Saying No to the Culture of Death

Last Monday was the anniversary of my sister's death. I remembered her second anniversary by requesting that a Mass be said in her name. At the same time I asked for prayers for my niece Cassandra who was due to give birth during this month. Cassie became pregnant through the IVF program and when this happens they seem to run extra tests. At one point the doctors thought that there was something wrong with the baby. However, the tests that were run in March proved that this was not true. There was nothing wrong with either the baby's brain or his heart.

When I made the request for prayers for Cassie, I had no idea that she was in hospital because of high blood pressure and that a decision had been made to bring the baby on two weeks early. Imagine then, my surprise when I received the news that my niece had given birth to a very healthy baby boy at 8lb 4oz on 8th May, one day after the anniversary of Maureen's death. The hospital staff had delayed the induction by one day so that the baby would not be born on the anniversary of his grandmother's death.

So it is then, that I am reminded of the Byrd's song "Turn, Turn, Turn", which is based upon the Book of Ecclesiastes, where it says that there is a time for dying and a time to give birth. Now, I can celebrate the birth of my new great-nephew.