> [[jpii-ev-05|← Previous]] | [[evengelium-vitae-toc|TOC]] **[1]** The expression "Gospel of life" is not found as such in Sacred Scripture. But it does correspond to an essential dimension of the biblical message. **[2]** Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 22. **[3]** Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Redemptor Hominis* (4 March 1979), 10; *AAS* 71 (1979), 275. **[4]** Cf. *ibid*., 14: *loc.cit*., 285. **[5]** Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 27. **[6]** Cf. Letter to all my Brothers in the Episcopate regarding the "Gospel of Life" (19 May 1991): *Insegnamenti* XIV, 1 (1991), 1293-1296. **[7]** *Ibid*., *loc.cit*., p. 1294. **[8]** Letter to Families *Gratissimam sane* (2 February 1994), 4: *AAS* 86 (1994), 871. **[9]** John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Centesimus Annus* (1 May 1991), 39: *AAS* 83 (1991), 842. **[10]** No. 2259. **[11]** Saint Ambrose, *De Noe*, 26:94-96: *CSEL* 32, 480-481. **[12]** Cf. *Catechism of the Catholic Church*, Nos. 1867 and 2268. **[13]** *De Cain et Abel*, II, 10, 38: *CSEL*, 32, 408. **[14]** Cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation *Donum Vitae*: *AAS* 80 (1988), 70-102. **[15]** Address during the Prayer Vigil for the Eighth World Youth Day, Denver, 14 August 1993, II, 3: *AAS* 86 (1994), 419. **[16]** John Paul II, Address to the Participants at the Study Conference on "The Right to Life and Europe", 18 December 1987: *Insegnamenti*, X, 3 (1987), 1446-1447. **[17]** Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 36. **[18]** Cf. *ibid*., 16. **[19]** Cf. Saint Gregory the Great, *Moralia in Job*, 13, 23: *CCL* 143A, 683. **[20]** John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Redemptor Hominis* (4 March 1979), 10; *AAS* 71 (1979), 274. **[21]** Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 50. **[22]** Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation *Dei Verbum*, 4. **[23]** "Gloria Dei vivens homo": *Adversus Haereses*, IV, 20, 7: *SCh* 100/2, 648-649. **[24]** Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 12. **[25]** *Confessions*, I, 1: *CCL* 27, 1. **[26]** *Exameron*, VI, 75-76: *CSEL* 32, 260-261. **[27]** "Vita autem hominis visio Dei": *Adversus Haereses*, IV, 20, 7: *SCh* 100/2, 648-649. **[28]** Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Centesimus Annus* (1 May 1991), 38: *AAS* 83 (1991), 840-841. **[29]** John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Sollicitudo Rei Socialis* (30 December 1987), 34: *AAS* 80 (1988), 560. **[30]** Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 50. **[31]** Letter to Families *Gratissimam sane* (2 February 1994), 9: *AAS* 86 (1994), 878; cf. Pius XII, Encyclical Letter *[[humani-generis|Humani Generis]]* (12 August 1950): *AAS* 42 (1950), 574. **[32]** "Animas enim a Deo immediate creari catholica fides nos retinere iubet": Pius XII, Encyclical Letter *[[humani-generis|Humani Generis]]* (12 August 1950): *AAS* 42 (1950), 575. **[33]** Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 50; cf. John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation *Familiaris Consortio* (22 November 1981), 28: *AAS* 74 (1982), 114. **[34]** *Homilies*, II, 1; *CCSG* 3, 39. **[35]** See, for example, Psalms 22:10-11; 71:6; 139:13-14. **[36]** *Expositio Evangelii secundum Lucam*, II, 22-23: *CCL*, 14, 40-41. **[37]** Saint Ignatius of Antioch, *Letter to the Ephesians,* 7, 2: *Patres Apostolici*, ed. F.X. Funk, II, 82. **[38]** *De Hominis Opificio*, 4: PG 44, 136. **[39]** Cf. Saint John Damascene, *De Fide Orthodoxa*, 2, 12: *PG* 94, 920.922, quoted in Saint Thomas Aquinas, *Summa Theologiae*, I-II, Prologue. **[40]** Paul VI, Encyclical Letter *Humanae Vitae* (25 July 1968), 13: AAS 60 (1968), 489. **[41]** Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation *Donum Vitae* (22 February 1987), Introduction, No. 5: *AAS* 80 (1988), 76-77; cf. *Catechism of the Catholic Church,* No. 2258. **[42]** *Didache*, I, 1; II, 1-2; V, 1 and 3: *Patres Apostolici*, ed. F.X. Funk, I, 2-3, 6-9, 14-17; cf. *Letter of Pseudo-Barnabas*, XIX, 5: *loc. cit.*, 90-93. **[43]** Cf. *Catechism of the Catholic Church*, Nos. 2263-2269; cf. also *Catechism of the Council of Trent* III, §§ 327-332. **[44]** *Catechism of the Catholic Church*, No. 2265. **[45]** Cf. Saint Thomas Aquinas, *Summa Theologiae*, II-II, q. 64, a. 7; Saint Alphonsus De' Liguori, *Theologia Moralis*, l. III, tr. 4, c. 1, dub.3. **[46]** *Catechism of the Catholic Church*, No. 2266. **[47]** Cf. *ibid*. **[48]** No. 2267. **[49]** Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church *Lumen Gentium*, 12. **[50]** Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 27. **[51]** Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church *Lumen Gentium*, 25. **[52]** Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration on Euthanasia *Iura et Bona* (5 May 1980), II: AAS 72 (1980), 546. **[53]** Encyclical Letter *Veritatis Splendor* (6 August 1993), 96: *AAS* 85 (1993), 1209. **[54]** Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 51, "Abortus necnon infanticidium nefanda sunt crimina". **[55]** Cf. John Paul II, Apostolic Letter *Mulieris Dignitatem* (15 August 1988), 14: *AAS* 80 (1988), 1686. **[56]** No. 21: *AAS* 86 (1994), 920. **[57]** Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, *Declaration on Procured [[abortion]]* (18 November 1974), Nos. 12-13: *AAS* 66 (1974), 738. **[58]** Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation *Donum Vitae* (22 February 1987), I, No. 1: *AAS* 80 (1988), 78-79. **[59]** *Ibid*., *loc. cit.*, 79. **[60]** Hence the Prophet Jeremiah: "The word of the Lord came to me saying: 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations'" (1:4-5). The Psalmist, for his part, addresses the Lord in these words: "Upon you I have leaned from my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb" (Ps 71:6; cf. *Is* 46:3; *Job* 10:8-12; *Ps* 22:10-11). So too the Evangelist Luke - in the magnificent episode of the meeting of the two mothers, Elizabeth and Mary, and their two sons, John the Baptist and Jesus, still hidden in their mothers' wombs (cf. 1:39-45) - emphasizes how even before their birth the two little ones are able to communicate: the child recognizes the coming of the Child and leaps for joy. **[61]** Cf. *Declaration on Procured [[abortion]]* (18 November 1974), No. 7: *AAS* 66 (1974), 740-747.     **[62]** "You shall not kill a child by [[abortion]] nor shall you kill it once it is born": V, 2: *Patres Apostolici*, ed. F.X. Funk, I, 17. **[63]** *Apologia on behalf of the Christians*, 35: *PG* 6, 969. **[64]** *Apologeticum*, IX, 8: *CSEL* 69, 24. **[65]** Cf. Encyclical Letter *Casti Connubii* (31 December 1930), II: *AAS* 22 (1930), 562-592. **[66]** Address to the Biomedical Association "San Luca" (12 November 1944): *Discorsi e Radiomessaggi*, VI (1944-1945), 191; cf. Address to the Italian Catholic Union of Midwives (29 October 1951), No. 2: *AAS* 43 (1951), 838. **[67]** Encyclical Letter *Mater et Magistra* (15 May 1961), 3: *AAS* 53 (1961), 447. **[68]** Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 51. **[69]** Canon 2350, § 1. **[70]** *Code of Canon Law*, canon 1398; cf. *Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches*, canon 1450, § 2. **[71]** Cf. ibid., canon 1329; also *Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches*, canon 1417. **[72]** Cf. Address to the National Congress of Italian Jurists (9 December 1972): *AAS* 64 (1972), 777; Encyclical Letter *Humanae Vitae* (25 July 1968), 14: *AAS* 60 (1968), 490. **[73]** Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church *Lumen Gentium*, 25. **[74]** Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation *Donum Vitae* (22 February 1987), I, 3: *AAS* 80 (1988), 80. **[75]** *Charter of the Rights of the Family* (22 October 1983), article 4b: Vatican Polyglot Press, 1983. **[76]** Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration on Euthanasia *Iura et Bona* (5 May 1980), II: *AAS* 72 (1980), 546. **[77]** *Ibid*., IV: *loc. cit*., 551. **[78]** Cf. *ibid*. **[79]** Pius XII, Address to an International Group of Physicians (24 February 1957), III: *AAS* 49 (1957), 147; cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration on Euthanasia *Iura et Bona,* III: *AAS* 72 (1980), 547-548. **[80]** Pius XII, Address to an International Group of Physicians (24 February 1957), III: *AAS* 49 (1957), 145. **[81]** Pius XII, Address to an International Group of Physicians (24 February 1957): *loc. cit*., 129-147; Congregation of the Holy Office, *Decretum de directa insontium occisione* (2 December 1940): *AAS* 32 (1940), 553-554; Paul VI, Message to French Television: "Every life is sacred" (27 January 1971): *Insegnamenti* IX (1971), 57-58; Address to the International College of Surgeons (1 June 1972): *AAS* 64 (1972), 432-436; Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 27. **[82]** Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church *Lumen Gentium*, 25. **[83]** Cf. Saint Augustine, *De Civitate Dei* I, 20: CCL 47, 22; Saint Thomas Aquinas, *Summa Theologiae*, II-II, q. 6, a. 5.   **[84]** Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration on Euthanasia *Iura et Bona* (5 May 1980), I: *AAS* 72 (1980), 545; *Catechism of the Catholic Church*, Nos. 2281-2283. **[85]** *Ep*. 204, 5: *CSEL* 57, 320. **[86]** Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 18. **[87]** Cf. John Paul II, Apostolic Letter *Salvifici Doloris* (11 February 1984), 14-24: *AAS* 76 (1984), 214-234. **[88]** Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Centesimus Annus* (1 May 1991), 46: *AAS* 83 (1991), 850; Pius XII, Christmas Radio Message (24 December 1944): *AAS* 37 (1945), 10-20. **[89]** Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Veritatis Splendor* (6 August 1993), 97 and 99: *AAS* 85 (1993), 1209-1211. **[90]** Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation *Donum Vitae* (22 February 1987), III: *AAS* 80 (1988), 98. **[91]** Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Declaration on Religious Freedom *Dignitatis Humanae*, 7. **[92]** Cf. Saint Thomas Aquinas, *Summa Theologiae* I-II, q. 96, a. 2. **[93]** Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Declaration on Religious Freedom *Dignitatis Humanae*, 7. **[94]** Encyclical Letter *Pacem in Terris* (11 April 1963), II: *AAS* 55 (1963), 273-274. The internal quote is from Pius XII, Radio Message of Pentecost 1941 (1 June 1941): *AAS* 33 (1941), 200. On this topic, the Encyclical cites: Pius XII, Encyclical Letter *Mit brennender Sorge* (14 March 1937): *AAS* 29 (1937): *AAS* 29 (1937), 159; Encyclical Letter *Divini Redemptoris* (19 March 1937), III: *AAS* 29 (1937), 79; Pius XII, Christmas Radio Message (24 December 1942): *AAS* 35 (1943), 9-24.  **[95]** Encyclical Letter *Pacem in Terris* (11 April 1963), II: *loc. cit*., 271. **[96]** *Summa Theologiae* I-II, q. 93, a. 3, ad 2um. **[97]** *Ibid*., I-II, q. 95, a. 2. Aquinas quotes Saint Augustine: "Non videtur esse lex, quae iusta non fuerit", *De Libero Arbitrio*, I, 5, 11: PL 32, 1227.  **[98]** Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, *Declaration on Procured [[abortion]]* (18 November 1974), No. 22: *AAS* 66 (1974), 744. **[99]** Cf. *Catechism of the Catholic Church*, Nos. 1753-1755; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Veritatis Splendor* (6 August 1993), 81-82: *AAS* 85 (1993), 1198-1199. **[100]** *In Iohannis Evangelium Tractatus*, 41, 10: *CCL* 36, 363; cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Veritatis Splendor* (6 August 1993), 13: *AAS* 85 (1993), 1144. **[101]** Apostolic Exhortation *Evangelii Nuntiandi* (8 December 1975), 14: *AAS* 68 (1976), 13. **[102]** Cf. *Roman Missal*, prayer of the celebrant before communion. **[103]** Cf. Saint Irenaeus: "Omnem novitatem attulit, semetipsum afferens, qui fuerat annuntiatus", *Adversus Haereses*: IV, 34, 1: *SCh* 100/2, 846-847. **[104]** Cf. Saint Thomas Aquinas, "Peccator inveterascit, recedens a novitate Christi", *In Psalmos Davidis Lectura*: 6,5. **[105]** *De Beatitudinibus*, Oratio VII: *PG* 44, 1280. **[106]** Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Veritatis Splendor* (6 August 1993), 116: *AAS* 85 (1993), 1224. **[107]** Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Centesimus Annus* (1 May 1991), 37: *AAS* 83 (1991), 840. **[108]** Cf. Message for Christmas 1967: *AAS* 60 (1968), 40. **[109]** PseudoDionysius the Areopagite, *On the Divine Names*, 6, 1-3: *PG* 3, 856-857. **[110]** Paul VI, *Pensiero alla Morte*, Istituto Paolo VI, Brescia 1988, 24. **[111]** John Paul II, Homily for the Beatification of Isidore Bakanja, Elisabetta Canori Mora and Gianna Beretta Molla (24 April 1994): *L'Osservatore Romano*, 25-26 April 1994, 5. **[112]** *Ibid*. **[113]** *In Matthaeum,* Hom. L, 3: *PG* 58, 508. **[114]** Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2372. **[115]** John Paul II, Address to the Fourth General Conference of Latin American Bishops in Santo Domingo (12 October 1992), No. 15: *AAS* 85 (1993), 819. **[116]** Cf. Decree on Ecumenism *Unitatis Redintegratio*, 12; Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 90. **[117]** John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation *Familiaris Consortio* (22 November 1981), 17: *AAS* 74 (1982), 100. **[118]** Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 50. **[119]** John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Centesimus Annus* (1 May 1991), 39: *AAS* 83 (1991), 842. **[120]** John Paul II, Address to Participants in the Seventh Symposium of European Bishops, on the theme of "Contemporary Attitudes towards Life and Death: a Challenge for Evangelization" (17 October 1989), No. 5: *Insegnamenti* XII, 2 (1989), 945. Children are presented in the Biblical tradition precisely as God's gift (cf. *Ps* 127:3) and as a sign of his blessing on those who walk in his ways (cf. *Ps* 128:3-4).   **[121]** John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Sollicitudo Rei Socialis* (30 December 1987), 38: *AAS* 80 (1988), 565-566. **[122]** John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation *Familiaris Consortio* (22 November 1981), 86: *AAS* 74 (1982), 188. **[123]** Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation *Evangelii Nuntiandi* (8 December 1975), 18: *AAS* 68 (1976), 17. **[124]** Cf. *ibid*., 20: *loc. cit.*, 18. **[125]** Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 24. **[126]** Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Centesimus Annus* (1 May 1991), 17: *AAS* 83 (1991), 814; Encyclical Letter *Veritatis Splendor* (6 August 1993), 95-101: *AAS* 85 (1993), 1208-1213. **[127]** John Paul II, Encyclical Letter *Centesimus Annus* (1 May 1991), 24: *AAS* 83 (1991), 822. **[128]** John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation *Familiaris Consortio* (22 November 1981), 37: *AAS* 74 (1982), 128. **[129]** Letter establishing the World Day of the Sick (13 May 1992), No. 2: *Insegnamenti* XV, 1 (1992), 1410. **[130]** Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 35; Paul VI, Encyclical Letter *Populorum Progressio* (26 March 1967), 15: *AAS* 59 (1967), 265. **[131]** Cf. John Paul II, Letter to Families *Gratissimam sane* (2 February 1994), 13: *AAS* 86 (1994), 892. **[132]** John Paul II, Motu Proprio *Vitae Mysterium* (11 February 1994), 4: *AAS* 86 (1994), 386-387. **[133]** *Closing Message of the Council* (8 December 1965): *To Women*. **[134]** John Paul II, Apostolic Letter *Mulieris Dignitatem* (15 August 1988), 18: *AAS* 80 (1988), 1696. **[135]** Cf. John Paul II, Letter to Families *Gratissimam sane* (2 February 1994), 5: *AAS* 86 (1994), 872. **[136]** John Paul II, Address to Participants in the Study Conference on "The Right to Life in Europe" (18 December 1987): *Insegnamenti* X, 3 (1987), 1446. **[137]** *Message for the 1977 World Day of Peace: AAS* 68 (1976), 711-712. **[138]** Blessed Guerric of Igny, *In Assumptione B. Mariae*, Sermo I, 2: *PL* 185, 188. **[139]** Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church *Lumen Gentium*, 5. **[140]** Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World *Gaudium et Spes*, 22. **[141]** *Roman Missal*, Sequence for Easter Sunday. **[142]** Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church *Lumen Gentium*, 68. --- ![[maps/bibliography#^biblio-jpii-ev]]