Quo Vadis: He Is Out of His Mind! The March for Life and Being Christian in a Neo-Pagan Age

1/27/2013

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rights movement is now clearly a Youth movement. You can hear the implications of this undeniable fact in the dispirited comments of its opponents who lead the Anti-Life Movement. I will not spend any words quoting them.

The most intense experience I had related to the March for Life unfolded after I braved the snow and ice and drove many hours to get back my chosen home town; so few back home were even aware of the event. That did not surprise me. I write, speak and engage in cultural, social and political participation precisely because of this fact.However, what did surprise me was that even among many who were aware, there was simply no interest.

In fact, there is a growing chorus of voices expressing the unthinkable to me, that the killing of these children is just a part of the culture now and there is little we can do. They just want to move on, to close their ears to the cry of the poorest of the poor. Sadly, I even experience this reality in my own extended family circle. Some wonder why I would continue to March, especially as I age; particularly in such inclement weather.

So, when I awakened and began my morning prayer on Saturday, the short but poignant Gospel passage for Holy Mass was particularly apropos: "Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." (Mark 3:20,21)

Even the friends and family of the Lord questioned his lifestyle and thought that many of his choices were crazy. So, I guess I am in good company. You see, just when so many seem to have decided to withdraw from our obligation to social, cultural and political participation as Christian citizens, I have decided to redouble my efforts.

As I left Washington DC yesterday, still fighting back the tears which flowed throughout the days there, I thought of one of my favorite stories from the multitude of stories about the apostles. It involved the Apostle Peter who, while he was fleeing the City of Rome because of persecution which followed the Resurrection, met the Lord Jesus walking into the City. Peter asked him, Domine, quo vadis. The Latin is loosely translated "Where are you going Lord? His response to Peter was, "I am going to Rome to be crucified".

I know that the Lord Marched in Washington D.C. this week. I saw Him in the face and eyes of the hundreds of thousands who lined the streets and walked the way - especially the young. He is also identified with all of the victims of the horrid evil of procured abortion because he identifies with the "least of these" (Matthew 25). We are living in what many decry as a Post-Christian age. I reject the notion. I prefer to call it a Pre-Christian age. We must make the difference.

Yet, I admit, it is a Neo-Pagan age. It is a difficult age. However, it is our age. Our task stretches out before us and we have a duty to engage it. It will require every ounce of energy we have. However, we will not be exhausted. Because it is just when we run out of our own energy that the energy of the Living God begins to flow most freely - in and through us. That is what we is called grace.

During that cold March for Life, while my heart set on fire by the witness of all of those young men and women kept me warm, I repeatedly thought of words from one of my favorite poems.It was written by G.K. Chesterton and is taken from the Ballad of the White Horse:

The men of the East may spell the stars,
And times and triumphs mark,
But the men signed of the cross of Christ
Go gaily in the dark.

"The men of the East may search the scrolls
For sure fates and fame,
But the men that drink the blood of God
Go singing to their shame.

Maybe I am 'out of my mind'; or, to quote an old Paul Simon song I loved when I was younger, maybe I am 'still crazy after all these years'. However, I know I am not alone. And I will never leave the City while the work of the Lord of life remains to be done.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Quo Vadis, March for Life, Pro-Life, Right to Life, faithful citizenship, Jeanne Monahan, Patrick Kelly, faith and culture, faith and action, priests for life, Fr Frank Pavone, Deacon Keith Fournier

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1 - 10 of 14 Comments

DLL
3 months ago
It is a matter of confirming life is important at every stage of life. Deny life in any stage of existence and life becomes expendable at anytime during ones existence. The womb is sacred space,the point of the conception of life and the time of development,until the individual becomes a baby at birth. Of coarse they are dependent at these stages. Actually from the time we are all born until the time we die,everyone is dependent on everyone else for every need that we all have. By necessity we are our brothers keeper. Because we are dependent upon each other all of our lives,does that negate the significance of our very existence? I say it can not,as it only serves to enhance the meaning of our existence,as we exist not only for ourselves but for each other. Our gift of life is a spiritual gift to each other and in so serving the needs of one another we serve God,as God is the author of life,love,and sacrifice. In the womb all must be served and mothered into existence. This is the first service we receive from one another as we all need to be born so that we can all live. To deny this stage,it is as if to say that we do not need to breathe to live. Our first breath is essential,as is every breath until the day we die. So every stage of existence is important from conception until physical death. Love was necessary at conception and it is a constant throughout life no matter how the fortunes of life affects us all. We are all fathered and mothered into life. The child is a special gift unique and lovely,to be nurtured. How beautiful this concept is but it is not politically correct? How deaf and dumb are those who would ignore those marching for the right to life. How hard is this deliberately ignorant human heart. This heart has become the heart of government today? The right to choose is the right to be ignorant,to ignore life as significant unless we find it in some primitive or extinctive form,such as on the planet Mars? The press is hard pressed to be a spokesman for our society when it refuses to report on the march for life,particularly when it is evident that so many Americans do care about the right to life from conception to a natural death. No country is safe from the ignorance of abusive governments that would force abortion to be the law of humankind. The so called freedom to abort is slavery,slavery to sin and death. This culture of death will force assisted suicide and euthanasia. Eugenics will also eventually dictate policies of life and death,as it was genecide that was attempted on the Jewish people and the American Indian. The degradation of our nation is dependent on abortion and that is why it is such an important single issue these days. Commonplace abortion will do more to destroy the concept of freedom for all people than any other issue.
Michael Isbell
3 months ago
I hadn't been in over ten years and it was an indescribable experience. I came home physically and spiritually re-charged and as ready to go to work on this effort as I was over 30 years ago when i first got involved. One of my greatest blessings is having my ten year old grandson who would probably been aborted had my daughter not grown up in our pro-life family. Please, don't let any of us get discouraged...every life saved counts for eternity. Just because we may not live to see the final victory doesn't mean it won't come in God's own time.
Paul-Emile Leray
3 months ago
The truth is often met with violent opposition and ridiculed, until the minority of those who have more of it than others eventually becomes the majority. Cult-ure matters. The major problem I have with democracies is that it is a fact that truth often (perhaps, usually) separates itself from the crowd; therefore, during certain periods the majority is usually wrong; yet, how to reconcile this with the other fact that in a democracy majority rules on many levels? The solution is to have the majority enlightened so that the disciples end up putting the so-called 'guru' out of work because they graduated themselves. Also, shorten the timelines and repeat them to downlines and future downlines so that the same mistakes don't get repeated over and over again. A proper understanding of free will is also necessary. (along with many other realities) It is useless studying his-story unless the lessons to be learned are learned and followed more consistently. Memorizing dates and facts, if disconnected from the deeper layers of truth, risks resulting in a walking dictionary with no heart, spirit, soul, mind, and a body that is essentially a walking living dead-man of sorts. Your articles, Deacon Keith, are inspiring and admirable and don't listen to those who tell you otherwise. Why? You are right about many realities. Our ancestors were so brilliant over the past century, that 2 world wars were created. God didn't do that. Humans did. One of your many talents, Deacon Keith, is being a writer. I hope you never stop until you drop! (but I hope you don't drop for a few more decades, because the world needs people like you)
Paul-Emile Leray
Paul-Emile Leray
3 months ago
The truth is often met with violent opposition and ridiculed, until the minority of those who have more of it than others eventually becomes the majority. Cult-ure matters. The major problem I have with democracies is that it is a fact that truth often (perhaps, usually) separates itself from the crowd; therefore, during certain periods the majority is usually wrong; yet, how to reconcile this with the other fact that in a democracy majority rules on many levels? The solution is to have the majority enlightened so that the disciples end up putting the so-called 'guru' out of work because they graduated themselves. Also, shorten the timelines and repeat them to downlines and future downlines so that the same mistakes don't get repeated over and over again. It is useless studying his-story unless the lessons to be learned are learned and followed more consistently. Memorizing dates and facts, if disconnected from the deeper layers of truth, risks resulting in a walking dictionary with no heart, spirit, soul, mind, and a body that is essentially a walking living dead-man of sorts. Your articles, Deacon Keith, are inspiring and admirable and don't listen to those who tell you otherwise. Why? You are right about many realities. Our ancestors were so brilliant over the past century, that 2 world wars were created. God didn't do that. Humans did. One of your many talents, Deacon Keith, is being a writer. I hope you never stop until you drop! (but I hope you don't drop for a few more decades, because the world needs people like you)
Paul-Emile Leray
Roseann Graham
3 months ago
Thank you for writing this beautiful article. I love the quote of Chesterton's poem. "Domine, quo vadis" goes straight to the heart. There is very little in the news about the march. I don't understand why. There is so much complaining about Obama and the politicians. Let everyone see how "We the People" really think.
Roseann Graham
3 months ago
Thank you for writing this beautiful article. I love the quote of Chesterton's poem. "Domine, quo vadis" goes straight to the heart. There is very little in the news about the march. I don't understand why. There is so much complaining about Obama and the politicians. Let everyone see how "We the People" really think.
ann
3 months ago
yes, thanks for going and then reporting here - I saw NOTHING of the D>C> events anywhere / you have encouraged me very well w/your post - God continue to bless your year of Faith!
abey
3 months ago
It waits to be seen as to how much of this will turn to substance, in terms of life. March a day to see the next day in business as usual, forgetting the day until the next year to see the crime has increased, this has been & is the story
abey
3 months ago
It waits to be seen as to how much of this will turn to substance, in terms of life. March a day to see the next day in business as usual, forgetting the day until the next year to see the crime has increased, this has been & is the story
abey
3 months ago
It waits to be seen as to how much of this will turn to substance, in terms of life. March a day to see the next day in business as usual, forgetting the day.

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