Bishop Hugh Gilbert highlighted how the battle to "cherish life" continues in society.
He gave this pro-life reflection at the Stations of the Cross, which is held each Monday in Lent at 7:45pm (register here).
He said: "Despite huge challenges surgeons and doctors, health professionals of all kinds, carers and so forth are cherishing life. Thank God for this.
"But here's the strange contradiction: the erosion of this culture of care at the two ends of life.
"Hence abortion, hence the imminent threat of assisted suicide, and these are dire and dark things.
"So my thanks to all of you for carrying the torch for life."
Bishop Hugh Gilbert is a Benedictine monk and the Bishop of the Diocese of Aberdeen.