Restoring value to the gift of life An encouragement to restore value to the gift of life. This, in short is the content of the message which Lithuanian bishops addressed to the faithful on the occasion of the Day for Life, celebrated past April 21st. “Us adults, overburdened with our daily concerns -is written in the Note – no longer understand the authentic meaning of life and how beautiful it is. For this, “children can provide an indispensable support”. Their unconditioned love for their mother and father show the amount of goodness transmitted by living the presence of God and how great the mission of paternity and maternity is”. “Be generous when you decide how many children you intend to have”, the bishops exhorted, recalling that “it is not coincidental that according to surveys, families who have more children are less likely to get divorced, and their children never experience boredom or solitude”, while “the need to save material resources” is “greatly compensated by the joy of the community”. The Church “is concerned for the wellbeing of the family and solicits the enactment of policies in its favour”. It equally “invites Lithuanians not to expect to achieve the economic level of the other European States to give life to a second or third child”. According to the bishops, “when one seeks the accomplishment of one’s professional sphere one easily forgets that procreation – which is an act of cooperation with God in the creation and development of the human person – gives a profound meaning to life which can hardly be replaced with any other kind of activity or professional success”. “Allowing men to grow strong and happy – they claim – is the significance of fatherly vocation”. “When we speak of life we cannot forget the painful issue of abortions”, the prelates reminded, pointing out that “one of the major causes is the unawareness of the fact that not allowing this small, fragile beginning of a new life (the embryo) to develop, wipes off the possibility of having a person who will love you more than anyone else”. This loss, they claimed, “remains a long time in the abysses of the soul”, and with the passing of time “doesn’t decrease but becomes stronger, perceived as a very painful experience”. For this reason, the message concludes, “in its defense of life the Church intends to protect also the heart of a mother and a father from the feeling of guilt and disappointment for their own life”. The right environment for vocations”The Church prays to the Lord that He may send more workers in its vineyards” to “proclaim it word” by donating itself in generous service to others”. These are the first lines of the message of Lithuanian bishops for the World Day of Vocations celebrated past April 13 on “Vocations, at the service of the Church-mission”. “For centuries – wrote the prelates – through the imposition of the hands the Lord consecrates men through whom He continues bringing redemption to the world”. “God chooses and calls people to accomplish this important service” not according to human criteria but “by looking inside men’s heart” since “all spiritual vocations come from Him”. The bishops encourage to pray so that those “who were called by God” may bravely “respond to this calling”. According to the prelates, this is not sufficient: “undoubtedly God himself calls”, but “the ecclesial community, and all of us too, ought to create a vocation-friendly environment”.”Parents – exhorted the bishops – should rejoice at the fact that their sons choose the path of priesthood. They should encourage and help them. However, for this to happen it is necessary that believers recover the value and the significance of priesthood”. In this framework, Bishops consider “the vitality of our parishes and communities” crucial. “Experience has proven that many vocations are born in those parishes where the faithful live a life of faith and are well-integrated within the community” where “the youth, in their concrete experience of faith”, perceive “the importance of priesthood” and “feel they are needed by the faithful”. According to the prelates, “it’s not true that the youth doesn’t feel ready for the service”. Indeed, “if they will perceive its importance they will choose that path”. The role of the families, “where faith needs to be developed” is equally decisive. “Just like you need priests” – is the address to parents – they need you too”.
