October is Respect Life month

October is a special time for Catholics. It’s a month dedicated to the Holy Rosary, and also chock-full of wonderful feasts (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Guardian Angels, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Faustina, St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John Paul II) and observances. October is also a month when we remember in a particular way the sacredness of life from womb to tomb. 

Respect Life month begins with Respect Life Sunday – observed universally on the first Sunday of October. This day invites the whole Church to reflect upon the inalienable dignity of each and every human person, and to recommit ourselves to building what St. John Paul II has called a “culture of life.”

To help us celebrate this special month, we’ve selected a delicious strawberry shake, made with milk, ice cream, and fresh strawberries. Anything with a little ice cream in it is, in my book, automatically celebratory! This recipe is also easy enough to whip up that it can be made by small children working together with parents or grandparents.

But perhaps the life connection goes a bit deeper than that. A key ingredient in this recipe is milk – which, on further reflection, ends up being a food that often accompanies both the start and end of our lives. We begin life nourished by our mother’s milk – or, by formula that has been specifically formulated to match breastmilk’s nutritional makeup as closely as possible. We also know that many older adults nearing the end of their lives enjoy drinks such as Ensure – a dairy-based nutritional shake that provides supplemental nutrients, calories, and hydration – or a bowl of delicious ice cream when other food may be less appealing.

In both instances, milk is a symbol of the care we provide for our loved ones throughout their lives. May this recipe provide you with a delicious way to nurture the life and love of your family and nourish you to build a culture of life in your home and community.

“God’s love does not differentiate between the newly conceived infant still in his or her mother’s womb and the child or young person, or the adult and the elderly person. God does not distinguish between them because he sees an impression of his own image and likeness (Gn 1: 26) in each one.” 
— Pope Benedict XVI, Feb. 2006