The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) Day 292: Respect for Human Life (2025)
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Oct 19, 2025 Dive into the sacred nature of human life as the fifth commandment unfolds: 'you shall not kill.' Discover why this commandment roots in human dignity and God's creative power. Fr. Mike highlights how Jesus deepens its meaning by addressing anger and vengeance in the Sermon on the Mount. The discussion extends to the challenge of truly loving our enemies, using C.S. Lewis's insights on wishing them well. Learn about the importance of forgiveness and the grace needed to embody Christ's mercy in our lives.
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Human Life's Sacred Foundation
- Human life is sacred because it stems from God's creative action and remains in a special relationship with the Creator.
- This inherent dignity grounds commandments four through ten and underpins the absolute prohibition against killing innocent persons.
'Kill' Means Murder Of The Innocent
- The term translated as 'kill' in Exodus and Deuteronomy specifically means murder of an innocent person in the original languages.
- Therefore the fifth commandment prohibits taking innocent human life always and everywhere, without exception.
Universal Prohibition On Murder
- The deliberate murder of an innocent person violates human dignity, the golden rule, and the holiness of the Creator.
- The law forbidding such murder is universally valid and binds everyone at all times.
