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Christian Newswire reported on March 20 that Father Paul Marx, OSB, the much loved founder of Human Life International,
had died shortly after 8 am. The priest whom Pope John Paul II called “the Apostle of Life” has passed into eternal Life.

Often referred to as "the father of the international prolife movement", Fr. Marx visited all 50 US states and 91 countries in his 40 years of pro-life activism. Seeing the advance of anti-life forces before most did, he founded the Human Life Center in 1971, two years before Roe v. Wade. In 1981, the Human Life Center became Human Life International (HLI), the world's first and largest international prolife organization. Fr. Marx was president of HLI until he retired in 2000.

Father Marx authored several books, including “The Death Peddlers: War on the Unborn (1971)”, “Death Without Dignity:
Killing for Mercy” (1982), “Confessions of a Pro-Life Missionary” (1988), “Fighting for Life” (1989), “The Flying Monk” (1990), “The Warehouse Priest” (1993), and his autobiography, “Faithful for Life”.

President Ronald Reagan wrote in a personal letter to Fr. Marx, "You can be proud of all you've done to summon this Nation and others to reflection and positive action on issues affecting the sanctity of human life. God bless you."

Father Marx was 90 years old when he died at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, MN. He liked to point out that he was born 10 days before the late Pope John Paul II, who once said to him, "You are doing the most important work on earth."

A Mass of Christian Burial for Fr. Marx was held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 26 at St. John's Abbey, Minnesota.

Below is the statement of Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, president of Human Life International:
"Shortly after 8:00 a.m. on March the 20th of this year Fr. Paul Marx, OSB passed from this world into the Life that never ends -- at least that is the hope that the whole pro- life movement nurtures in its heart for the one whom Pope John Paul II called 'the Apostle of Life.'

"In the forty-year pro-life career of Fr. Marx, and through his three million miles of world travel, Human Life International saw the blossoming of the world's conscience about the issues of life. Father put pro-life 'on the map' in a literal sense and through his efforts gave the world direct and organized opposition to the culture of death. He will be missed dearly by all pro-lifers, especially those of us who had a chance to work closely with him, and whose lives were changed irrevocably as a result.

"When that blessed day comes, when the fight for life is finally won, people will look back at this dark age of destruction and wonder who opposed the onslaught. Standing among the greatest champions for life will be Fr. Marx, not only for his own work, but for the work done by the countless other pro-life warriors he inspired." "We pray for the repose of his soul and for the strengthening of the spiritual children and pro-life family that Father leaves as a legacy in more than 100 countries."

Human Life International is the world's largest pro-life organization and has affiliates in over 100 countries on six continents.

Population Research Institute Mourns the passing of Founder and Chairman
“Dear Friend of Father Marx,
“It grieves me to tell you that Father Paul Marx, OSB, my mentor and spiritual Father, went to his reward this morning, March 20, at 8:30 a.m. “Father Marx touched my life in many ways—he helped to bring me into the Catholic Church, he founded the Population Research Institute and served as its long-time Chairman, and he did me the honor of allowing me to work alongside
him in defending Life.

“At the time of his death, Father was living at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he was ordained to the priesthood the year I was born. “Father's wake will be held Thursday, March 25, at the St. John's Abbey Church in Collegeville, Minnesota. The funeral Mass will be on Friday, March 26 at 3:30 p.m. Central Time. I know that many of you will want to attend. “If you are not able to be physically present for the funeral Mass, I hope that you will join me at that hour in pausing to say a prayer for the repose of Father Marx’s soul. “I am told by those at his bedside that, at the moment of his death, Father raised his arms towards Heaven and said, ‘Take me home.’ Thus passed Father peacefully and joyfully into the hands of his Savior.

“May we all, in honor of this great Apostle of Life, redouble our efforts on behalf of God's little ones....”
Yours in Christ,
Steven W. Mosher
President, PRI

I wish to pay my own tribute to Fr. Marx - not only to his wonderful spiritual qualities and pro-life leadership, but to his many kindnesses to me and Charles at HLI conferences and in encouraging letters to us in Australia. He would send little parcels of books and praise for what we wrote. I am honoured to represent HLI in Australia - Babette Francis