Evangelium vitae
Ioannes Paulus PP II
Encyclical Letter
on the Value and Inviolability of Human Life
(1995 03 25)
Headings
1
INTRODUCTION
2
The incomparable worth of the human person
3
New threats to human life
5
In communion with all the Bishops of theworld
6
CHAPTER I - THEVOICE OF YOUR BROTHER'S BLOOD CRIES TO ME FROM THE GROUND
PRESENT-DAYTHREATS TO HUMAN LIFE
7
"Cain rose up against his brotherAbel, and killed him" (GN 4,8): the roots of violence against life
10
"What have you done?" : the eclipse ofthe value of life
18
"Am I my brother's keeper?": a perverse idea of freedom
21
"And from your face I shall behidden": the eclipse ofthe sense of God and of man
24
"You have come to the sprinkledblood": signs ofhope and invitation to commitment
28
CHAPTER II - ICAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE
THE CHRISTIANMESSAGE CONCERNING LIFE
29
"The life was made manifest, and wesaw it": with our gaze fixed on Christ, "the Word oflife"
31
"The Lord is my strength and my song,and he has become my salvation": life is always a good
32
"The name of Jesus ... has made this man strong": in the uncertainties of human life, Jesus brings life's meaning to fulfilment
33
"Called ... to be conformed to theimage of his Son": God's gloryshines on the face of man
36
"Whoever lives and believes in me shall never die": the gift ofeternal life
39
"From man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting": reverence and love for every human life
42
"Be fruitful and multiply, and fillthe earth and subdue it": man'sresponsibility for life
43
"For you formed my inmost being": the dignity of the unborn child
45
"I kept my faith even when I said, ? Iam greatly afflicted' ": life in old age and at times of suffering
48
"All who hold her fast will live": from the law of Sinai to the gift of the Spirit
49
"They shall look on him whom they have pierced": the Gospel oflife is brought to fulfilment on the tree of the Cross
51
CHAPTER III - YOU SHALL NOT KILL
GOD'S HOLY LAW
"If you would enter life, keep the commandments": Gospel and commandment
53
"From man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life": human life is sacred and inviolable
57
"Your eyes be held my unformed substance": the unspeakable crime of abortion
63
"It is I who bring both death and life": the tragedy of euthanasia
68
"We must obey God rather thanmen": civil law and the moral law
74
"You shall love your neighbour asyourself":"promote"life
77
CHAPTER IV - YOUDID IT TO ME
FOR A NEW CULTUREOF HUMAN LIFE
78
"You are God's own people, that youmay declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into hismarvellous light": a people of life and for life
80
"That which we have seen and heard weproclaim also to you" : proclaiming the Gospel of life
82
"I give you thanks that I amfearfully, wonderfully made": celebrating the Gospel of life
86
"What does it profit, my brethren, ifa man says he has faith but has not works?": serving theGospel of life
91
"Your children will be like oliveshoots around your table": the family as the "sanctuary oflife"
95
"Walk as children of light": bringing about a transformation of culture
100
"We are writing this that our joy may be complete": the Gospel of life is for the whole of human society
102
CONCLUSION
103
"A great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun" : the motherhood of Mary and of the Church
104
"And the dragon stood before thewoman ... that he might devour her child when she brought it forth" : life menaced by the forces of evil
"Death shall be no more": the splendour of the Resurrection