Readers have no doubt heard the expression, Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi. Literal Translation: The law of praying, the law of believing, the law of living or, as it's commonly translated in English: As we pray, so shall we believe, so shall we live.
This morning after Mass I read a quote from Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, author of the Ottaviani Intervention, a letter to Pope Paul VI written in 1969 warning about the disastrous changes in the liturgy. We're reading it for book club and it is sad indeed to reflect on what has happened and where it all began.
A number of years ago while contemplating Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament during adoration, I reflected on the similarity between the host and the fertilized ovum from the Life Magazine article with the famous pictures by Lennart Nilsson. During that reflection I considered how many fail to see the reality of the baby hidden in the womb.
I had always believed that the pro-life movement was close to the heart of God, but at that moment I saw distinctly how closely the two were connected. Jesus came to earth, not as Adam, a fully grown man, but the new Adam, a tiny baby hidden in the womb/tabernacle of His mother Mary. Jesus, the God-man, is not too big to humble Himself to become one with us in our weakest moment. How can we not recognize Him, then, in His babies? When we defend them we defend Him.
American Life League has produced a powerful video that links the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist to the little image of God carried in the womb. Lord, teach us to see You in our littlest brothers and sisters.
And thanks to Janet for posting the video and catching my attention. Let all men seek Him! Pass it on.
