“For me the deformation in the understanding of abortion is born mainly in considering it a religious issue. The issue of abortion is not essentially religious. It is a human problem prior to any religious option. The abortion issue must be addressed scientifically.” These are the words that Pope Francis wrote in a private letter to Argentina Father Pepe Di Paola, a priest who lives and works among the poorest people in the slums of Buenos Aires, and that Father Di Paola read on occasion of Argentina’s abortion debate in 2020.
The first and fundamental human right is the right to life, a right without which no other right can be subsequently ensured to a human being; a right that not even our modern and advanced society is yet able to guarantee, especially to the most vulnerable and voiceless human being of all: the unborn baby. A future in which the right to life is respected and cherished begins with the scientific, ethical and religious education of the new generations on the true origin of any human life: not the birthday, but the moment of conception.
“With every beat of my heart” is a Christian non-fiction book for families that analyses and explains the topic of the sacredness and sanctity of human life from three complementary points of view: science, ethics and Christian faith. The book explores the journey of a baby in her mother’s womb, from the very first moment of her existence (which, according to science, is the moment of conception) to the day of her birth, narrated from the baby’s perspective. The child-friendly text and illustrations describe some special milestones in the development of the new life in the womb, like the very early appearance of nervous system and heartbeat, the growth of the baby’s limbs, the beginning of her movements, and many more, together with the growth of that unique and deep bond of love between mother and baby, a bond that begins during pregnancy and that extends to the rest of life. All this is accompanied by significant quotations from the Holy Bible, to further explain the fact that children are a blessing, not a burden nor an inconvenience; to explain that every human life is created in the image of God and that, as human beings, we are called to love and to take care of each other, to defend and protect especially the most vulnerable and innocent ones, like the unborn babies and all the mothers who have been hurt and who need our help, so that they can feel morally and practically supported and choose life. This is the reason why the author has decided to donate 70% of the net profit from the sale of this book to local pregnancy resource centers.
Age: 9 years old and up as a family educational reading.
Available as paperback and Kindle edition.
Reviewed by Amy Louise Hill for Readers’ Favorite – Review Rating: 5 stars
“With Every Beat of My Heart by Chiara Sandri is a Christian book for families to read together to learn and understand the process of conception. Each page takes the reader on a journey of life, narrated by an unborn fetus. Parents wishing to educate their child about the birds and bees gently and scientifically will be able to do so with this highly informative book. There will be no embarrassment experienced whilst reading the book either, which
is a bonus for both kids and adults.
I didn’t quite know what to expect when reading Chiara Sandri’s book, as I am not religious. However, I soon realized that it didn’t matter because the author has constructed the work in a way that everyone, no matter their beliefs, would benefit from these beautifully written words. The journey the reader embarks on is mind-opening and allows thoughts and realizations to appear that weren’t there before. I learned so much from reading With Every Beat of My Heart, and it touched me in ways I didn’t expect. The fact that the book is told from an unborn child’s point of view was a nice touch, as it pulls you in to experience the bigger picture, which is life and how important it is. There’s so much to be learned from this book. I could list more, but then I’d be spoiling it for everyone else. I recommend this book to everyone wanting to educate themselves, or others, about the importance of life, and much, much more.“
