We need the Holy Spirit and we need the presence of Our Lady who trusts in God. We need the Spirit to inspire the laity also to speak out in defense of respect for human life. Tomorrow in the canonization of Juan Diego, the world’s attention will again be turned to the “Patroness of the Unborn” as Our Lady of Guadalupe is known. Our Church must speak on behalf of the unborn, and the laity must speak on behalf of the unborn. The hierarchy must speak, too, but in these days the hierarchy has suffered a great loss of credibility, and it will take time to restore it. The unborn don’t have time. Time was up for many 29 years ago when Roe vs. Wade issued its death sentence. So many lay Catholics have been leaders in the pro-life movement. They have looked to the hierarchy, rightfully so, for leadership and the hierarchy has given it and will continue to give it. I wonder now if its voice will be heard as well, though, if it will be received as well. They will continue to champion the cause of the unborn, but now more than ever the Church needs to be reunited and strengthened in the Spirit. The culture of death has won many victories. It seems that the opinions of Catholics aren’t much different from non-Catholics’. “Termination of pregnancy,” the euphemism used for abortion, has won the day in popular society. There have been some victories and some progress, but we still have a long way to go.
Mary, who was with the Apostles as the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church, continues to be with us today. She continues to guide and inspire us to speak out bravely on the issues that defend life. She reminds us that we have to be with the needy, the hungry, the weak, and the outcast. She is a woman of trust. She reminds us to keep faith even when it seems that we can’t do what we’d like to do. We continue to go forward and to struggle.
At the Annunciation, at Cana, at
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