WHEN DOES HUMAN LIFE BEGINS?

The process of FERTILIZATION where the human male sperm and the human female oocyte unites.

When does LIFE begins?

There is a big consensus in the scientific community about when LIFE starts. This topic is controversial. There are different claims about this matter. How do scientists identify living things from non-living things? 

Elementary and Secondary Books give us the answer to identify living from non-living.

There are five characteristics of LIVING ORGANISMS, these are:

1. Living things are highly organized.

2. All living things have an ability to acquire materials and energy (obtain and use energy).

3. All living things respond to their environment (respond to stimulus).

4. All living things exhibit adaptation (ability to adapt to their environment).

 5.All living things have an ability to reproduce.

These five criteria are found in almost all textbooks both in Elementary and Secondary. I remember my teacher in Biology talking about these five characteristics of living organisms when I was in High School.

According to this definition of living organisms, it tells us that LIFE starts at FERTILIZATION (when the sperm of the male unites with the egg of the female). At this moment the NEW LIVING organism, is highly organized, has the ability to obtain and use materials and energy, respond to his or her environment, has the ability to adapt to his or her environment, and has the ability to reproduce (the cells divide , then divide again etc). Non-living things do not exhibit these characteristics. At this point of time a new, distinct and unique life has begun inside the womb. 

The new, distinct and unique life inside the womb is unquestionably HUMAN. Let us take a look on Wikipedia on how it defines the word “HUMAN”. Humans (known taxonomically as Homo sapiens,^[3][4] Latin for "wise man" or "knowing man")^[5] are the only living species in the Homo genus. (Wikipedia). This definition means that a HUMAN being is a member of the Homo sapiens species. 

Furthermore, Humans are product of CONCEPTION when the male sperm unites with a female egg (oocyte). When HUMANS procreate they do not make non-living things such as tables, stones, and marbles they do not make non-humans such as cat, dog, cow, worm, and bacteria what they make is a HUMAN being like themselves.  There are lots of evidences that LIFE inside the womb is really a HUMAN BEING with unique characteristics contrary to the claim of the abortionists that  human being inside the womb isn’t human at all but a mere “tissue” .  

Genetically and Biologically  the LIFE inside the WOMB is a HUMAN BEING.

As the BABY grows inside the WOMB of his or her mother the BABY sucks thumb, metabolizing nutrition, excreting wastes, and doing lots of things that set him or her apart from NON-LIVING THINGS.

As early as 21 days after CONCEPTION a baby’s heart can be heard different from his or her mother’s heart beat. At 40 days after CONCEPTION or FERTILIZATION brain waves can be detected through Electroencephalogram or EEG (Dr. H. Hamlin, Life or Death by EEG, JAMA, Oct.12, 1964, p.113.)  EEG is a technique used for studying electrical current within the brain. Science and the advancing technology helps us know that LIFE begins inside the WOMB at CONCEPTION.

According to one of the best doctor here in the Philippines the President of the Philippine Medical Association:

"Life begins at fertilization, anything that prevents the fertilized ovum to be implanted in the uterus may be considered as abortive and therefore, if prescribed, may violate our solemn oath as physicians to save and protect human life particularly the unborn."  -Dr. Oscar Tinio – PMA President 

(Source: Doctors warn DOH on contraceptives abs-cbnNEWS.com Posted at 12/11/2010 6:05 PM | Updated as of 12/12/2010 12:22 AM)

Even a doctor admitted that HUMAN LIFE starts at FERTILIZATION.

If the Medical Community accepts and promotes this DEFINITION of HUMAN LIFE, they will condemn every “ABORTION”, after the time when the average woman discovers that she is pregnant. They will not only condemn “ABORTION” but also the use of CONTRACEPTIVES that serve as “ABORTIFACIENTS” which causes “MICRO – ABORTION”.   Every abortion, aborts an innocent human life. 

[Sources:]

http://prolifephysicians.org/

http://utahscience.oremjr.alpine.k12.ut.us/Sciber01/7th/classify/living/2.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org

Doctors warn DOH on contraceptives abs-cbnNEWS.com Posted at 12/11/2010 6:05 PM | Updated as of 12/12/2010 12:22 AM

Dr. H. Hamlin, Life or Death by EEG, JAMA, Oct.12, 1964, p.113

Jesus Nazareno Feast

Last January 09, 2012 is the Feast of the Black Nazarene (Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno) in Quiapo, Manila. It is a life-sized, wooden sculpture of our Lord Jesus Christ carrying his cross.

Jesus Nazarene at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene

 The feast includes the procession of the image commemorating the "Translación" or the transfer of the image to the present shrine, attended by millions of devotees throughout the country.

Millions of devotees attended the procession.

While catholics all over the Philippines were solemnly practicing their devotion to Jesus Nazarene, websites including facebook were flooded by attacks and insults from anti-catholics. They said that the Feast of the Black Nazarene is of pagan origin and a pagan practice, others said that the devotees are idolaters (worshipping idols).In this case, I wonder why some anti-catholics are angry about this practice, it seems that they are jealous of something. Maybe because the Catholic event was attended by thousands and millions of devotees all over the Philippines and it only means that the Catholic Church has many active members. But, let us go to the "biblical foundation" of the Feast.

 In the Gospel of St. Matthew in the New Testament, we will find this verse "and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a NAZARENE." -Matthew 2:23-(NIV) it is clear that this verse pertains to Jesus that will live in the town of Nazareth and will be called Nazarene.

Jesus of Nazareth

I was amazed by the faith of those Catholics who are devoted to Jesus our Lord and Savior, whenever I see them following the procession it reminds me of the woman in the Bible who touched Jesus cloak...

" ⁴³ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,^[a] but no one could heal her. ⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped"
Luke 8:43-44

The woman who touched the cloak of Jesus Nazarene

The image of the Black Nazarene reminds us lots of things. It reminds us of being humble, like Jesus who became man and humbly submitted himself to die on the cross to save us. It also reminds us to follow him and carry our crosses in life. 

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."-Matthew 16:24

"and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."-Matthew 10:38

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."-1 Peter 2:21

That's why celebrating a feast for Jesus Nazarene or Jesus of Nazareth is not bad at all. It is a concrete way of following the footsteps of Christ, and it is a reminder for us that we must be humble, that we must persevere and that we must carry our cross.


Viva Nuestro Padre Hesus Nazareno!

A TRIBUTE TO THE MOTHER OF GOD

January 1, 2012- New YEAR! New LIFE! and as Catholics, we begin this year with the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. As a gift I like to present this song from the Neo Catechumenal Way, Mary Little Mary...

MARY LITTLE MARY

MARY, little Mary

You are the GENTLE BREEZE of ELIJAH,

the BREATHE of the SPIRIT of GOD.

You are the BURNING BUSH of MOSES

which BEARS the LORD without being CONSUMED

.

You  are the "PLACE NEAR ME" which the LORD

 showed to MOSES,

You are the CLEFT in the ROCK, which GOD covers with his HAND while his GLORY passes by.

Let the LORD come with us, if we have found favor in his eyes,

it's TRUE that we are SINNERS, but PRAY FOR US and we shall be his HERITAGE forever.

MARY, little Mary

DAUGHTER of JERUSALEM,

MOTHER of all NATIONS,

VIRGIN of NAZARETH,

You are the CLOUD which PROTECTS ISRAEL,

the TENT of the GATHERING,

the ARK which CARRIES the COVENANT,

the PLACE of the DWELLING of the LORD,

the SANCTUARY of his SHEKINAH.

Let the LORD come with us, if we have found favor in his eyes,

it's TRUE that we are SINNERS, but PRAY for US and we shall be his heritage forever.

(Note: Here is the tune of the song, you can sing it by looking at the lyrics above God bless.)

COMMEMORATING OUR NATIONAL HERO - DR. JOSE P. RIZAL

Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal Alonso y Realonda, was born on June 19, 1861. He was a Filipino polymath, patriot and one of the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era.

He is regarded as the foremost Filipino patriot and listed as one of the national heroes of the Philippines. Born to a rich family in Calamba, Laguna. Seventh of eleven children.

Dr. Jose P. Rizal, National Hero of the Philippines.

 Rizal attended the Ateneo de Municipal Manila earning a Bachelor of Arts, and he enrolled in Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas. 

The Church of the Gesu in Ateneo de Manila University a CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY where our National Hero studied.

The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas a CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY and one of the schools of our national hero.

Rizal wrote the novels "Noli me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo". The Anti-life of today , use this novels to prove that, if Jose P. Rizal where here today he would join the Pro-RH Camp against the Catholic Church. They thought that our national hero is against the Catholic Church. If that's the case, why did Rizal chose to study in Ateneo de Municipal  Manila and University of Santo Tomas which are Catholic Institutions? Don't they know that Dr. Jose P. Rizal confessed before he was executed? It was confirmed by one of our historians Leon Ma. Guerrero.

"I declare myself a Catholic, and in this religion in which I was born and educated I wish to live and die. I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings, publications and conduct has been contrary to my condition as son of the Church. I believe and profess whatever she teaches, and submit myself to whatever she commands. I abhor Masonry as the enemy that it is of the Church and as a society prohibited by the same Church. The diocesan prelate, as the superior ecclesiastical authority, can make public this my spontaneous declaration to repair the scandal that my actions may have caused, and so that God and men may forgive me."

Manila, 29^th of December 1896.

JOSE RIZAL

[Leon Ma. Guerrero, The First Filipino (Manila: Guerrero Publishing Inc., 2007) pp. 485-486]

Another proof that Dr. Jose P. Rizal retracted.

“3:00 ng umaga ng Disyembre 30, 1896, NAKINIG NG MISA SI RIZAL, NANGUMPISAL, AT NANGUMUNYON.”
[Gregorio and Sonia Zaide, Jose Rizal Centennial Book (Quezon City: All-Nations Publishing Co., 1999) p. 328.]

Another one from Dr. Jose P. Rizal's great-grandnephew:

“But even if Rizal had not written his retraction holograph and signed the act of Catholic faith in the prayerbook, HIS CONVERSION IS STILL UNDENIABLE ON ACCOUNT OF THE SACRAMENTS OF PENANCE AND EUCHARIST HE RECEIVED DURING THE LAST HOURS. It is on record that the national hero received the sacrament of Penance 4 times and received Holy Communion fervently during a Mass, vefore proceeding to bagumbayan for the execution.”
[Fr. Marciano Malvar Guzman, The Truth About Rizal Essays by a Great-Grandnephew (Manila: Green Street Enterprises, 1995) p. 26]

That's why our national hero died as a Catholic.

FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS

Today, December 28, 2011 is the feast of Holy Innocents, babies and infants which were killed during the reign of King Herod.
"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." -Matthew 2:18-
Today, Rachel continues to weep because of Abortion. How many INNOCENT babies they have killed? How many HEARTS stop to beat?  How many future lives have been wasted of this evil abortion monster?
Stop the assault, Stop the modern Herod! STOP ABORTION!

"STOP Abortion! Let this child live! If today you listen to  his voice do not harden your heart."

(photo: Courtesy of Priest for Life)

Ad Vitam Blog

At last I finished editing my blog named "Ad Vitam" a Latin phrase which means "For Life". I used this phrase as a name for my blog because I'm a PRO-LIFE, I love babies. I love LIFE, I enjoy upholding the SANCTITY and DIGNITY of ALL HUMAN LIFE.  I am also a CATHOLIC, and being a CATHOLIC means being a PRO LIFE, and I believe that Human "Life" starts at "CONCEPTION" and ends with "NATURAL DEATH".I love reading history, bible, apologetic and other books of "wisdom" and as I read those resources I learned that the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH defend the SANCTITY of HUMAN LIFE. This "CHURCH" stands firm in upholding MARRIAGE and defending the UNBORN. The Bible also teaches us to CHOOSE, LIVE, DEFEND, and PROMOTE "LIFE". This blog is NOT intended for "debates", and long discussion. I created this blog to show you the real "beauty", the real "value", the real "sacredness", and the real "goodness" of Life. This blog is also intended to show and reveal the "beauty" and "grandeur" of the ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC and APOSTOLIC Church who teaches us the real value of the "gift of life".

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone may the Good Lord bless you and your family!

The Pan de Soul Community and Ad vitam Blog wants to extend our warm greetings this Christmas season.