My Pro-Life Journey

Here's my first post on Pro-Life Unity, my pro-life testimony:

http://www.prolifeunity.com/index.php/news_group/article/my_pro_life_journey/

Enjoy! :)

Pro-Life Unity

I have just accepted my second writing engagement in less than a month! I had no idea that God would use love and natural talent for writing in such great ways! I am now a weekly columnist for Pro-Life Unity, based also in the northern Virginia/Washington, DC area. My picture and biography are posted on the website: www.prolifeunity.com I will be writing a minimum of once a week (my posts will come out on Thursdays), so please check out the website and the other columnists. The main objective of Pro-Life Unity, in a nutshell, is to unite all pro-lifers in the common cause of ending abortion and promoting respect for human life.

I am hoping that Pro-Life Unity and The Conservative Comeback can have some kind of partnership, since both organizations focus on uniting people of faith and common mind. (If you didn't already, please visit my personal blog, http://cecilia-rose.blogspot.com to read about my writing engagement with the CC.) Conservatives and pro-lifers have many (if not most) things in common, and there has to be a way to yoke them together, so to speak. I believe that focusing on the pro-life issue is a great place to start, because, after all: isn't LIFE the first right our Founding Fathers proclaimed?

A New Endeavor

Please visit my personal blog to read about my first political position:

http://cecilia-rose.blogspot.com/2009/10/exciting-endeavor.html

If you are a conservative and believe in traditional American values, please join me!

~M~

My personal experience - 40 Days for Life

It is one thing to say you are pro-life...but it's another thing to actually ACT like you are pro-life.

The second thing is definitely harder, and although I am passionately pro-life, there are times when I really don't feel like putting my faith into action. I am usually a little active, such as writing pro-life letters to the editor, keeping myself updated on pro-life news, etc. What I mean by putting one's faith into action is actually putting oneself into the community and onto the front lines.

40 Days for Life began last Wednesdays, September 23rd in over 200 cities in 45 states, 5 Canadian provinces, and the country of Denmark...that's a total of 212 different locations, compared to 177 last fall. Last year, I wanted to participate but was unable to make it to the actual location, since I was at school in Baltimore and did not have a way to get to the vigil site. My contribution was to write a pro-life post on my other blog (http://cecilia-rose.blogspot.com) and to give up all desserts (oh chocolate...) for the 40 days. It definitely was spiritually fulfilling.

This year, I am back in Texas with my own car, so transportation is not an issue. So on Wednesday, September 30th, I headed to the Dallas 40 Days for Life vigil site. I got off work at 7 p.m. and headed there immediately after. In an effort to learn how to read directions, I didn't use my OnStar and instead used directions printed off from Google Maps. I made it to downtown Dallas fine (coming south on Central Expressway to Woodall Rogers), but when I was trying to get onto Harry Hines Blvd., I missed the street and accidentally got on the Dallas Tollway! I had no choice but to follow it until I found an exit, and then I wasn't sure how to turn around. At that point, I could've said, "Well, I tried but I'm lost now. I'm just gonna go home. The effort was good enough."

I finally connected to OnStar and after again missing the correct street, I finally made it to Robinson's Abortion Clinic. It was pretty much dark outside and about 7:40 p.m. I saw a small group of people standing on the sidewalk, holding signs, and it took me a couple minutes to turn around and figure out where to park.

The people were from St. Anthony's parish in Wylie, and they were very kind and welcoming. I signed in and signed the Pledge of Peace. Of course, Robinson's was closed and no abortions were happening at almost 8 p.m., but it is important to have round-the-clock vigil at these places of death and morbidity. I began praying a rosary and could feel how powerful our prayers there were. A few more people arrived, and we all prayed the Glorious Mysteries of the rosary. Then we prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the "emergency prayer" that I think Fr. Corapi recommends in emergencies (10 Memorares, with the last one offered in thanksgiving I think).

I was there for a little over an hour, and I'm so glad I went. That first visit was like the ice breaker for me. I soon decided that I would visit again today (Friday evening). It's kind of like the Nike saying: "Just Do It." Once you step out, it's harder to recede into your shell.

This weekend will be very pro-life here in north Texas. In addition to 40 Days, my family and I are participating in the Hike for Life in McKinney on Saturday morning. (Anyone like to donate? Go to my personal webpage to make a monetary donation: http://hikeforlifetexas.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=318025&u=318025-273477450)

Then on Sunday, which is Respect Life Sunday in the Catholic Church, the Life Chain will be taking place all across the country. Life Chain is basically where pro-lifers of all faiths gather at a prominent place (road side, intersection) and hold peaceful pro-life signs and pray. Visit www.lifechain.net for more info.

My advice for all who haven't participated in 40 Days for Life (or any frontline pro-life work): just get out there and do it! It may be helpful to promise with a friend or family member something like, "We're going to pray at the abortion clinic for one hour a week" or whatever you feel called to do. Then fulfill that promise and I bet that you will go beyond that!

Let's pray and work to end abortion!