From the editor

The events of recent years have highlighted two major misconceptions about modern medicine: firstly, in overestimating the efficacy of human solutions, and secondly, in underestimating its role in the salvific mission of the Church. History shows that abandoning the Creator leads to a loss of respect for His creatures (see p. 7). The late Prof Jérôme Lejeune, who features prominently in this issue of Calx Mariae, knew this. Medicine, he believed, could be summed up as “hatred of the disease and love of the disabled”. “If we change those terms of reference,” he argued, “if we begin to fight on the same side as the disease, then eliminating the patient in order to eradicate the disease is exactly the abortion of medicine” (see p. 28).

The enemy of the human race profits greatly from sickness and death to sow hopelessness and, where he can, despair. Exploiting our natural aversion to physical suffering, he argues that it is better to kill or be killed than to suffer – perverting charity, compassion and mercy with a growing catalogue of crimes against human life, intended to spread contempt for its Author. He would have us believe that the Passion and death of Our Lord, which reopened the gates of heaven, is without value and irrelevant to our own suffering, which we must fight and eradicate.

The earliest known catechism, the Didache says: “There are two ways, one of life and one of death; but a great difference between the two ways.” The choice of which way to follow is placed before everyone – and, in particular, before every Christian. The demons, however, would convince us that the way of life is impossible, while the way of death is merciful; without further difference between the two. Nowhere is this demonic deception more destructive today than in the field of medicine.

Just as Our Lord was betrayed by one of those closest to him, so human victims today are betrayed by their own: the generation which permitted itself to kill its children, sees its children’s generation take the same license in regard to their parents; thus the bonds of love are broken in the family and the sanctuary of life is threatened from within.

Despite this, the strongest bond of natural love remains between a mother and her child. In this issue, we hear about two mothers who bear witness to this love through their self-sacrifice but in very different ways. See the story of Gianna Beretta Molla (p 51) and our interview with Dame Colleen Bayer (p. 43).

The great season of Lent reminds us of the total and eternal defeat of the devil, by means of his most prized assets: suffering and death. There is nothing we should cherish more than the Cross – in our own lives just as in the communion of faith – because it is the way of everlasting life, shown to us by Jesus and Mary.

Today, our Holy Mother Church also seems to carry the cross and humiliations of Our Lord towards her own Calvary. We must never forget, however, that the true head of the Church is infinitely beyond the reach of men who attempt to disfigure her beautiful face. Just as Our Lady carried the Catholic faith to Calvary, when all human faith was confounded by the suffering and death of her Son, so are we called to follow the Church at the hour of her painful imitation of Our Lord's Passion. But how can we bear to follow unless, like St John, we run to Mary, Mother of God and of the Church? By her side, at the foot of the Cross, we will be assured of choosing the way of life, to which we renew our resolve every year as we prepare for Easter and the triumph of the Resurrection.

EDITOR Maria Madise

EDITORIAL BOARD Liam Gibson John Smeaton

DESIGN & PRODUCTION EDITOR Selina Fang

VOICE OF THE FAMILY 7 Bell Yard London WC2A 2JR United Kingdom

Email: editor@voiceofthefamily.com www.voiceofthefamily.com/calxmariae

DISCLAIMER: Great care is taken to credit photos and seek permission before publishing. If you have a query regarding copyright, please contact the Editor. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission. Donations for the continuation of this magazine in print will be gratefully received by Voice of the Family at the address above or online via: www.voiceofthefamily.com/donate

Calx Mariae seeks to contribute to the rebuilding of Christian civilisation by providing features and analysis in the areas of life, family and culture. Our aim in producing this magazine is to strengthen our readers in the faith and in their witness to the truth about human life and the family. Calx Mariae is published by Voice of the Family, formed in support of Catholic teaching on the family. The following truths are particularly at the heart of Voice of the Family’s work:

9 Marriage, the exclusive, life-long union of one man and one woman, is the foundation of a stable and flourishing society and is the greatest protector of children, born and unborn. 9 The procreative and unitive ends of marriage cannot licitly be separated; the rejection of this truth lies at the root of modern attacks on life and the family. 9 Parents are the primary educators of their children and the protection of this right is essential for building a new

“culture of life”.