The month of October brings two important Catholic themes to our attention. It is the month of the Rosary and Respect Life month. October 7th is the traditional day which honors Our Lady of the Rosary. This feast was first celebrated in 1573 in Italy in gratitude following a 16th century naval victory at Lepanto, Italy which prevented the Turks from invading Christian Europe. Pope Pius V attributed this important victory to the intercession of Our Lady, brought about by the devout recitation of the rosary by the naval crews on over 200 ships as well as by countless Catholics throughout Europe in preparation for this battle. Because of its origins in a naval victory, this feast was previously called Our Lady of Victory, and was extended to the universal Church in 1716 by Pope Clement XI. Since this unique feast falls during the month of October, it has been traditional for the Church to pay particular attention to the praying of the Rosary throughout the month. Perhaps individuals, small groups or families might gather for the recitation of the rosary frequently during October. We might also choose to arrive early before the Weekday or Sunday Mass to pray the Rosary privately beforehand or even afterwards. If you do not have a rosary or you do not know how to pray the rosary, packets are available in the main entrance of the church. October is also the month dedicated to awareness of the Church’s teaching on the dignity and profound worth of every human life from the moment of conception until natural death. Many equate “Respect Life” with the Church’s firm opposition to abortion for any reason. Of course, this is an extremely important component of our respect for life, for if the child conceived in the womb is not brought to birth, we cannot honor or respect that life at any later stage of development. As important as it is to come to the defense of the unborn, it also is important not to forget that once born, each human life continues to require our utmost respect and reverence. This means children must have access to adequate food, shelter, healthcare and education. We must continue to respect the dignity of life into adulthood, which again includes working to eradicate poverty, racism, sexism, abuse of any kind – including bullying and sexual harassment – and especially to care for the most vulnerable among us including the aged, the infirmed, persons with disabilities, and refugees fleeing oppression, violence, famine or economic distress. Capital punishment is inconsistent with a true respect for life as noted by Pope St. John Paul II in his encyclical “The Gospel of Life,” a teaching reaffirmed by Pope Francis. Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide are also incompatible with a consistent life ethic. Even those who have made the tragic decision to have an abortion need our compassion and opportunities for forgiveness and healing. There are ministries in the Church such as Project Rachel (hopeafterabortion.com) and the Sisters of Life ([email protected]) that assist women and men suffering from the psychological and spiritual trauma of having been involved in an abortion. Perhaps we might dedicate some time this month for further education and reflection of the Church’s teaching on the dignity and respect for all human life, and even include this intention as we are praying the rosary during this month of the rosary.