“You are living and you will die in mortal sin for the cruelty and tyranny done against these innocent people!" Four days ago marked the 500th anniversary of Antonio Montesinos' famous sermon to the Spanish in what is now the Dominican Republic. His totally unexpected championing of human rights in a small community had no immediate social effect. But by relying on God's power to sustain human life in truth and fullness, he inspired at least one other Dominican friar, Bartolomé de las Casas, to begin writing, traveling, and preaching in defense of the rights of indigenous peoples - and a direct line can be drawn from las Casas' work on international law to our celebration of universal human rights every December 10th for the last 61 years.    Who speaks like that today? Our recent past is marred with so many human rights violations, even with the legalization and systematization of torture, discrimination and poverty, that it is no wonder if we don't know where to begin, what audience to reach. Torturers go on book tours with impunity, and there is a whole class of persons whom we have simply named "illegals."   During Advent we look hard into every human being we meet, remembering God's promise that we would find him in the lowly and neglected, hungry and thirsty, poor and enslaved. Human Rights Day is a good occasion for us to recommit ourselves to protecting what God has called Holy: the dignity of the human person in all times, places and circumstances.                                                                                            Taylor Reese                                                                                            Program Associate, Pax Christi

I pray for the courage to let my life bear witness to the power of "we" - the people of this nation and this earth. When I am afraid to speak or act for the benefit of all, show me the beauty and power of courage. When I am tempted to abandon the common good for the glory and enrichment of myself, show me the virtue of selfless generosity and hospitality. And when by sheer power or will I would claim the right to diminish the worth and dignity of others, grant me the wisdom of humility.   -Taken from Be the Change, a book of poems, prayers, and meditations by Stephen Shick.