Evangelium Vitae, or
The Gospel of Life, is an encyclical written by
Pope Paul II, published on
March 25, 1995. It emphasises the
sanctity of all human life, addressing issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and the dignity of the human person. The encyclical calls for a culture of life, urging society to respect and protect life from conception to natural death. It is considered a significant document in Catholic teaching, marking a pivotal moment in the Church's stance on life issues.
Paragraph 85 of
Evangelium Vitae
reads:
“In celebrating the Gospel of life we also need to appreciate and make good use of the wealth of gestures and symbols present in the traditions and customs of different cultures and peoples. There are special times and ways in which the peoples of different nations and cultures express joy for a newborn life, respect for and protection of individual human lives, care for the suffering or needy, closeness to the elderly and the dying, participation in the sorrow of those who mourn, and hope and desire for immortality.
In view of this and following the suggestion made by the Cardinals in the Consistory of 1991, I propose that a Day for Life be celebrated each year in every country, as already established by some Episcopal Conferences.
The celebration of this Day should be planned and carried out with the active participation of all sectors of the local Church. Its primary purpose should be to foster in individual consciences, in families, in the Church and in civil society a recognition of the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition. Particular attention should be drawn to the seriousness of abortion and euthanasia, without neglecting other aspects of life which from time to time deserve to be given careful consideration, as occasion and circumstances demand.”
The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, together with the Bishops’ Conferences of England & Wales and Ireland work together in the planning of the Day for Life each year, producing promotional materials.
The Day for Life is the 3rd Sunday in June and there is a nationwide collection that day in all parishes; whilst focussing on abortion and euthanasia, monies are also given for any work which strives to help people faced with restrictions on their ability to live in a fully dignified manner. This would include the disabled, refugees, etc.
In Scotland, the Bishops have agreed that the monies collected on this day in the dioceses be split – 50% kept for appropriate initiatives in the diocese, with each diocese having a dedicated Diocesan Pro-Life Representative, and 50% sent to the Bishops’ Conference to form the
Day for Life Fund for distribution to appropriate causes.
Please click below to access the Application Form for the Bishops’ Day for Life Fund.