Jeremiah looked at his society and described it as overwhelmed by great destruction (Jer 14:17). He diagnosed it as wounded and incurable (Jer 14:17). Under these circumstances, Jeremiah prayed: "Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest" (Jer 14:17).

Pope John Paul II has looked at our world and has described it as a "culture of death." Although this is even worse than what Jeremiah described, Pope John Paul II is assured and assuring of the victory of a civilization of love and life over our "culture of death." Pope John Paul II is not naive. He realizes the "enormous disparity between the powerful resources available to the forces promoting the 'culture of death' and the means at the disposal of those working for a 'culture of life and love' " (The Gospel of Life, 100). However, "we have faith in God our Father and Lord, in His goodness and mercy. As the third millennium of the redemption draws near, God is preparing a great springtime for Christianity" (Mission of the Redeemer, Pope John Paul II, 86). Moreover, the "new springtime of Christian life...will be revealed by the Great Jubilee (the year 2000), if Christians are docile to the action of the Holy Spirit" (Toward the Third Millennium, Pope John Paul II, 18).

"We are more than conquerors because of Him Who has loved us" (Rm 8:37). Thank You, Jesus!

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, November 29, 1997

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 2, 1997