By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
MIAMI | Reflections on the heartbreaking loss of abortion and the challenge of chastity are the subject matter of the winning entries in this year’s Respect Life essay contest, sponsored by the archdiocesan Respect Life Ministry.
The contest is open to students in Catholic middle schools, and the goal is to help them “understand the sacredness of human life, from the very moment of conception until natural death, as well as the importance of living a chaste lifestyle.”
The students submit their essays in October, Respect Life Month, and the winners are notified in December.
“The essays are all so impressive it is truly a difficult task to select the finalists,” said Joan Crown, archdiocesan director of Respect Life.
She praised archdiocesan teachers for spending “a great deal of time” instructing their students on the value of human life.
The 2015 winners are:- First place: Megan Canizares, Grade 7, Epiphany School, Miami
- Second place: Dheya David, Grade 8, Nativity School, Hollywood
- Honorable mention: Lilymarie Fernandez, Grade 7, St. Lawrence, North Miami Beach.
Here are their essays.
Abortion: a life denied
Megan Canizares, Epiphany School
First place in the 2015 Respect Life essay contest went to Megan Canizares, a seventh-grader at Epiphany School in Miami.
Imagine watching a mother see her child for the first time. You would likely imagine her shedding tears of happiness while wearing a huge smile that makes the comer of her eyes and her nose wrinkle. This new mother will be holding her newborn child close, asking God, "How did I deserve this wonderful blessing in my life?" Her husband will be crying, as well, pacing around the cold blue room with excitement, thanking God for this amazing gift.
Now imagine another operating room, where an abortion takes place. A couple, with saddened expressions, lies waiting for their child to die and to be denied a chance to see the wonderful world God has created. All of that infant’s privileges are taken away, the chance to wonder, the chance to experience the first breath. Life will be torn to shreds by a doctor.
Doctors are extraordinary people who are supposed to save lives, not kill. How can an abortion even be tolerated or even thought about? This person, who has studied how to save people, is now killing an innocent human being. This so-called doctor should be behind bars.
This physician, who has taken an oath not to hurt any of his patients, is now slaughtering a child who has not even left his mother's womb. What if this baby were born? He would have an impact on the world. This child could have invented the cure for cancer, lead America, or simply (do) the most important thing anyone can do, bring happiness into someone's life.
Every creature in this world is created by God, and it is His decision for us to continue our journey in this world or go to heaven with Him.
A child is a gift from God
Dheya David, Nativity School
Second place in the 2015 Respect Life essay contest went to Dheya David, an eighth-grader at Nativity School, Hollywood.
There are miracles performed every day. Sometimes, we miss them and we don’t remember to appreciate them. Every day, there are little miracles known as babies sent from heaven to earth.
Paul Kevin Jonas, Sr., once said, "When God gives you a baby, it is never a mistake." God does not just give people babies because heaven is running out of room�NO. God loves us and wants the best for us.
He would not give someone something unless they were absolutely ready for it; same thing with babies. God would not give a person a child if they weren’t ready.
What are some expensive things in life? Diamonds, cars, houses, and humans. Yes, humans.
The value of a human life is worth much more than our beautiful home or our lovely car. Every day about 361,481 babies are born all over the world. That is 251 a minute. All those babies are God's angels. They are His children He loves them, and He loves us.
How much are we worth? In Luke chapter 12 it says: "Are not five sparrows sold for a few pennies? Yet not one of them are neglected by God. In the very truth, even the hairs of your head are counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than a flock of sparrows." Humans are the highest form of life. We are precious in the eyes of God.
A child is a gift from God because every child is His son or daughter. When a woman decides to have an abortion, she is not only killing an innocent baby, which is a mortal sin, but she is also destroying the opportunity of life for that little unborn. The little baby's life was taken away from them before they even got the chance.
The Chastity Challenge
Lilymarie Fernandez, St. Lawrence School
Lilymarie Fernandez, grade 7, St. Lawrence School.
God wants us to be the best we can be, which includes being chaste until marriage. God doesn't want to see us heartbroken from making a mistake that could've been prevented. Temptation is all around us, music, movies, television shows, and even the people we might be friends with. God didn't create us to abuse our bodies, he created us to be pure and clean until marriage. When I walk down in my white wedding dress I want it to mean something. I want to be proud that I was strong enough to abstain from temptation.
The Chastity Challenge is truly a difficult challenge, but with faith you can accomplish anything. The only safe sex is no sex until marriage. Sexual intercourse outside of marriage can develop in an unwanted child which can result in an abortion. This whole process is like a chain reaction. Sex outside of marriage is just a sin on top of a sin. I truly believe that God has a reward for the people who were chaste. Having a child is a really big deal and I want to make sure it is with my love of my life and I am ready.
Society may make it seem like sex before marriage isn't a big deal but it is.
Pure living is a lifestyle, it is not just one event.
