The Spring semester is full-swing ahead! Having just completed our third week of classes, things are really picking up. The reading is heavier this semester than last (Medieval Philosophy and Shakespeare constitute the majority); classes are just as engaging, though, and they fit together well, too.
This past weekend we celebrated Br. Tom's profession of perpetual vows and his ordination to the transitional diaconate (by Cardinal O'Malley; 6 other men from the Boston area were also ordained).
After the festivities on Saturday, we got a good night's sleep before jumping on a bus with about 35 young adults from the Boston area and drove down to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life. We had Mass Sunday evening at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (about 11,000 in attendance with a 40-minute entrance procession, of which the first 25 minutes were seminarian-servers processing in); Cardinal O'Malley concelebrated. The music at that Mass of Vigil for Life was beautiful, traditional and majestic. Reflecting on the reality of abortion after receiving Communion, I had two images: (1) the blood of the babies whose lives were mercilessly taken, crying out to God as Paul says to the Hebrews: more eloquently than that of Abel; and (2) all their angels (cf. Matthew 18:10), powerful creatures existing since long before their little charges' conception and ordained to protect and guide them, but, their lives having been ended even before their birth, they now praise the Father together, present at every Eucharistic banquet.
Cardinal O'Malley celebrated Mass Monday morning for the 1,000 Boston pilgrims, at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart (run by the Franciscans since before Cardinal O'Malley was first ordained over 40 years ago) - it was very nice to see a bit of the local church before we headed to the Capitol for the march.
We joined a few hundred thousand people to march from the Capitol mall to the Supreme Court building, which includes a decent incline from which we could look both forward and back to see the sea of protesters. There were very few counter-protesters, and it was great to see such diversity present in the march. There were many college-age groups, lots of religious, and whole families.
Upon returning Monday night, we jumped right into the week's classes. Tuesday evening, Fr. Greg Staab, OMV celebrated a Mass of Memorial for the Unborn, including a candlelight procession representative of the 53 million babies lost to "choice" since the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision. It was a very moving service, preceded by the Most Holy Rosary and with simple & beautiful music and great reverence. Fr. Greg outlined the issue of abortion from a natural perspective and then enriched it from our faith perspective. He closed by saying that at the heart of the pro-life movement is an attitude of love for both mother and child and a sense of sorrow and reparation for those who have been involved in abortions, for their conversion and repentance. He also stressed that it is not possible to vote on abortion, because it is objectively wrong and no majority or minority can decide its right-ness for a society. Rather, it is a spiritual battle that must be approached as such.
Let us pray for the eradication of the practice of abortion and the restoration of the culture of life, and let us exhibit such a culture so that the world may see and desire the beauty of living in a way that values life and possesses freedom in the truth that is Christ.
Love the Immaculata!
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca
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