Off to the Pro-Life Mass and March Today - Updated With Video Link

If we don't stand up and counted, no legislators will know that we care.

That is what I realized last year at my first Pro-Life March. Please consider being there if there is one in your area.

As Bishop Vasa says:

Regardless of how many years have passed since the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court Decision and regardless of how prevalent and routine abortion has become in this country, the simple truth remains, it is an act of extreme violence to the pre-born child and to the distressed mother. Thus, if anyone says, "I love God" and still favors abortion, he is, to quote St. John, a liar. May we all live out faithfully what it means to love God.

He says much else, all of it good, as does The Curt Jester where I saw the bishop's letter.

Go and read...

On a personal note, we're meeting Heather there and I am expecting to see a few others I know as well. I hope it's standing room only, spilling out into the halls.

What Happened at the March
Mark Windsor, the founder of the feast for me with his fasting and praying monthly challenge, and one daughter prayed the rosary at a nearby abortion clinic. He says:

We got there right at 8:00 and went to the abortion clinic. ... You'd have loved the clinic scene this year. My guess is that there were about 4x the number of people this year as last. They were on both sides of the street and on the next block as well. There were also only 5 "clinic support" people there instead of a dozen. It was enough to warm the heart (while freezing the hind quarters).

Unfortunately their household is falling prey to the flu and his daughter began getting feverish before Mass so they had to go home. Hope everyone pulls out of it fast, Mark!

We attended Mass first at the cathedral. I had forgotten just how moving the red rose ceremony is. As Heather writes:

A representative born in each year since 1973 comes forward and places a red rose in a basket before the altar. Each person and each rose represents about 1.2 million people whose lives were violated and destroyed before they were even born.

As they place the rose in the basket deep bell is rung once. It makes it a very solemn occasion. The last person, representing the current year, is a pregnant woman. Just looking at all those people, thinking of all the baby boys and girls who have been murdered in that time was sobering. It made it more tangible somehow.

Two things resonate more than any other from Bishop Farrell's fine homily. The first is that we must never give up hope. The second is that a true culture of life would make it inconsequential if Roe v. Wade were never overturned ... for the simple reason that no one would avail themselves of it. This hadn't occurred to me before. It cast me back to a recent email conversation with a downcast friend in which I fell back again upon my favorite example of triumph against all odds. First century Christians. They lived the culture of life, of being true disciples of Jesus Christ, in such a genuine way that they changed the world despite not being able to affect laws. We can do the same.

The march was really great ... there were about 2,000 people, twice the number of last year. Tom and I have vowed to make notes this year and remember to encourage our friends join us. 2,000 is good but not enough! The march is not difficult but when one has never done it then the idea is intimidating.

The bishop had a very strict directive about behavior during the march. He wanted no chatting, no goofing around or offensive remarks or signs. He reminded us that we were marching with the Lord as did the people of Israel when they marched out of slavery. Wow. It was a much quieter and more meditative walk with small groups here and there praying the rosary aloud or singing.

It really was something to pause at the turn and look back (as everyone ahead of us was doing) and see the solid line of marchers going on as far as the eye could see. We were near the front and waited close to 15 minutes at the law building before everyone got there. Amazing.

Also inspiring were the cars that would honk as the police held them back so we could pass. Once we all looked and saw the driver of the car vigorously applauding the entire time the march went by ... simultaneously the passenger held up a shirt to the front window (couldn't see what was on it but it was clearly in support). Another time, on the way back, a driver similarly honked and when we all looked over, he gave us vigorous thumbs up.

Right before we continued the march (didn't retrace steps but went on around to finish the square, so to speak, winding up at the Baptist church), we sang the first two verses of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Sounds corny but as is so often the case with that sort of thing it left me teary-eyed.

Heather has a much more comprehensive report. I'm looking forward to seeing the photos she took ... and you can now see them here.

Here's one which particularly caught my eye not only because it was great to see the clergy marching too, but because this particular priest is our Vicar for Clergy, who will be celebrating our Saturday Mass at the Beyond Cana marriage enrichment retreat. (You know how I like to link everything together ... with the slightest excuse!)


Here is a short video that gives a sense of being there. Thanks to Laura for this!


Heather points us toward the Catholic Pro-Life Committe Dallas photos ... where I saw my friend Ronda who is also the STA pro-life go-to gal. She was one of those who carried a red rose for those who were killed in her birth year. It made it all the more poignant for me thinking of how many people like her we were missing knowing ...