By Mary Kizior
Pro-lifers tend to get excited about the March for Life in Washington D.C.—one of the largest, longest-running, peaceful protests in the world. Not only is the March a great opportunity to express our belief in the sanctity of human beings and speak out against abortion, it is also a great day to celebrate the gift of life and the countless babies who have been saved by dedicated activists.
This year, the March for Life will take place on Friday, January 18.
Even if you’re only going to a local protest this January, here are several ways that you can make the most of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and help your children and students experience the culture of life.
Understand why we march
The March for Life in Washington, DC is a massive event attracting over half a million Americans every year on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton—the Supreme Court cases that decriminalized abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy in the United States.
Year after year, hundreds of thousands of people march in front of the Supreme Court building in a peaceful protest, teen groups and parishes organize bus trips, and pro-life activists hold conferences and political rallies. With the jubilant and excited atmosphere at the March, it can be easy to forget why we march.
Every year in America, over one million lives are lost to abortion. Over 60 million lives have been destroyed since the passing of Roe and Doe in 1973. The First Amendment of the Constitution gives us the right to free speech and the right of assembly.
We march to protect the right to life of those who cannot speak for themselves—not only the preborn child, but also those with disabilities and those with terminal illnesses or who are in danger of euthanasia.
As you and your family prepare to travel to our nation’s capital or to a local protest, remind your children of the importance of standing up for what you believe. Pro-life topics should hold a special place during dinner discussions in order to help your children explore what it means to be faithful and dedicated to the defense of all human beings.
Mourn the fallen
As we remember the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we should make a commitment to pray every day for an end to abortion in the United States and the world. Pray also for a strengthening of the family in our society.
More than ever, families are ripped apart by the sin of abortion, and hundreds of children are growing up in homes without either a father or a mother. With so many millions of children missing from the world because of abortion, nearly everyone has been wounded by this tragedy.
Remembering the babies (and some mothers) who have lost their lives in abortion, we must be motivated to bring change to our society. We must not only abolish abortion, but also find solutions to help and support women in difficult situations. Only then can we celebrate a culture of life.
Celebrate life
In the encyclical Evangelium Vitae by Saint John Paul II, the pope called for an international celebration of life in order to establish respect for every human being in our society. Help organize a celebration at your school or parish. Get a powerful pro-life speaker for your pro-life group.
Use this anniversary of Roe v. Wade as an opportunity to praise God for His gift of life—both mortal and eternal.
Help your children celebrate God’s gift of each human person with everyday activities that remind them that every human being has value. Teach them about the beauty of human development in Life Is Precious for your kindergarten students or Defend Life for your junior high students. Use our library of eLessons or book and movie discussion guides to show your children what a culture of life looks like. Make every moment a time to instill pro-life values in your children.
Tomorrow, we march to renew our commitment to building a culture of life in our nation. By marching in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, or our local cities, we show our solidarity for preborn children.
Why do you march?
Mary Kizior is the product development and marketing manager for the Culture of Life Studies Program. Her work has appeared on LifeSiteNews.com, Christ Is Our Hope magazine, Celebrate Life Magazine, Defend Life magazine, the Peanut Butter and Grace blog, and other blogs.
This article has been reprinted with permission and can be found at cultureoflifestudies.com.