Why have we changed the "PRAYER FOR THE UNBORN" to "PRAYER FOR THE NASCENT BABIES"?
Answer from Father Michael:
Salve Maria.
God bless you.
Here is why.
We want and need to be concise and exact in our use of words.
(1) "Unborn"- literally means "human beings who were "never" born."
At first glance, the general understanding, not the literal meaning of the word "unborn" is "the babies in the mother's womb."
Nonetheless, when we take time to carefully listen to the word "unborn", we will hear its real, literal meaning. It connotes the sense of "not being alive" or "dead."
For example, the term "the Unborn Lord" implies that the Lord Jesus was "never born." But Jesus was in fact born. So the term "unborn" is not authentic.
Carefully considering this implication, is not the word "the unborn" literally means the "aborted babies?"
Are there not millions or rather "billions of unborn or aborted babies" killed by abortion in the past half century?
This is why when we pray for "the Unborn", it means we are praying for the already dead, that is, the aborted babies.
But the babies in their pregnant mother's womb are "not unborn" but rather, "not-yet-born." They are not unborn because they are not dead. In fact, they are alive and still have "the potential to be born." They are the "nascent babies."
The mother has two choices, either to abort her nascent baby or to give birth to her child.
This choice must be considered with care and truth in the Holy Spirit within a community of the faithful and loved ones. For making the decision to kill a nascent baby is a grave matter.
Here PAPA can really help!
(2) "Pre-born" means before born. But that implies the mother already INTENDS to give birth to her baby and NOT to kill him or her; that is why they are called "PRE-born."
(3)Nascent means "beginning to have life or to live."
Or "just coming into existence and beginning to display signs of future potential."
"Nascent" comes from the Latin root "Nasci" meaning "being born." That is to say, "in the process of being born." In a word: pregnancy.
Is that not true? Is not pregnancy "the process of being born?"
Abortion ends the process of being born of a "baby who just begins to live or just comes into existence" in her mother's womb.
Don't we use the euphemism "termination of pregnancy" for "abortion?!"
This is why I want to be precise.
Instead of using the word "Unborn" let's replace it with the word "NASCENT" which sounds authentic, correct, poetic, beautiful and meaningful.
As Catholics we must use the proper language in our expression.
I know, I know! Many would react to my suggestion because people already understand the word "unborn" to mean "baby in the womb."
Nonetheless, we need to be clear.
This is why when we change word "unborn" to "nascent" we will need to EXPLAIN it clearly.
It might take a long time for the word "the Nascent" to catch on.
Just like sowing the mustard seed of faith, it will take a while for the word "nascent" to germinate and take root.
People should hear it at least 10,000 times before getting used to it.
Reaction and rejection would be normal.
Still, it's unique and original. And it is beautiful.
Let's have confidence in the Holy Spirit.
So, we now have:
(1) The Nascent Lord
The baby Jesus kicking and dancing in the womb of Mary.
(2) The Infant Lord
The baby born in a manger; also, the One escaped to Egypt and lived there for several years as a toddler!
(3) The Adolescent Lord
The 12 or 13 year-old Jesus at the Temple.
(4) The Adult Lord
The One who worked in the woodshop with Joseph; the One who asked His cousin, John the Baptizer to baptize Him in the Jordan river.
(5) The Risen Lord
The Crucified One who had conquered death and is alive now. He is the One that cooked breakfast for Peter and his friends, then asked Peter: "Do you love me more than these men?!" Oh! He is the same One Who feeds you everyday with His Body and Blood at the Eucharist!
The "Nascent" really does fit with the Lord God.
Jesus said to the Sadducees:
"He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"
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