Eight decades of love in action: Father Paul Marx, O.S.B.

I remember the first time I met Father Paul Marx. He was working at the Human Life Center in Minnesota, and had sent me an article he had written entitled "Are You Really Pro-Life?" The article changed my life.

Father Marx was the first person to point out to me, in black and white, the reasons why the contraceptive mentality and the practice of contraception always leads to aborting babies. Always! No exceptions. And he has traveled to more than 70 countries to prove it!

Much has happened since my first encounter with that vibrant 58-year-old priest, and he has endured many painful experiences along the way. I remember the time he was forced to leave the Human Life Center under duress. Hiding him in our basement, my husband, our three young children, and I hosted Father as our guest. We rejoiced, during that time, as we had the opportunity to help Father found Human Life International.

Father Marx became the pro-life movement's missionary to the world as HLI grew and grew. In his 18 years at the helm, Father Marx guided the development of HLI into a solid organization that reached out to those in need and remained faithful to the Church's teachings.

The fruits of his labors are obvious. Everywhere we travel, anywhere in the world, as we meet pro-lifers, the first words that roll from their lips are "How is Father Paul? He is such a wonderful priest and has helped us so very much."

Father Marx is 80 years old now, and he still relishes the many challenges that accompany pro-life work. But, in spite of many obstacles, the wonder of his relationship with Christ shines forth. He recently wrote me a letter, comforting us regarding his current adversity. In it, he said: "Nothing happens by chance, so I offer it up for the cause and pray much for you and Paul who have done so much for me." Reading those words brought tears to my eyes, and I called to tell him, one more time, how much we love him.

Indeed, thousands of us cherish him and pray for him. And he is the one man who single-handedly has brought to every corner of the world a message that resounds as the very basis of all pro-life work: "Love God, love life!"

I know this is why Pope John Paul II so affectionately referred to Father Marx as "The Apostle of Life."

Father Marx, we love you. We always will. Thank you for all the inspiration you have given, for all the blood, sweat and tears you have spent, but most of all - thank you for being Father Paul Marx, OSB.