We traveled through the night and arrived at the The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception around 6:30 a.m. for 7:30 a.m. Mass. Half our group of six had never been on the March, and never visited the Basilica before. Although we were sleep deprived, the Mass was beautiful, and the perfect start to the beginning of our journey to the March.
(where's Connor?!?!)
After Mass we explored all of the beautiful nooks and crannies of the Basilica and made our way to the metro, in order to join hundreds of thousands of others for the rally at the National Mall. We arrived at the rally before it became completely packed with groups from all over the U.S.
Right before the March started, it became so crowded it took quite a lot of energy to try and navigate through the sea of people when making our way to the front. This was my fourth year attending the March, and I have never felt so packed within the crowd when marching. Seeing how many people came to stand up for the unborn and protest abortion filled my heart with joy.
Our generation will bring justice to all our brothers and sisters lost to abortion, and end the injustice still opposed on those in danger of being killed.
On average in the U.S.:
3,767 babies are killed in abortions per day.
One hour: 157 babies
One minute: 2-3 babies
Throughout the March, my friends and I ran into a handful of familiar faces. It was so wonderful spotting friends from back home.
Once at the Supreme Court building, we listened to post-abortive women share their abortion testimonies with the Silent No More association. For a little while my group and I listened to the moving stories these courageous women shared.
As I began to leave the Supreme Court building to cross the street, I walked passed a couple of women holding pro-abortion signs and I stopped to inquire what was taking place. It was an amazing thing to see because there was peaceful dialogue between both sides. We can only pray those still blind to the lies of abortion were impacted for the better after experiencing the March and conversing with those willing to speak with them.
When we reached the incline uphill toward the end of the March, we all turned around to see the long stretch of the hundreds of thousands behind us. It is one of the most overwhelming parts of the experience, no matter how many times you have seen it before.
The voices of the millions of unborn children lost to abortion are being heard.
We never have seen, or will see hundreds of thousands of pro-choice people from across the U.S. join together in the winter, to demand abortion. We must continue to stand up for the truth. Not just once a year, but every day until Roe vs. Wade is overcome.
Being pro-life is so much more than fighting to end legalized abortion. Being pro-life means combating the culture of death in all its forms and building up a culture of life. Opposing the contraceptive mentality and practice, living a pure life to exemplify the virtue of chastity and exposing the lies of glamorized promiscuity. It means communicating the truth to all those around us through gentle charity. Caring for mothers in crisis by donating, and volunteering at pregnancy help centers. Being active in the political sphere by educating the public on pro-life candidates and always voting pro-life. By prayer, prayer, and more prayer, whether at home or outside of abortion clinics. Being pro-life means understanding that all lives matter, all lives are sacred, and all lives have dignity and rights.
A pro-life lifestyle lived by all will conquer the culture of death.
Marching with half a million other people from all over the country to end the holocaust of abortion is mind-blowing to say the least. It doesn't end here. We all have to do our part daily to defend the most vulnerable, to help mothers, protect babies, and end this injustice against the dignity and lives of all people.
We cannot forget the 57 million innocent lives lost in the U.S. alone, the unknown number of lives affected from the past, and our brothers and sisters threatened by abortion right now. It doesn't end here, and we won't stop fighting.
Trying to copy my picture of the Metro, I see. ;) So glad you had fun, chummy! Love ya!
ReplyDeleteThe Starving Inspired