Evangelium Vitae Articles 78-79: Out of Darkness
This post is taken from “John Paul II - The Encyclicals in Everyday Language” by Joseph G. Donders
You are Gods’ own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)
78. The Church received the Gospel of Life- an integral part of which is Christ himself -
as a gift, a proclamation, and a source of joy and salvation.
The church has received it as a gift from Jesus, sent by the Father,
‘to preach good news to the poor’ (Lk 4:18)
79. We are the people of life,
ransomed by the ‘Author of Life.’
Through Baptism we have been made part of him
renewed by the grace of the Spirit.
We have been sent.
We have been sent as a people.
with the obligation to be at the service of life.
We have a community commitment
that does not lessen our individual responsibility.
From “Evangelium Vitae” #78-79
“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
