By Steve Jalsevac
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 1, 2007, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Twenty-six years ago Catholic laywoman Sally Reynolds asked the U.S. Bishops’ Conference and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to co-sponsor a program of prayer on the eve of the annual March for Life. In 1979, about 50 people participated in the first Vigil Mass in the Crypt Church, and stayed through the night to pray for an end to abortion.
That was the beginning of what has now become the largest annual pro-life religious event and largest Catholic mass in the U.S., and likely one of the most impressive religious events on the continent – the National Prayer Vigil for Life. The Vigil is included in the formal Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) https://www.usccb.org/prolife/pastoralplan.shtml#iv.
This year the Vigil began with a Mass on Sunday evening, Jan. 21 and continued afterwards with the National Rosary for Life and programs of prayer and adoration throughout the night. At 7 a.m. Monday thousands more participated in another Mass before taking part in the March for Life. See program https://www.cdop.org/files/cdop_documents/2007NationalVigilbrochure.pdf
LifeSiteNews was present for the Vigil Mass, our third time covering the event which generates a special pro-life solidarity and strong spiritual motivation among its thousands of participants.
The beautiful, enormous and brightly lit basilica, the breathtaking choir and organ music, the crowd of at least 10,000 worshipers and the elevated altar area surrounded by hundreds of magnificently garbed clergy – have been noted to leave a lasting, powerful impression on many who attend each year’s Vigil Mass.
LifeSiteNews counted 270 seminarians, 60 deacons, 264 priests and 39 bishops, including 4 cardinals, in the procession to and from the altar this year. That did not include the numerous other priests and mostly young religious brothers and sisters (all in traditional habits) in the pews.
Both the main upper church and the large lower crypt were jammed to capacity with the crowds that seem to increase every year. Television monitors are placed on both levels to allow those without a view of the main altar to see and hear the evening’s events. The Papal Nuncio, the Pope’s representative to the United States, is always present.
Although the EWTN television network broadcasts the Vigil live to millions around the world, the event (as well as the huge march) does not receive the wider media attention that it should. With that in mind, LifeSiteNews has prepared this story and interviewed Deirdre McQuade, Director of Planning and Information of the USCCB, Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities and Jackie Hayes, Director of Communications for the Shrine who were both gracious in providing information on the Vigil.
It is significant that most of the priests and bishops who come to the mass from across the United States also bring along many lay Catholics from their parishes and dioceses to participate in the Vigil and especially the March for Life the next day. The huge march crowd is full of banners announcing the participation of numerous Catholic school, parish and community groups. Without such active involvement and encouragement from the US Bishops Conference, as well as many other religious organizations of various denominations, it would seem very doubtful the March for Life could be the great success that it has been from year to year.
* See the interview:
History and Details of the US National Prayer Vigil for Life
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/mar/07030112.html
* See Special Vigil For Life additional photos page at:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007_docs/2007Vigilforlifephotos.htm
See other related LifeSiteNews reports:
Cardinal Calls for “Sober Rejoicing” at Increasing Support for Life: March for Life Homily
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jan/07012603.html
Bishop: Denying Communion to Obstinate Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians “in many cases becomes the right decision and the only choice”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jan/07013109.html