Evangelium Vitae Articles 80-82: To Proclaim Jesus is To Proclaim Life
This post is taken from “John Paul II - The Encyclicals in Everyday Language” by Joseph G. Donders
That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you (1 Jn 1:3) Proclaiming the Gospel of Life
80. Jesus is the only Gospel;
we have nothing further to say
or any other witness to bear.
To proclaim Jesus is to proclaim life,
the eternal life given to us.
We feel a need to proclaim this good news
that exceeds every human expectation.
Our gratitude and joy
impel us to share this message with everyone.
81. This involves above all the core of this Gospel,
the proclamation of a God who is close to us,
who calls us to profound communion with God,
awakening in us the hope of eternal life.
It is the affirmation of the inseparable connection
between person, life, and bodiliness.
It is the presentation of human life.
as God’s gift, the fruit and sign of God’s love.
It is the proclamation that Jesus
has a unique relationship with every person,
which enables us to see in every face
the face of Christ.
It is the call for a “sincere gift of self”
as the fullest way to realize personal freedom.
It also involves making clear
all the consequences of this Gospel:
human life is sacred and inviolable,
procured abortion and euthanasia
are absolutely unacceptable.
The meaning of human life is found in giving and receiving love,
and in this light human sexuality and procreation
reach their true and full significance.
82. Teachers, catechists and theologians
have the task of emphasizing the reasons
for our respect for human life.
It is in all this that we shall find
important points of contact and dialogue with non-believers.
With so many opposing and negative points of view,
all of us - and above all those who are bishops -
have to announce all this “in season and out of season” (2 Tim 4:2)
We need to make sure that this sound doctrine is taught
in theological faculties, seminaries, and Catholic institutions.
We should not fear hostility or unpopularity,
and we should avoid all ambiguity.
We must be in the world but not of the world. (cf Jn 16:33)
From “Evangelium Vitae” #80-82
“John Paul II - The Encyclicals in Everyday Language” by Joseph G. Donders
For a study guide to Evangelium Vitae, see the Priests for Life website
For the original encyclical in its entirety, see the Vatican website
