LOAF TIDINGS
Joy of Love in Family
It has been many years since our fight to uphold the preciousness and sanctity of human life began. From the first murder in the primordial family following the first sin, we can see divine interventions for the preservation, survival and prosperity of life. We see Jesus' incarnation, death on the cross and resurrection as part of the divine plan to lead man to the fullness of life. "I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10) is the most beautiful Word of God. Pope St. John Paul II reminds us that each one of us who are followers of Christ are people of life and people for life.
It has been 30 years since Pope St. John Paul II warned us through the Gospel of Life that the attack on life is widespread. From the beginning of human life to its natural end, many evils against the dignity of life are increasing every day. Abortion, murder, alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, sexual anarchy, neglect of the elderly, mercy killing, etc. lead to a culture of death against the value of human life which has become strong among us.
The Word of God, "He was amazed because there was no one to intervene" (Isaiah 59:16) compels us to intervene and fight against the culture of death. 'If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem'. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.. (Proverbs 24:11)
LOAF (Legion Of Apostolic Families), a Consecrated Society of families in the Archdiocese of Thrissur, has been participating in many ways in the fight for the preservation, survival and prosperity of life for the past 15 years. The families who were part of the Prolife movement that worked closely with the Family Apostolate Centre of the Archdiocese of Trichur were the first members of the LOAF community, which was started in 2009 for the sanctification and salvation of families as per the instructions of the Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath. The member families help in raising awareness about the value of life and the evils against the sanctity of life in marriage preparation classes, various parishes, educational institutions etc. in the light of church teachings. The LOAF community strives to foster a new culture of life by helping and supporting large families who bear witness to the abundance of life.
We study the teachings of St. John Paul II, who described the family as the sanctuary of life and strives to live accordingly. Exhortations of the church about life and testimonies are given in couple retreats that are conducted for new families. This is a special feature of Loaf Retreats. The Pope's words in the Evangelium vitae are remarkable: 'Objective conspiracy against life takes place in families' (EV-17). How serious are the words of Pope St. John Paul II that Contraceptive Mentality, sterilization and abortion, the basic evils that lead to the origin of the culture of death start from families.
'If a mother can kill her child, how can you tell another not to - the end of peace in the world is abortion', the words of Saint Mother Teresa remind us of the fact that the struggle for the preservation and prosperity of life must begin with families.
LOAF- A consecrated society of families, seeks to foster and promote a culture of life while working with the goal of sanctifying families and communicating God's plans for the family to other families.
Likewise, Pope St. Paul VI's warning that the love-giving and life-giving purposes of sex, the gift of God, should never be separated, and that in doing so, women would be treated as objects equal to consumption, compels every Christian family to live in conjugal purity, fidelity, and openness to human life. Let us pray for the implementation of God's plan for every Christian family to grow day by day in conjugal holiness and become a Holy Sanctuary of Life.
We can join hands to raise a new culture of human life and take up the task of respecting, loving and protecting every human life from the beginning moment of human life to its natural end through struggles like "March for Life" which are carried out for the protection and prosperity of life by raising the slogan of abolishing the MTP Act.
May the abundant life of Jesus bless us all.
" Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter."
--- Proverbs 24: 11
Dr. George Leons & Ani George.
LOAF President Couple
I was admitted to the ICU when I was carrying my 7th child (now we have 5 children) due to a sudden onset of cardiac complications. Treatment that would normally be given to a patient in this condition was not possible during pregnancy. At that time, the doctors gave me mild dose medicines that a mother carrying a baby can be given. But they were a little upset because they did not see any progress according to their expectations. In such a situation, they were worried about the health of the mother more than the health of the baby. The doctor shared with us about the seriousness of my condition at that time.
Naturally, I realized that I was the one responsible for making the final decision. I insisted on one thing.The Life of the child in my womb is as precious as my life. So I was not ready to accept the treatment which will affect the baby's life.
The prayers of many persons in the following days and the medicines together brought me back to normal. I was discharged from the hospital within a week and came home. That pregnancy period was a time of complete dependence on God. I am a teacher and after a month's leave God allowed me to go back to work until the day before my delivery.
Unlike previous pregnancies, I began to fully seek the Holy Spirit's help in my weakness. There could have been complications during the delivery but through normal delivery I gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby. Those were the days when I felt God's love and care.
I use every opportunity to talk to my students about the value of life. In moral science classes it was easy to say that the life of the child is as valuable as the life of the mother. That decision was not easy when I went through such a crisis in my life. But at that stage there were many people who poured strength to us by being with us to take the decision to save the child's life. There were many who joined us especially through prayer.
At this time we remember with gratitude all the teachers who strove to inculcate deep convictions about the value of life during the period of my college education. Precisely and clearly, the convictions imparted by them about the value of life were always a guide and an inspiration in the journey of my life.
We too can be advocates and protectors of life in any crisis. Let's pray for the grace to do so!
Ani George Leons