Guest Author, Hannah Bockweg
Together we march, and we march for all.
People of many different ages, occupations, and vocations support life, and we are all called to; there is no one pro life age, gender, or occupation.
Why be pro life? Why attend the March for Life? What’s the big deal, isn’t it just another demonstration? The following are statements given from some of the many faces of the pro life movement.
This is #WhyWeMarch:
- “I have life. You have life. Everyone has life. It's such a beautiful thing, and why would I not defend what is a right, very beautiful and good?" -Ashley, age 17
- “Because God made life! I can’t think of any more succinct way to say it.” -Pamela, my grandmother, more advanced in age and wisdom than myself
- “I became pro-life at 10 years old when I realized it was a whole 'nother person in there, not ‘tissue’ of the mother's body. I always wanted to help the weak, the suffering and the vulnerable--even at 10--and of course, that includes helping the mother. Abortion does violence to a woman's very nature (let alone the baby), and I don't believe violent solutions are the best way to solve problems.” -Sr. Helena Burns, fsp #medianun and #medialiteracist
- “My Pro-life Attitude is something I guard fiercely, and is entrenched in the belief that a life is something beyond mortal reckoning. A person, regardless of station, age, or development, is entitled to dignity, love, and respect.” -Sergio, The Infamous Sergio, writer at Patheos
- “If people can decide the definition of human life and its value, then God’s love for us is dependent on people’s interpretation. I cannot accept this claim.” -Nick, age 20
(Scroll to the bottom for more #WhyWeMarch responses!)
What does it mean to be “pro-life”?
Pro life means simply affirming life from conception to natural death. It is not simply being just “pro women”, just “pro men”, or even just “pro baby” but, rather, being pro-person and personhood and understanding that each person has an inherent dignity as a child of God which ought to be upheld in all circumstances. It is more than a political stance, it is a lifestyle!
“Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2258)
(Post continues below.)
Every person has a unique vocation willed by God; similarly, each person has a unique way to participate in the pro-life movement. A discovery of one’s participation requires prayer and discernment by the individual. How beautiful it is that there are so many ways to love!
The following lists are compiled to be a source of contemplation or reminders of ways in which we are to live out the pro life lifestyle through prayer, learning, and action! Not all are best for everyone (or always all at the same time!) and these ideas are by no means that which you must and can only do.
- Pray: both individual prayer & reflection and group prayer are essential to this movement – ”Personal prayer promotes and improves our participation in liturgical and community prayers.” -Cardinal Francis Arinze, On the Importance of Personal Prayer in Christian Life.
- Holy hours
- Novenas to our Mother, patronage of the unborn
- Rosaries for life
- Learn: ”He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” -Mt 22:37. We must not only form our hearts and souls to God’s will, but also our minds. We must enrich our thoughts with knowledge of the human experience and surround ourselves with that which affirms life. Ideas include:
- Books – UnPlanned by Abby Johnson, Why Pro Life? by Randy Alcorn, Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West (click here for more)
- Scripture – Genesis, Song of Songs (click here for scriptural one liners that affirm life)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church – specifically Article 5 on Life Issues (click here)
- Films – 180, October Baby, Juno, Horton Hears a Who, 40, Gimme Shelter
- Visit any pro life organizations’ websites – LifeNews, EWTN, March for Life,
- Act: “For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” -James 2:26.
- Volunteer with/donate to local pregnancy centers or other pro life supporters
- Join National & local pro life movements (40 Days for Life, school or campus groups)
- Pray rosaries outside of planned parenthood (this is a common practice for peaceful protest)
- Bumper stickers, t-shirts, newspaper ads
- Attend The National March for Life or statewide marches
- Participate in local walks from churches to court houses
- Start the pro-life conversation with others via social media, conversation, etc. (we all can and should evangelize, but only after properly forming ourselves and after prayer as to what channels we are called to evangelize through)
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn, ora pro nobis!
~The Real HJ
More resources:
In the past year, over “53 Abortion Clinics Closed in 2015, 81% of All Abortion Clinics Open in 1991 Have Shut Down” (LifeNews.com). The Pro Life movement has more momentum now than it has ever had. Our voices, voices for those who have no voice, are being heard. We are the pro life generation and we can be the generation to see an end to abortion.
Although made a few years ago, this stands as the best promo I’ve ever seen.
Thank you, Blackstone Films, for creating this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqZkwLA-As0
More #WhyWeMarch responses:
(For even more, search the hashtag on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!)
- “I’m pro life because I believe God makes everyone for a purpose, purposes [...] very beneficial to our generation and the next.” -Savannah, age 13
- “God, in our Faith, teaches us that we are to protect life not only in our faith but also in our actions. I went to the March when I was younger and marched not only with the people present but also with our Lord.” -Andy, father of 3
- “I march for life to be a voice for the voiceless, everyone deserves the most fundamental right of life.” -Holly, age 18
- “I am pro-life because I believe that life begins at conception and that God has a plan for every life.” -Tara, pregnancy care center director
- “I am pro life because ‘it’ is more than just a fertilized egg- ‘it’ is an embodied soul, a human being! It is our duty to be the voice for the human beings who have none.” -Mandy, new mother, age 25