Youth Apostles Online
Newsletter for Catholic Teens : June 2003
Contents:
Our Precious Unborn Baby
Never Been Born, by Fr. Stan Fortuna
Our Precious Unborn Baby
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your patience with me, as I missed last month's newsletter. I have a good excuse. My husband and I are pregnant again! Woo hoo! And this baby is letting me know that it's healthy and growing down there by giving me perpetual morning sickness and making me super-sleepy. So, I've been a little bit less than my normal "I'm going to write an inspiring, encouraging newsletter!" self. He, he.
I've always been pro-life, but when my husband and I saw our baby's first ultra-sound pictures, my awareness of how precious and sacred unborn babies lives are jumped to a whole new level. Besides saying things like, "Ahhh!", "Look! Look!", "Oh, my goodness!", and "How cool!", one of my first comments was, "And they say this isn't a human being?!" At the time, our little baby was only 8 weeks old, and just about an inch long, but it had all the internal organs of an adult... and check this out... we could see its heart beating! In fact, its heart had started beating just 18 or so days after conception.
Yet, there are those who believe that it should be a woman's choice to take her unborn baby's life. Amidst all the press coverage of Norma McCorvey (the original "Jane Roe" from the Roe vs. Wade Supreme court case that legalized Abortion), who now wants that decision overturned, I saw our local news station interviewing an abortion doctor. He actually said, "When I do an abortion, of course I'm killing an unborn baby. I know that..." Can you believe it?!
Read that again...
"When I do an abortion, of course I'm killing an unborn baby. I know that..."
Let us pray for all those who are involved with the promotion of abortion in our country and our world--may their hearts be converted. And for all those young women, who often blindly get swept into taking the life of their unborn child, may God give them peace and healing.
If you're wondering what else you can do, there are tons of pro-life groups around the country that you can get involved in--maybe there's one at your school or at your church. Pray a Rosary in front of an abortion clinic, or get involved with your local women's crisis pregnancy center.
Finally, be a part of the Chastity revolution! I believe chastity is the foundation on which the pro-life movement must be built. When you live a life of chastity, pregnancy becomes a joyful and beautiful celebration of life and love within a healthy and holy marriage, not something to be terminated because of its inconvenience. Let's spread the fire. Chastity is a lifestyle that brings freedom--not only from pregnancy outside of marriage, but from countless other negative effects that come from following a path other than the awesome one that God calls us to. Do I hear an Amen? Amen! :)
Until next month, I remain...
Your Eucharist loving, Blessed Mother petitioning, rockin' Catholic Church obeying, Pope John Paul II devotee and fellow sinner in need of God's grace and mercy,
Michele TePas
Youth Apostles Online
Got a Question? Need Encouragement?
Email me at
Never Been Born
You guys have to check out this totally hip pro-life song by cooler-than-life, rap-master, Fr. Stan Fortuna from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in the Bronx. Yes, a rapping priest! If you haven't seen or heard him before, you are going to LOVE him. This song is so powerful -- it can open eyes and convert hearts. It's from his CD "Sacro Song" and it's called "Never Been Born." Check out a sample of the lyrics:
VERSE: She didn't want me. She didn't spare me. If she held me, she never would've let the doctor come and tear me from the life womb. Now a killing room. Abortion by the hands of the doctor and the nurse turns the God-given blessin' into a human curse. She made the wrong choice. I still gotta voice. Yo world it's enough and stop sinnin', 'cause if you're willin' to stop the killin' and let the mercy into help you start feeling'. But what ya feelin' for world healin'. Yo you can't stop me from talkin' and revealin'. I'm in a better place. If you could see my face. You would speak up, make a statement, to save the race. You would never let it happen again. Never been born.
CHORUS: Our lives have been taken. Our bodies have been torn. You can't stop us from talking' 'cause we never been born. (repeat)
Be sure to listen to this sample of the song.
To order this CD or any other CDs by Fr. Stan (I think you'll also like "Sacro Song II"), visit Francesco Productions.
