelity for Your Vicar, Our Holy Father Pope Francis, so that we will always obey the teachings of Your Holy Catholic Church. Amen.

"Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us (3 times). Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, pray for us. Mary Help of Christians, pray for us. St Joseph, pray for us. All you Holy Angels and Saints, pray for us."

Books I recommend for younger readers unfamiliar with the historical setting of Humanae Vitae within the teaching of the Church (especially in an Australian context) are:

Rome or the Bush and New Church or True Church (both by Michael Gilchrist) and The Campion Society (Colin H. Jory). Both authors explain the great influence of Pius XI and Pius XII in promoting Catholic Action throughout the world – including the Campion Society (in Melbourne 1930), the forerunner the Movement and the National Civic Council.

They also detail Paul VI's appeal to the laity to show the love of the Church and to come to her aid following the backlash of followers of "the Spirit of Vatican II" against Humanae Vitae.

KEN BAYLISS
Holland Park West, Qld.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 26 No 8 (September 2013), p. 15