Catholics attended the second annual Mass for Life at St. James Cathedral. The event took place on Friday, Jan. 21.
Steady Decline for Respect of Human Life
In a report with The Florida Carbolic, Bishop John Noonan celebrated the Mass. He welcomed the attendees and reminded them of the significance of the event.
He told the faithful how these modern times have brought a steady decline of respect for all humankind. The bishop lamented that the faithful had to bear witness to these atrocities.
Bishop Noonan pointed out that the lack of respect was alive in everyday relationships. Because of this, people have suffered. Such acts included exploitations of the human body, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.
He also spoke of those who had to deal with the lifelong consequences of abortion. All these were some of the ways humans could disrespect each other.
Day of Prayer
The church leader reminded attendees that Jan. 22 is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. It was designated by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.
Bishop Noonan explained that the Day of Prayer was for the "full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. It also served as an act of penance for "the violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion."
He urged the faithful in the Diocese of Orlando to spend the day praying, fasting, and acts of charity.
The bishop instructed those in attendance to reflect on their understanding of the sanctity of life. He also told them to remember how they helped flourish this gift.
He encouraged them to ask forgiveness for those times they failed to protect the gift of life. Bishop Noonan hoped that periods of self-reflection would be a call to action for many.
Those who attended the Mass included students from Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Volunteers and Respect Life ministers were also present.
Advocate for Respect of Human Life
Gary Tester, president of Catholic Charities of Central Florida, was one of the special guests. He told the news outlet that the Church always celebrated Masses for Life.
Tester noted how the Orlando Diocese supported March for Life in St. Augustine and Washington, D.C.
He explained how important the Masses for Life were for Bishop Noonan. Last year, many people were unable to attend the March for Life because of the pandemic.
Tester commended the bishop for making the Masses accessible for those who could not attend the March for Life.
Prayer is Key to Everything
Leidy Rivas, director of the Catholic Charities Culture of Life office, is one of the fighters for the cause. She noted that prayer was the key to everything.
Rivas was thankful for those who joined in the liturgy. She said it felt comforting to see that there were still those who understood the value of life and respected it.
She assured Catholics that God was always present and listened to prayers. Rivas also said that miracles were happening every day, though it might be difficult to see them all.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, 71,050 abortions were provided in Florida in 2017.
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