March for Life 2012 facebook friend coverage

News coverage on the March for Life 2012 was minimal and late in the day, though hundreds of thousands of people came out to take a stand for the sanctity of human life, proclaiming that the right to life, has not been granted to people by the government, but by our God.

This photo was shared by a facebook friend who heard that there were speakers at the historic event "from every creed and race." You can imagine how many touching human interest stories could have been written from such a diverse presence.

The purpose of the March for Life is for American pro-life citizens to come together in unity to pray and speak up on behalf of the defenseless, innocent, preborn human beings who have no voice; and to send the message to our elected officials that abortion is not a health care option, but it is the inhumane destruction of human life, and that abortion also harms women and men who are left in its wake.

It is my pleasure to share some of this event, which is, from what I've heard, the largest assembly of U.S. citizens to ever march on Washington.

This is a photo posted on Susan B. Anthony List's wall. It was there that somebody commented that this year's March for Life in Germany was "wonderful," too.

As you can see by these few photos, showing the multitude of pro-life citizens who participated in the annual March for Life, posted by a handful of facebook friends, it is obvious that there are so many facets of this gem of an event that journalists purposely  neglected  to shine a camera light on. I appreciate everyone who posted information, photos, and videos to cover the event. Those of us who could only share the moment on a computer on facebook were there in spirit. And everyone there at EWTN, you did an awesome job!

It has been 39 years now since Roe vs. Wade, and in that time there have been nearly 55 million babies legally killed in our country alone. Let's continue to prayerfully work together to end this holocaust. Your prayers and your voice really do make a difference, for the unborn children, for families, and for society.

A group of my favorite Catholic facebook apologists were there at the March, and they shared photographs and videos. They also took the opportunity for doing some radio show live broadcasting. Margie Prox Sindlar is one of this crew, who posted pictures of the Vigil Mass for Life at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. She reported that it "took 40 minutes for all the Seminarians, Priests, and Bishops to process in."

Lastly, EWTN will be replaying their excellent exclusive coverage again this weekend. If your time is limited, check out the highlights in this video:

Adoration Hymn: The Resurrection of the Lord

Adoration Hymn: The Resurrection of the Lord 

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Christ is risen from the dead,

so then by death He trampled death,

to ransom me.

You have paid the highest price,

laid down your life in sacrifice,

for love of me.

I have hope that day by day,

as You guide me on the way,

a saint I'll be.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Our Lord has risen from the dead,

threw open wide the prison doors,

set captives free.

Jesus, You've conquered sin and death,

crushed the wicked serpent's head,

by faith I see.

Lord, I'm held fast in my sins,

break the chains yet binding me,

Christ have mercy.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Jesus has risen from the dead,

and granted life to us instead,

eternally.

You've asked me to deny myself,

and take your mother as my own,

to care for me.

I cry out, “Holy! and wise Lord!”

rejoice with Mary, who adores

my God, and King.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Preparation for total consecration to Jesus through Mary

I'd like to encourage you to participate in the Preparation for Total Consecration according to Saint Louis Marie de Montfort. This book is an excellent guide to use daily for about a month prior to making a consecration of oneself to Jesus through Mary, concluding with the consecration on a Marian feast day.

On the day of this writing, according to the suggested schedule included in the book published by Montfort Publications, it is now day eleven into the devotional. Part I focuses the faithful, for twelve preliminary days, on the opposing ways of the spirit of the world, and that of the spirit of Jesus and our Blessed Mother.

Following this, the devotion is a terrific aid in gaining knowledge of self, of Holy Mary, and of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.These sections consist of seven days each. The book concludes with the Consecration of oneself to Jesus Christ, Wisdom incarnate, through the hands of Mary. The recommendation is to renew your consecration at least once a year, on the same day. Though, perhaps you'll find, as I did, that this booklet is valuable as a daily devotion that enriches your walk of faith with a glorious growth in virtue.

The contents include portions from The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin by St. Louis de Montfort, and passages from the Holy Bible, along with Catholic prayers appropriately selected for the different topics in the book.

This book can be picked up at your neighborhood Catholic book store, or from the publisher: http://publications.montfortmissionaries.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=43 . You might also like to use icons and other artistic creations to enhance your contemplative experience, and I have designed a facebook page for that purpose. This page is located here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Preparation-for-Total-Consecration-according-to-Saint-Louis-de-Montfort/295101727206712?sk=wall

Pray with me my daily mini consecration prayer, taken from St. Louis de Montfort: "I am all Thine, and all that I have is Thine, O my sweet Jesus, through Mary, Thy holy mother. Amen." Totus Tuus!

Grace and humility puts us on the road that leads to life

My eldest son selected the front pew, and the family members who went to Mass with us all followed him in. All of us could fit in the pew to sit there, but the area to kneel on padding was shorter, and someone would need to kneel on the carpeted floor. I wanted to change places with my son so that I could perform reparation. He wouldn't agree to a more comfortable spot with me kneeling on the floor. He invited me next to him, and we were both able to fit there kneeling without blocking the aisle.

After receiving our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, as I prayed, I happened to look over at my son. He was kneeling there in humble prayer with his eyes closed and his head bowed in reverence to God. I was aware of my son's difficulties in life and the temptations he battles, and I was sorry for him and for my part in it. I know that some of what he goes through is because of my own sinfulness when he lived under my roof, as a child. I was in awe at how he had become such a good and wonderful man, a responsible father, and a faithful husband to his wife. He has cheated the designs the evil one has for him and his life. He loves Jesus and reaches out to others with the love of Christ.He loves the Catholic Church and defends the faith. My son strives to be virtuous and pleasing to God. It is obvious to me that my son is a Christian who daily humbles himself and cooperates with the grace of God at work in his life. It is awe-inspiring and glorious to behold.

As I prayed, I asked the Lord to have mercy on my son for his sins, and for things he has not yet learned, and for those sins that he has not yet been able to conquer. I cried. Oh Lord, how wrong I was as a young parent, who had unrealistic expectations of my firstborn son. I was far too demanding and harsh with him. It is truly a blessed humiliation to admit that we have sinned, and to experience God's grace and mercy and reconciliation.

God is loving and merciful. When we cooperate with His miraculous, transforming grace, we become more like Jesus and Mary. Conversion, at heart, is not a one day occurrence with a vocal claim of repentance, but a lifetime occurrence within one's heart of daily cooperation with God's grace, bringing forth visible fruit of true repentance, evidenced in virtuous living. My son and I have a great relationship. We pray the Holy Rosary on Saturdays and we go to Mass together. We share good times together, and in hard times, we help bear one another's burdens. We love each other. And we encourage and affirm each other as we strive for holiness.

We've got a long way to go, but we have found the right road, the hard, narrow one that leads to life. My prayer for you, dear reader, is that you join us there. Quoting from St. John the Baptist in today's Gospel reading: "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said."

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010212.cfm (I will add the EWTN homily for 1/2/2012 as soon as it becomes available and I am able to share it.)