Vigil for Life Seeks to Shield Today’s Holy Innocents

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Cardinal Dolan, presiding at the Prayer Vigil for Life at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Jan. 22, said, “The Lord beams over the first, most sacred and sublime of His lavish gifts to us, the gift of life. So do we congregate this somber evening as advocates of the innocent, fragile life of the infant in the womb.”

Cardinal Dolan served as principal celebrant and homilist at the evening Mass. Concelebrants included Rockville Centre Auxiliary Bishop Richard Henning; Auxiliary Bishop Peter Byrne, episcopal vicar for the Bronx; Auxiliary Bishop Edmond Whalen, vicar for clergy of the archdiocese, and Msgr. Joseph LaMorte, vicar general and moderator of the curia for the archdiocese.

Sponsored by the archdiocesan Respect Life Office, the celebration  began with a 6:30 p.m. Holy Hour led by Bishop Byrne. The Sisters of Life provided reflective music throughout the Holy Hour and Mass.

The cardinal said he praises God “for the radiant legacy of our pro-life advocacy in these acres of the Lord’s vineyard called the Archdiocese of New York.”

He acknowledged his “predecessors as pastors here” since the “nauseating” Supreme Court decision 48 years ago that day, who “heeded the promptings of the Holy Spirit to shepherd their priests and deacons, women religious and on-fire laity” to promote the culture of life.

Cardinal Dolan was referring to Cardinal Terence Cooke, Cardinal John O’Connor and Cardinal Edward Egan, respectively.

“And tonight,” Cardinal Dolan said, “I thank all of you for your brave witness,” specifically “dear Sisters of Life, cherished lay apostles like our Knights of Columbus and our Order of Malta. Leaders such as Kathryn Jean Lopez and our archdiocesan Pro-Life Committee, clergy and people who will not blink even when staring at the most well-financed, entrenched, unquestioned, pro-abortion city and state in the nation—the most perilous place to be for a baby in the womb.” 

He explained the fortitude for which he extolled the vigil is even more crucial “as we realistically anticipate the next four years.”

In that vein, the cardinal added, it is especially good “we are here seeking the aid of the author of life, as we shield today’s holy innocents from 2021’s King Herods.”

“It’s here,” he said of the cathedral sanctuary, “we rally to circle round the most noble sanctuary of all, a mother’s womb. From this sanctuary of St. Patrick’s Cathedral has the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of all human life been preached. When any human right has been menaced by racism, homelessness, religious persecution, anti-immigrant bigotry, capital punishment, economic injustice, euthanasia, human trafficking—when any human right has been threatened by those evils.”

From this sanctuary on Fifth Avenue, Cardinal Dolan added, “do we this evening unite...in vowing to guard the sanctuary of the womb.”

He concluded his homily by citing Pope Francis, “Can any other human right be secure if the life of the little one  in the womb is not?”

The General Intercessions, including those cited below, continued the theme:

  • “On this 48th anniversary of Roe versus Wade, we beg for God’s mercy upon our nation. We pray for all elected officials, that they may know the truth of the inherent dignity of all human life, and work to protect the most vulnerable and defenseless members of society, especially the unborn.”
  • “We pray for those who feel alone in their grief, and are suffering the effects of an abortion; that these men and women may come to know the tender mercy of Jesus and find new life in Him.”
  • “We pray for the deceased who, in their lives, worked for the advancement and protection of human life, and for the victims of abortion, that they may enjoy the light of Christ’s face this day.”