A Different Form of Witness

Seminarians avoid blizzard at March for Life yet still testify to life's sanctity.

As usual, the third-year theologians from Sacred Heart journeyed to Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life. As usual, the weather was a huge story.

But, what was quite unusual: The class did not participate in the march, itself. A massive winter storm hammered the East Coast, and the Washington area was severely impacted by it. As such, we made a choice to leave the city on January 22 just before the March for Life began and return to our duties at the seminary.

Of course, this decision raised difficult questions. Did we actually stand up for life? Were we true witnesses to the pro-life movement even though we left early? Indeed, there are no pictures of us marching this year.

However, we did, in fact, stand up for life.

First, our very presence in Washington D.C., testified to our pro-life stance. Furthermore, our class was honored to serve at the Vigil Mass alongside many of our brother seminarians from across the country. We also were blessed to attend the Youth Rally and the Mass on the day of the march. As such, we raised our voices and praised God together with other pro-life Catholics, and our presence and prayer testified to our stance on life.

Admittedly, we were disappointed that we did not march through the streets of D.C. But, there are two things to consider. First, the March for Life still went on and there was a pro-life presence in our nation's capital. Second, although we did not get to participate in the march, we did participate in the true pinnacle of event: the Masses. In the Mass, we celebrated the Eucharist with fellow believers. We celebrated life, itself, and shared in the life of Jesus by receiving him in Holy Communion. In prayer and worship, our class did testify to the sanctity of life.

Again, this may not have been the usual expectation of standing up for life. We were unable to march, but we did share the pro-life message through our interaction with people, by our example and conduct, and in our prayer.

The storm raged, but it did not prevail. The voice and witness of the pro-life movement was heard. We were blessed to be able to witness this year in a new way.