Loving Life - The Branches, October 6, 2026

The Lord is my portion, I tell myself, therefore I will hope in him. The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one that seeks him. (Lamentations 3:24-25)

October 6, 2026

Hello Everyone —

October is Respect Life Month. Last Sunday, we not only celebrated the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi but also Respect Life Sunday. Throughout this month we pause to reflect more deeply on the sacred gift of human life and our role in welcoming, cherishing and protecting the lives of our sisters and brothers.

In the mid-nineties, a prayer was composed that raised a fair amount of ire among many who heard it. At different times, it was attributed to the evangelist Billy Graham and entitled “A Prayer for Our Nation.” At other times, authorship was ascribed to the radio personality Paul Harvey and was known as his “On Air Prayer.”

It is not my intent to resolve the question of authorship. Of interest, however, is why it was seen as so divisive. The prayer, while petitioning for forgiveness and seeking divine guidance, states in its opening lines: “Woe to those who call evil good.” From there, the author provides a litany of statements, among which include:

We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your [God’s] Word and called it pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have abused power and called it politics.

There is at least a half dozen more statements as such before the prayer concludes with a request to be set free from sin. For Paul Harvey anyway, the public reading of the prayer over the airwaves caused one of the largest responses to any of his radio programs.

What ensued was a lengthy debate on the nature of wordsmithing. Whether intended or not by the actual author of the prayer, a glaring light was cast on how words can be and are manipulated and how, as a result, the truth is distorted leading to confusion, indifference and even disdain.

Like it or not, a word of truth had been spoken at that time, and a line had been drawn in the sand. But we know that words continue to be used to misrepresent, diminish and disregard.

Interestingly enough, about the same time as the prayer in question was causing consternation among some, a saintly successor of St. Peter published an encyclical entitled Evangelium Vitae (“The Gospel of Life” – March 25, 1995).

What prompted St. John Paul II to write at that moment was his own reflection on the signs of the times. In particular, the blatant disregard for human life and the pervasive attacks on human dignity in an ever-increasing manner compelled the pontiff to speak out.

“The Gospel of Life” in a fresh and resounding way spoke a word of truth in the face of a malignant and growing culture of death which had been brought about by so much wordsmithing to make palatable what has no place in a world redeemed yet still struggling. This word of truth had caused a new line in the sand to be drawn.

In light of the encyclical, it is not a matter only of cataloguing the crimes against life in all its forms, moments and stages. Nor is it a matter of working to bring about the cessation of the destruction of the God-given gift of life and its inherent dignity. However essential and requisite these actions are, St. John Paul II beckons each and every one of us to actively promote life because of who we are — and by how we live — in our words and actions. He writes:

We are the people of life because God, in his unconditional love, has given us the Gospel of life and by this same Gospel we have been transformed and saved. We have been ransomed by the "Author of life" (Acts 3:15) at the price of his precious blood (cf. 1 Cor 6:20; 7:23; 1 Pet 1:19). (n. 79)

He continues: We have been sent as a people. Everyone has an obligation to be at the service of life. This is a properly "ecclesial" responsibility, which requires concerted and generous action by all the members and by all sectors of the Christian community. (n. 79)

In other words, we must never tire of working to sustain life — loving it — protecting it — and praying for the protection of it. It is not an option. It must flow from who we are as created in the divine image and likeness — the One who is the source of all life.

As I do for you, please pray for me,

Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee