March for Life 2013

It was the 40th annual March for Life this past Friday afternoon in our nation's capital.  When it was all over, I went to Google News to see if it ranked on the main page.  I think I found something from Fox News halfway through the page.  The next day, my brothers, their friend, and I were driving downtown to meet some family and friends at a Smithsonian museum.  One of the roads was closed as a small gathering of people held signs.  We wondered who they were and what they were protesting.  When I came home, I went to Google News.  Top story on the page -- gun control advocates march on Washington.  The headline said there were 1,000 of them.  At the March for Life, estimates say we had at least half a million.

At the rally before the walking began

So, to learn anything about the March for Life, it requires one of three things:
1) Watching it on EWTN
2) Reading Catholic blogs
3) Attending the March yourself. 

I have a spattering of pictures I'll share here too, though during the March, both my camera and my cell phone died, leaving me with no remaining ways to document the journey.  The good news, though, is that there are lots of other places on the web to see better views of the March.  St. Blogustine always has an impressive range of shots from different groups who attend the March.  The Catholic Beat has the local Cincinnati side of things.  Live Action has a photo album from Friday's event.  The Dominican Friars have a great video to document their presence by the Capitol Building.  

Living outside of DC makes the March seem a little more cushy ... a hot breakfast, running water, a short trip to the Metro with a SmartTrip card instead of a long line for a paper fare card .... This year, the Lord had something else in mind.  My husband and I hosted two of my brothers and a friend for the weekend.  We awoke on Friday to learn that the weather was so cold that a pipe outside burst the evening before, leaving us with no running water for the day!  We decided it was some involuntary penance for the March, giving us a little less comfort for the big day, but still a different experience from those who travel overnight on buses, only to begin walking for a few miles in the morning.

A Kenosis reunion!

The five of us arrived on the Mall (not a shopping mall, but a large grassy area surrounding the Washington Monument, just to clarify!) shortly after the rally began.  The tone this year was a bit different, since the passing of Nellie Gray, who organized the past 39 marches.  Jeanne Monaghan (a fellow John Paul II Institute alumna) is the new president of the March.  The rally included a speech by a college student, as well as music from Franciscan University alum Kevin Heider.  

To be honest, I missed much of the rally, because I was talking to the Dominican Friars or running into friends from pro-life work or from Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life or from my parish.  When 500,000 people gather in one place, it's impossible not to see a familiar face.  

We were hoping to meet up with some of my brothers who took a bus with their youth group for the trip, so we waited for a good 30-45 minutes to even begin marching.  Even if we had wanted to begin, we would have barely moved during that time.  When we finally did begin, even near the end of the throng, we made slow progress.

I think you can see the snow.

Along the way, we saw the University of Cincinnati banner, Aquinas College, the John Paul II Institute, the Diocese of Evansville, St. Edmund Campion Academy in Cincinnati, several Ohioans, and banners from afar for Franciscan University and Ave Maria University.  We passed printed signs, homemade signs, large professional banners and smaller make-shift ones.  We saw high school students, college students, families, senior citizens.  We saw people in wheel chairs and children in strollers.  We saw seminarians and many religious orders of sisters.  We passed people praying the Rosary, singing hymns, chanting pro-life slogans.  

The temperatures were quite cold.  I believe the wind chills were in the teens at times.  And then somewhere in the midst of the signs, the singing, the shuffling -- snow!  Tiny white flakes began dropping all around us, accumulating on coats, in hoods, on hats and gloves.  Gloves were getting wet, and hand warmers became more important.  

Still, everyone pressed on, climbing the hill to the Capitol, passing it to continue on to the Supreme Court building.  I think climbing that hill is possibly my favorite part of the March.  There, the sheer number of people before and behind is more evident.  One walks that hill completely surrounded by so many others who have dedicated their lives, their talents, their time at the service of life.  It's overwhelming and beautiful and refreshing.

The climb ends.  A corner is rounded.  And there is the Supreme Court building.  This year it is under renovations and had a fake "cover" over it to the look like itself.  It's passing those steps year after year that serves as a chilling reminder that forty years ago, lawyers ascended those steps in order to argue for a right to abortion, a right to privacy.  And they descended those steps to await the decision of the Supreme Court.  And those few lawyers, few justices have changed the shape of our country in innumerable ways.  Those steps, that building are significant.  

On the base of the steps, people pray.  The Dominicans sing the Salve Regina.  Silent No More organizes a group of women and men willing to share their stories, bravely holding signs that say, "I regret my abortion."  

On the base of the steps there are also the few "protestors" -- this year, a few college students who held posters.  One poster had a few obscenities and the girl holding it tried not to laugh as she screamed, "It's my choice!"  

It's that place, by the Supreme Court, that shakes us out of our momentary bubble.  We are not alone, true.  But we are also not unopposed.  There are so many people in our world who have been wounded, who don't understand, who think that ending the life of an unborn child will solve their problems, fears, hurts and insecurities.  They need to see a group of people who celebrate life, who protect it and witness to its sanctity.  We need to see that there are people in the world who still need to hear the message, who need to know that life is beautiful, and isn't so much about being a choice, but rather about being a gift to be received gratefully and with joy.  

And that's the March.  The numbers have grown incredibly in the last ten years (more than doubled, I believe).  I've lost count as to how many "record Marches" I have attended.  We come in peaceful protest of injustice.  But it's more than a protest.  It's also a recognition of the dignity and beauty of life, and a plea that we all open our eyes to the wonders the Lord has done for us and given us.  

 As I told a friend who mentioned that abortion must end soon -- I hope that someday, when there is no more March for Life, we will have an annual celebration for life ... on a Saturday ... in the spring or summer.   

[Update: This video from EWTN shows the magnitude of the numbers on Friday.]

March for Life pictures

Some pictures from the March for Life are available here and here. Reports are saying half a million people were in attendance, which would make it the largest March ever, I do believe. And yet, once again, did you hear a report (and if so, an accurate report) from the mainstream media?

A young person's view of the March for Life

The National Catholic Register shares this great piece about this year's March for Life.

We come because we are the generation who has been hurt by abortion; youth are missing countless brothers, sisters, cousins, friends ...

Although the day was gloomy, the crowd was joyful, if not a bit too exuberant at times. For once, the group I was with made it to the rally early. We were right in front of the main stage and saw and heard the testimonies and speakers.

At first it was quiet. I have experienced the march before and seen the massive crowds, but every year I still wonder if they will come. Slowly they drift in, until, at last, you look up to find you are in a sea of people, mostly young people. It’s an amazing sight.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/witnesses-for-life-a-young-persons-account-of-the-march-for-life/#ixzz1kOt6LQc1

TimeLapse March for LIFE DC 2011

This clip has made its way all over Facebook, but I wanted to pass it along for any who have not yet seen the immensity of the March for Life. Reports have said that the 2011 March was the biggest ever ... though those reports certainly coming from secular sources, who largely ignore the annual event.

Awesome March for Life 2011 video

"Because we have been sent into the world as a 'people for life,' our proclamation must also become a genuine celebration of the Gospel of life." -- John Paul II ("Evangelium Vitae" #83).

Reflections on the March for Life, part 3

A continuation of my thoughts on this year's March for Life ...

Monday, January 24

March for Life day began around 4:30 am, with layering, packing, breakfasting and cleaning on the to-do list. There was just enough time before loading the bus for a quick interview with the Son Rise Morning Show. By 6:30 am we were headed to the DC Armory for the overflow youth rally.

At the youth rally, we met up with other Cincinnatians, found old friends, belted praise and worship, prayed the Rosary and prepared for Mass. There were a couple of interactions that were particularly noteworthy.

1) A young man who was in the youth group with which I was traveling (as well as a former TOB for Teens student) is in his first year of college seminary. When he walked into the DC Armory, he was surrounded suddenly by dozens of teens who knew him from youth group. In his cassock, this young seminarian was beaming, as were his friends who saw his joy and peace. Another chaperone reported that an adult walked by and commented, "They are treating him like a rock star." Later, one of my brothers told me that it really was like a celebrity interaction because the joyous reunion was broken up by security, who had to clear the aisles before the beginning of Mass. Seeing this young college seminarian in his visible commitment to discerning God's will was such an inspiring sight for all of us.

2) Before Mass began, I noticed Archbishop Schnurr near the back of the Armory. Since my first March for Life in 2003, I have wanted to see my bishop present at the annual event. At the youth rallies, the bishops' names and dioceses are always mentioned, and I have long desired to hear, "from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati" in the list. This was the year! I thanked the Archbishop for his presence. He shared that he was present because last year the high school students attending the March asked when he would march with them, and he promised them he would do so in 2011. Not only was Archbishop Schnurr a concelebrant of the youth rally (in the picture to the right, he is second to last in the procession), but he also participated in the March for Life with groups of Cincinnati high school students. What a gift to be led by our local shepherd in the pursuit of a culture of life!

The Mass at the DC Armory youth rally was wonderful, with Cardinal DiNardo as the celebrant. The homily by Fr. Patrick Riffle was outstanding. Fr. Riffle issued a tremendous challenge to all present -- to be pro-life we must first be pro-Christ. He linked living chastely with being authentically pro-life, as both are expressions of an understanding of the dignity of the human person. The homily is available online, and I cannot recommend it enough.

After the rally, we headed outside to walk approximately 4 miles to the outdoor March for Life rally. As always, the sheer volume of people present was incredible. Yet, once again consistently with my weekend reflections, the beauty of this gathering is not the volume of people but the uniqueness and unrepeatability of each one present.

There were signs and smiles and tears and frustration and hope and youth and not-as-young and chanting and singing and silence. The walking was very slow to accommodate for all of the people. There were handwarmers and scarves of every color of the rainbow. There were new marchers and veteran marchers. There were Catholics, Protestants, Jews and other religions. What every person had in common was that they had received life as a gift. We were born. And each of us present on January 24, 2011 (estimates say between 250,000-400,000 people) want every human person to be given this gift as well.

When we arrived in front of the Supreme Court building, the Dominicans with whom we were marching, sang the Salve Regina as a closing prayer. We then walked to a House office building to meet the congressman and congresswoman who represent Cincinnati.

Eventually we were back on the bus with a nine hour overnight trip ahead of us. Early in the journey on Monday night, the youth were invited to share their reflections on the weekend. For an hour and a half we heard beautiful reflections, profound insights and moments of deeper conversions. We heard about the teens' attempts to consider the dignity of every person during our DC travels. We listened to appreciation for the youth rally homily. We were told of deeper understanding of the beauty of the pro-life movement. We were given hope and inspiration and encouragement and joy.

Every March for Life offers a new experience. This year my own reflections centered on the inestimable dignity of each human person, precisely as a unique person. And yet again I was reminded that when we view others as persons whom Christ deemed worthy of being saved, then the culture will be transformed. But the only way to pass from a culture of death and a civilization of use to a culture of life and a civilization of love is when we see the dignity of each and every human person -- from the unborn to the defenseless to the elderly -- as a life created by God and redeemed by Him.

Traveling through DC in the days preceding the March allowed us all to see more clearly that we can march for life in our daily interactions. By our joy, peace, and awareness of the gift of dignity and value given by God, we are proclaiming the beauty of life to all whom we encounter, whether we are eating lunch, walking through a museum, standing in front of a monument, riding a bus or strolling down a busy street. And in the daily march for life through life, we are witnessing that life is a gift worth defending.

Reflections on the March for Life, part 2

Continuing my experience of this weekend's March for Life trip ...

Sunday, January 23

Day 2 of the March for Life trip began by heading on the bus for a drive to Arlington National Cemetery. It's a sobering sight to see thousands of white tomb stones cascading down the hillsides of the cemetery, each one representing the death of someone who fought for the country (or a spouse or child). We rushed to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in order to be present for the changing of the guard and were also able to see the presentation of a wreath.

Seeing the incredible dignity given to the "unknown soldier" is yet another reminder that each human person has inestimable worth, just by being a person made in God's image and likeness. The fascinating aspect of this particular tomb is that it does not simply represent all members of the military who died "unknown," but it honors one particular person, while simultaneously honoring all who have died fighting for our country. It's an action like this that shows the dignity of each and every person.

When I see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I can't help but hope that one day we will have a national monument of the Tomb of the Unknown Baby. At my alma mater, Franciscan University of Steubenville, there is a tomb of the unborn, under which seven aborted babies have been buried. Each of them has been named. Each of them is a person. There seems to be no greater way to honor the unborn than to reveal the personhood of a few.

After seeing the burial place of John Kennedy, our group made a brief stop in front of the tomb of Harry Blackmun, the Supreme Court justice who authored the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. Together we prayed in front of his tomb for mercy on all who have supported abortion, for healing for men and women who have made abortion decisions, and for a culture of life to flourish in our nation.

We left Arlington and headed to the Smithsonians for lunch and brief tours. From there, our group walked to the Holocaust Museum. It is always a chilling visit, and one that makes for an important stop on a pilgrimage for life. Each visitor to the museum is given an identification card with the name, picture and story of a particular survivor or victim of the Holocaust. Once again, the theme of individual persons, and not just a mass of humanity, as victims of dehumanization was manifest. I could walk through the museum and consider how Maria Sava Moise, a Romanian Gypsy, was impacted by the Nazi regime. Numbers and statistics were not destroyed, but people were.

There is much that can be said about an experience in the Holocaust Museum. Much of it cannot be expressed in words. It is frightening to see how one human person could pulverize the dignity of another. But to walk through the museum and know that a similar act of dehumanization is occurring in our nation every day -- and like the Nazis is protected by law -- is agonizing. I went to Auschwitz in 2006 and will never forget standing along the train tracks with no words. Another girl came up to me and said, "Maybe you are here because God wants you to be able to tell people about the connection between this atrocity and abortion." The connections go deeper than we often realize, and yet how often do we turn a blind eye to abortion, while chastising those who refused to speak or act on behalf of those persecuted and killed in Europe in the '30s and '40s?

After the Holocaust Museum, we traveled to the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Although this was my seventh March for Life, it was the first time I have been present for the Vigil Mass for Life. We arrived three hours before Mass began and were fortunate to get one of the last side chapels with a television screen view of the Mass.

I have heard stories about the magnitude of this particular vigil Mass, and being present for it did not disappoint. The opening procession really did take 40 minutes, with hundreds of seminarians, priests, bishops and cardinals making their way to the altar. When the first opening song began, I was struck by the resonating male voices that boomed throughout the basilica. We speak about a crisis in manhood and a crisis in fatherhood in our world today. Yet here were hundreds of men who have dedicated their lives to being true men and true fathers, who have given their lives in service of their bride the Church. And in that moment of song, I was reminded that our Church is in the capable hands of servants of God who wish to provide and protect with their very lives.

Cardinal DiNardo's homily was excellent. He especially thanked the young people for their witness in the culture of life, exhorting the youth to live their pro-life values through their zest and joy for life.

When 10,000 people pack the largest church in North America for what is probably the biggest annual Mass of the country, there is no way one can leave without renewed hope. A culture of life does not begin with pro-life laws, but with hearts that respond to God's love. And 10,000 hearts is not a bad place to start.

Back at our quarters for the weekend, we closed the day in prayer, with a talk about seeing the value of each person. It brought us back to Arlington National Cemetery, to the war memorials, to the Holocaust Museum, to see that what we had witnessed that day was not a mass sea of humanity, but individual human persons made in God's image and likeness. And the image is no less significant when it comes to the unborn.

More reflections on the March for Life trip to come ...

Reflections on the March, part 1

The March for Life in Washington, DC, yesterday, was once again more than incredible. There is something so moving about standing amidst hundreds of thousands of people standing for life, making a statement not only with their presence but with their very lives, that life is a gift. This was my seventh March for Life, but my first as a chaperone.

In considering how best to "report" on the March, I decided that the best way might be to present my own experience on this year's journey. Rather than give a news report, I think it might be more interesting and more fitting to the message to share one perspective of the weekend. Yet, with a lack of sleep and waning intelligence, this reflection will take more than just this afternoon to write. For now, I give you day 1:

Saturday, January 22:

The morning of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade found 46 teenagers piling into a bus, clutching their pillows and loading their bags under the vehicle. It was 8 am when they began arriving in the church parking lot, eager to head to the nation's capital. For some, it was their first trip to the March, while others were veteran attendees.

So, we spent our nine hours on the bus, praying the Rosary, watching "Bella," talking, performing a talent show and enjoying the time. One young man later remarked that he found it interesting that most of the young people engaged each other during the entire trip, rather than leaning on the crutch of iPods and earphones in order to pass the time.

When we arrived in DC, there was much oohing and ahhing over the White House and Capitol Building, which we passed during our drive. Following dinner, we headed back to the bus and into the brutal cold for a nighttime tour of the monuments.

Walking past the World War II monument, seeing the names on the Vietnam War Memorial and looking at the statues of the Korean memorial made me think about the people that these landmarks represent. We could just focus on the idea of the war, or on the number of names represented. But no matter how many names there are, these are not simply words but people. And each person has a story to tell, an experience to share, a life that was lived. And in this case, a life that was sacrificed for our own freedom.

This was the theme of my weekend's reflections -- that a person is a person. That sounds ridiculous and possibly quite simplistic, but it's a profound truth we often ignore. People are not ideas or numbers or statistics. Each person is "unique, unrepeatable, someone chosen by eternal Love," as John Paul II described the person in Theology of the Body. But when we get bogged down in the ideas, the words, the statistics, then it can be hard to see the true personhood of others, and instead people become commodities or countable objects.

In front of the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, I was struck by the attention given to these two men for their defense of freedom. Yet, we were remembering the 38th anniversary of the legalization of the termination of the right to life of the unborn. How ironic that numerous people who support abortion might walk through these memorials and think nothing of the fact that unborn babies are killed each day.

At the same time, it should give hope, that at some point in our nation's history, Jefferson's articulation of the "right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" was unwritten, and Lincoln's leadership of the country during the battle against slavery was more than controversial. Many years later, we almost universally look to these men as leaders of our country, whose actions changed the world in which we live in today. Why would we doubt that one day there will be national monuments to the unborn and to those who defended them?

More March for Life reflections to come ...