[1] Introduction

[2] The INCOMPARABLE WORTH of the HUMAN PERSON

[3-4] NEW THREATS to HUMAN LIFE

[5-7] In COMMUNION with all the BISHOPS of the WORLD

PRESENT-DAY THREATS to HUMAN LIFE

[7-9] “Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him” (Gen 4:8): the ROOTS of VIOLENCE AGAINST LIFE

[10-17] “What have you done?” (Gen 4:10): the ECLIPSE of the VALUE of LIFE

[18-20]  “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen 4:9): a PERVERSE IDEA of FREEDOM

[21-24]  “And from your face I shall be hidden” (Gen 4:14): THE ECLIPSE of the SENSE of GOD and of MAN

[25-28] “You have come to the sprinkled blood” (cf. Heb 12:22, 24): SIGNS of HOPE and INVITATION to COMMITMENT

Chapter II

I came that they may have Life

The Christian Message Concerning Life

[29-30] “The life was made manifest, and we saw it” (1 Jn 1:2): with our gaze fixed on Christ, “the Word of life”

[31] “The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation” (Ex 15:2): life is always a good

[32-33] “The name of Jesus ... has made this man strong” (Acts 3:16): in the uncertainties of human life, Jesus brings life’s meaning to fulfilment

[34-36] “Called ... to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom 8:28-29): God’s glory shines on the face of man

[37-38] “Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” (Jn 11:26): the gift of eternal life

[39-41] “From man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting” (Gen 9:5): reverence and love for every human life

[42-43] “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen 1:28): man’s responsibility for life

[44-45] “For you formed my inmost being” (Ps 139:13): the dignity of the unborn child

[46-47] “I kept my faith even when I said, ‘I am greatly afflicted”‘ (Ps 116:10): life in old age and at times of suffering

[48-49] “All who hold her fast will live” (Bar 4:1): from the law of Sinai to the gift of the Spirit

Chapter III

You shall not kill

God’s Holy Law

[52] “If you would enter life, keep the commandments” (Mt 19:17): Gospel and commandment

[53-57] “From man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life” (Gen 9:5): human life is sacred and inviolable

[58-63] “Your eyes beheld my unformed substance” (Ps 139:16): the unspeakable crime of abortion

[64-67] “It is I who bring both death and life” (Dt 32:39): the tragedy of euthanasia

[68-74] “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29): civil law and the moral law

[75-77] “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Lk 10:27): “promote” life

Chapter IV

You did it to me

For a New Culture of Human Life

[78-79] “You are God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet 2:9): a people of life and for life

[80-82] “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you” (1 Jn 1:3): proclaiming the Gospel of life

[83-86] “I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made” (Ps 139:14): celebrating the Gospel of life

[87-91] “What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works?” (Jas 2:14): serving the Gospel of life

[92-94] “Your children will be like olive shoots around your table” (Ps 128:3): the family as the “sanctuary of life”

[95-100] “Walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8): bringing about a transformation of culture

[101-102] “We are writing this that our joy may be complete” (1 Jn 1:4): the Gospel of life is for the whole of human society.

Conclusion

[103] “A great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun” (Rev 12:1): the motherhood of Mary and of the Church

[104] “And the dragon stood before the woman ... that he might devour her child when she brought it forth” (Rev 12:4): life menaced by the forces of evil

[105]  “Death shall be no more” (Rev 21:4): the splendour of the Resurrection