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The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae)

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Let me just say that I love this document. I read it with a highlighter in hand just so I could highlight every beautiful line--there are many. Never have I seen the Catholic standpoint on abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment so succinctly and beautifully presented. This book is a must read for all Christians of all denominations. I can't begin to convey how great and life changing this book is--even if you already agree with everything in it about the present culture of death in the modern world. Pope John Paul shows himself to not only be an adept moral and theological thinker, but somewhat of a poet as well.

The Gospel of Life is very informative, covering issues from fetal tissue research to abortion to euthanasia. It states clearly and concisely the Catholic Church's teachings on many of the life issues, and is helpful for understanding the reasoning behind them. Occasionally the wording makes it difficult to follow, but its message comes across loud and clear. Informative for Catholics and those of other religions alike.

Throughout his long tenure as the Supreme Pontiff, Pope John Paul II has been a tireless defender and advocate of the downtrodden, oppressed, and mistreated. This has especially been the case when it comes to the most severe form of oppression, the one where human beings are deprived even of life. In "The Gospel of Life" ("Evangelium vitae") John Paul II aims to give a coherent, assertive, and uncompromising account of the sacredness and inviolability of human life.

This is one of the most significant encyclicals of John Paul's pontificate. It builds on many of his other teachings, previous encyclicals, and "Of Human Life"("Humanae vitae") of Pope Paul VI. It spells out clearly what the Church has always proclaimed regarding the sanctity of the human life. It builds on the sacred Tradition, and gives numerous scriptural references that bolster its case. In particular, the encyclical makes a very strong case that at the heart of the Gospel proclamation is in fact the call for the fuller and more dignified life.

Today the human life is as precarious as it has been at any point in history. It is particularly sad to see it under the attack at its most vulnerable - in mother's womb and in the frailty of the old age. This is that much more outrageous when we know that the threats to the life at those stages are the most prominent in many of the highly developed countries. In many social circles life has become commoditized, and this attitude gives rise to what is rightly termed "the culture of death."

Many people who resort to evils of abortion and euthanasia do so out of weakness or fear, and do so under the duress of physical or psychological suffering. The Church fully empathizes with the personal struggles that those people are going through, but it can never condone intrinsically evil actions. This is something well worth emphasizing and reiterating.

The writing in this encyclical is thoughtful and far-reaching. This is a very well thought out extended argument for the sanctity of human life, and anyone who has an interest in such topic would greatly benefit from reading this encyclical. It is certainly destined to become a classic of Catholic thought.

This document took my breath away. It is absolutely beautifully written, articulate, and ultimately inspiring. Though I am not Christian (I read Evangelium vitae in the course of an undergraduate thesis in bioethics), the teachings and beliefs truly resonated with me at a heartfelt level.

The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae)
To be read over and over and over again. Beautiful! I want to read everything John Paul II has written. He was a genius and definitely a saint. I love him.

Originally, I didn't get my product in time. After contacting the seller, was told that it was sent back to him because the address got smeared in the rain. But, he ended up giving me a full refund, and sent it speed delivery soon thereafter.