IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller
By Mark Pattison
WASHINGTON
(CNS) — New York Cardinal Timothy M.
Dolan of New York invoked the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during a homily at the Jan. 18 Mass that opened the
National Prayer Vigil for Life.
Like “Pastor
King,” as Cardinal Dolan referred to him throughout his homily, “our belief in
the dignity of the human person and the sacredness of all human life propels us
to concern for human life wherever, whenever, and however it is threatened,
from racial antagonism to justice for immigrants, from the war-torn to the
hungry,” the prelate said.
And,
like Rev. King, whose life was the subject of a national holiday three days prior,
“our prayers and witness are about civil rights: the civil right to life and to
equal protection under the law, guaranteed by our Constitution, for the most
fragile, marginalized and threatened — the tiny, innocent baby in the womb,”
Cardinal Dolan said.
The
Mass, which has attracted more than 10,000 in recent years, was celebrated at
the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
Rev.
King “would be marching with us in the defense of unborn life were not the
dignity of his own person and the sanctity of his own life tragically violated 50 years ago this spring,” Cardinal Dolan said, referring to the civil rights
figure’s assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, April 4, 1968.
“Pastor
King would often begin his stirring speeches, which still move us, by asking
his listeners, ‘Why are we here?'” Cardinal Dolan said.
Answering
the question himself, the cardinal gave a variety of reasons.
“We are here to advocate and give witness, to advocate for
those who cannot yet speak or walk with us, the pre-born baby, whose future is
in jeopardy and can be ended by a so-called choice, and to give witness that millions, mostly young people, share a
passion for the belief that that little baby has civil rights,” he said.
“We are here to fight the heavy temptation — we must admit the temptation — to discouragement,” he continued.
Another reason, he said, was “to
lobby for life,” sharing “passion for a society to assist and protect all vulnerable
life … because, to borrow my brother pastor’s refrain, ‘We shall overcome,'”
to which the Mass crowd applauded.
“And
there is one final reason why we are here,” Cardinal Dolan said. “To pray!”
The opening
Mass featured more than 300 clergy concelebrants, including 34 bishops and
archbishops, and six U.S. cardinals. Retired Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of
Washington did not join in the processions, but instead got to the shrine’s sanctuary
a few minutes before Mass with the aid of a walker.
While Washington
has not been immune to wintry weather for the overnight vigil and next-day
March for Life in recent years, this year’s events were met with relatively
mild temperatures compared to the frigid and slick conditions north, west and —
surprisingly — south of the nation’s capital.
At the Jan.
19 morning Mass that closed the vigil, Bishop Edward M. Burns of Dallas told
the story of a young boy who saw an online advertisement for a baseball glove.
Wanting the glove but not having the money to pay for it, he wrote a letter to
his mother that took the form of an itemized bill for the chores he did around
the house — with the total equaling the cost of the glove.
Knowing
his mother must have seen the envelope addressed to her at her place at the
dining room table, the boy, a few days later, saw a box at his own place at the
table. In the box was the glove he had wanted. But as he was trying it on, he
spotted an envelope addressed to him at the bottom of the box. In the letter
was his mother’s list of services rendered to him — giving birth to him,
changing his diapers, tucking him in at night, drying his tears, bandaging his
wounds and holding him tight — and after each entry came the words “no charge.”
“That’s
sacrificial love,” Bishop Burns said, “the type of love God has for us.” He added,
“He demonstrates that love for us time and time again, and he asks us to
demonstrate that sacrificial love for others. … Our Lord Jesus Christ is an example
of sacrificial love.”
In
echoing the Mass theme “For the Preservation of Peace and Justice,” Bishop Burns
recalled the words of Deuteronomy 30: “I set before you a choice: death of
life. Choose life so that you may live.”
“Choosing
life comes from a sacrificial love,” Bishop Burns said. “We are here to bring
attention to the attacks against human life.” He told worshippers, “Stay strong,
stay dedicated and committed to the cause of life.”
– – –
Copyright © 2018 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
