Four Cardinals, 40 Bishops, 300 Priests at Mass for March for Life

Lifesite ^ | January 21, 2004

[NYer]

Wednesday January 21, 2004

Four Cardinals, 40 Bishops, 300 Priests at Mass for March for Life

WASHINGTON, January 21, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - LifeSiteNews.com reports today from Washington DC where we were blessed to take in the Mass at the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. In addition to an immense overflow crowd of some 8000, 70 seminarians, 80 deacons, 300 priests and 40 bishops joined four cardinals to celebrate the Mass.

The homily was given by the main celebrant of the Mass, Baltimore Cardinal William Keeler, the current Chair of the US Conference of Bishops Pro-Life Committee. The Cardinal urged the youth who made up the vast majority of the crowd to "be not afraid" even though it may seem we are like David up against many Goliaths. He advised the youth to take up the 'five smooth stones' of conviction, courage, compassion, charity and constancy.

The massive crowd applauded occasionally during the homily however applause erupted after the Mass when Cardinal Keeler read a special message from President George Bush and the First Lady to the gathered pilgrims at the vigil for life. "I applaud all those participating in the national prayer vigil for life for your ongoing dedication to building a culture of life in America. Your efforts are helping to build a society where all children are welcomed in life and protected in law," said the President's message.

The experience of the Mass was very uplifting. One felt a great unity and shared spirit among the huge crowd that jammed every corner of the basilica. The sheer number of priests and clergy in the procession was awesome to behold. The huge crowd of pro-lifers praying for the right to life, hundreds, even thousands kneeling in aisles on the marble floor was truly inspiring and instilled a sense of great hope for the future. The wonderful music and chant added to the joy of the celebration.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Who were the other three Cardinals?

[NYer]

The mass was covered live last night, on EWTN.

The sheer number of priests and clergy in the procession was awesome to behold.

The procession took more than 15 minutes, and included clergy from both the Western and Eastern rites. Despite the enormous task of distributing Communion to more than 8000, many congregants bowed or genuflected before receiving the Eucharist, many receiving on the tongue. The cathedral was absolutely packed with youth, young families, and a great number of religious. It was such an awesome experience!

REMINDER - full coverage of the March for Life beginning at 11 am EST, today, LIVE on EWTN.

[undirish01]

Cdls. George and Egan were there. Cannot remember the other Cardinal's name.

[Land of the Irish]

I believe Cardinal McCarrick was there also.

[Barnacle]

They'll have a high of 41F today.

[undirish01]

Aw yes. You are correct LI (cool name by the way! ND fan, or are you from the Emerald Isle?).

Apologies to Cdl. McCarrick for forgetting his name.

[Cap'n Crunch]

Awesome! Was watching a bit of the coverage. I have one representative from the family there... daughter #2.

[FormerLib]

January 18, 2004

To the Reverend Clergy, Venerable Monastics and Faithful of The Orthodox Church in America:

Dearly Beloved in the Lord:

Every time we recite the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, we affirm our belief in “the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life.” We acknowledge that life is a precious gift from God, a participation in His very existence. Even as sin, and ultimately death, disfigured creation, God’s love for those to whom He granted life remained steadfast, as He promised to send His only-begotten Son into the world to destroy death, to restore the living bond between Himself and His creation, and to proclaim that life, in this world and in the world to come, is sacred. Having completed His earthly ministry, Our Lord sent “the Lord, the Giver of Life,” upon His People to sustain them and strengthen them in living in the image and likeness of their Creator.

All life finds its source in the One Who is Life Itself. Life did not simply “happen,” either by design or by coincidence. The breath which enlivens and sustains every human being is that of the Holy Spirit, given by God as a sign of His immeasurable love for us. Rooted as we are in “the Giver of Life,” it is our calling to witness to life as a participation in God’s very being, as a gift to be valued beyond all others, and as a treasure entrusted to our loving care and stewardship.

We live in a time in which life is not always seen as a gift, divine or otherwise. For many, the Creator has been removed from life’s equation, while that which is borne in the womb has been reduced to a “mass of tissue” with the “potential” for human life, and nothing more. The blessing of childbearing has been redefined in many circles as a “burden,” an “inconvenience,” a “setback” in attaining “fulfillment,” personal goals, or professional pursuits. The “spirit” operating herein is a foreign one, hardly “the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life” in Whom we profess our faith. It is a spirit which fails—or refuses—to recognize human life as an extension of and participation in the life of the Triune God. And it is a spirit which has not only denied life to millions of unborn infants, but which also seeks to deny life to the chronically ill, the elderly, and others whose lives seem devoid of hope. The implications of this denial, to say the least, are frightening.

As Orthodox Christians, we profess the fullness of truth. As such, it is our calling to affirm the sanctity of life, not only with our words but also in our deeds. While we condemn abortion, euthanasia, and every other challenge to the sacred gift of life, we must not be remiss in proclaiming that life is something to be valued, something to be defended at all costs, something by which Creator and creature are intimately united now, and for all eternity. Pray that those who “hold life captive” might be touched to protect the lives of the unborn, the elderly, the infirm, and all who could find that the gift of life could be stripped away unwillingly. Engage in ministries which proclaim the sanctity of life to others who, without our efforts, may never hear the truth. Support those who have devoted themselves to wrestling with the spirit of our time which rejects the very “Lord, the Giver of Life.” Comfort those who have fallen victim to abortion, offering a sign of divine hope and reconciliation. And strive, each and every day, to be an example of that joyful life so abundantly given to us as God’s People, that those who have yet to experience God’s countless gifts may “turn to Him and live.” Working and praying together, may we open the eyes and hearts of those who have yet to embrace the Lord, the Giver of Life to see that life is indeed a sacred gift worth accepting and defending.

With love in Christ,

+HERMAN
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada

[Salvation]

**Cardinal William Keeler,**

Another bishop/cardinal to add to our good guy list!

[Salvation]

Have any of you ever attended a Mass where you had over 200 priests? I have!

The Marriage Encounter Convention in Kent, Ohio, in the 70s. It was so inspirng. I could barely sing because of the tears welling up in my eyes.

God bless these Cardinals, Bishops and Priests for standing up for life!

[Salvation]

** The cathedral was absolutely packed with youth, young families, and a great number of religious.**

What good news for youth and young families to be there!

[Salvation]

**I have one representative from the family there... daughter #2.**

Outstanding!

[pgkdan]

Another bishop/cardinal to add to our good guy list!

I agree. I live in the Diocese of Richmond and our extremely liberal bishop retired due to age this summer and the Holy Father has appointed Cdnl Keeler as Apostolic Administrator pending the appointment of a new bishop. last Sunday was the FIRST time in 25 years that I ever heard a pro life sermon at Mass at any church in this diocese. And it was a wonderful sermon...no mention of the death penalty or anti war garbage. The pastor railed against abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide. At the end I felt like applauding!

I don't know if I should credit the presence of Cardinal Keeler or the absence of Bishop Sullivan but there's a fresh breeze blowing through this diocese.

[Salvation]

**the Holy Father has appointed Cdnl Keeler as Apostolic Administrator pending the appointment of a new bishop. last Sunday was the FIRST time in 25 years that I ever heard a pro life sermon at Mass at any church in this diocese.**

What good news.

Thank you, God!

[madprof98]

I had a very heated run-in with Bishop Sullivan over the abortion issue a couple years ago. At the time he was "bishop president" of Pax Christi, the Catholic peace/justice group. The group's lay leaders had invited a notorious leader of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice to keynote their convention. Sullivan refused to stop the madness or even act as if it mattered.

After the Christian Brothers University denied Pax Christi a venue for the pro-abort speaker, the group cancelled its convention altogether. Sullivan then authored a report to his diocese (and put it in the church newspaper) claiming Pax Christi had cancelled its meeting in order to show its support for the pro-life position of the Church. I wrote him and called him the fraud he is, and he wrote back. I'm saving that letter; it's like listening to Satan fume.

[NYer]

*I don't know if I should credit the presence of Cardinal Keeler or the absence of Bishop Sullivan but there's a fresh breeze blowing through this diocese.*

How wonderful and comforting for us who are imprisoned in liberal dioceses. Our bishop, here in the Albany NY diocese, has been in place for 26 years and he's only in his sixties. And johnb2004 is in a similar predicament up in Rochester NY. (John, there is hope for us somewhere in the future!)

Did you watch the mass last night? It was truly uplifting to see so many catholics bow and genuflect before receiving Communion. 300 priests!! I am still in awe.

Salvation, after watching that endless procession, I can truly appreciate what you must have experienced at that mass in Ohio. When eastsider and I attended the Mass of Thanksgiving for his friend, Fr. David, there was a procession of seveal priests, a couple of deacons and the 'very' aged K of C. That was quite emotional. Any large assembly of priests would probably buckle my knees and drain every tear I could shed.

Cap'n - glad to hear "we" had representation at the March. PA Lurker was also there with his adult children and grandchildren. It would be great if we could grow the FR contingent next year. I'm strongly contemplating attending.

[pgkdan]

Did you watch the mass last night?

No I didn't. we don't get EWTN in this area. CUF and the KofC have been petitioning Cox Communications for years to get them to offer it. Finally we were told that if we could get a certain number of signatures they'd consider it. We got that number and more and were told "confidentially" that the reason we couldn't get EWTN was because Bishop Sullivan was consulted and he didn't want it because he considered the network to be reactionary and divisive.

Thank goodness Sullivan is gone!

[pgkdan]

When eastsider and I attended the Mass of Thanksgiving for his friend, Fr. David, there was a procession of seveal priests, a couple of deacons and the 'very' aged K of C. That was quite emotional. Any large assembly of priests would probably buckle my knees and drain every tear I could shed.

In June of 2000 the KofC had a Jubilee Year pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. There were over 12,000 Knights attending the Mass that day...we packed the pews and filled the campus of CUA. The entrance procession was a sight to behold. We had over 1,000 4th Degree Knights in full regalia, 120 priests, 3 Cardinals and about a dozen bishops. We had many hundreds more priests present but the MC only wanted 120 to concelebrate for some reason. At any rate it was a sight to behold. The goose pimples didn't go away for about a week.

[NYer]

Wish I had seen that mass! Two months ago, I joined the local chapter of the Kof C Columbiettes! Love the K of C!