Thousands gather at shrine to pray, dedicate statue for life
By Regina Kelly
10/7/2005
ASHINGTON, N.J. (CNS) -- More than 3,000 people united in prayer at the National Blue Army Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the New Jersey town of Washington on Oct. 2, a day celebrated as both Respect Life Sunday and Worldwide Fatima Sanctity of Life Day. Thousands more at other U.S. sites and in Switzerland, India, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia and other countries observed the day of prayer for respect toward life.
Gathered at the shrine under a clear blue sky, people prayed the rosary, celebrated Mass and witnessed the dedication of the shrine's new statue, Mary Mother of the Life Within. An identical statue was dedicated the same day at the Marian shrine in Fatima, Portugal.
The statue, which shows Mary lovingly cradling the infant Jesus in her arms, features pro-life symbolism, such as the placement of the infant in a position similar to that of a fetus inside the womb.
"This statue reminds us of the close ties of Mary to Christ and his church," said Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski of Metuchen as he dedicated the statue, located on a hilltop grotto. After the blessing, he prayed that God would bless all people "as we search for peace, strive for justice ... and pursue ... respect for life."
"May you always and everywhere experience the protection of Mary, through whom you have been given the author of life," he told the crowd.
Joe DeVito, who sculpted the statue, said there were "no words to express" the meaning of the special day and of the statue's dedication, except that it was "not about me."
"In the end, it's about the love -- the relationship between a mother and her infant and our Mother and us," said DeVito, who sculpted the same statue for the shrine in Portugal.
The event at the New Jersey shrine was organized by the Blue Army USA, the U.S. division of the World Apostolate of Fatima. It also included a keynote address by pro-life advocate and former presidential candidate Alan Keyes.
In a speech interrupted often by enthusiastic applause, Keyes said abortion and other attacks on the dignity of human life are not just about "matters of choice, passions, etc. We are talking about the most profound theological questions: who God is and who we are in relation to him."
Keyes reminded the crowd of the account of creation in the Bible, which states that human beings are created male and female, in the image of God. So, Keyes said, the sexual relationship of a man and a woman, resulting in the creation of new life -- a child -- shows forth the perfection of God's image in humankind.
"Rejecting the third party, the child, who represents their communion," Keyes said, is "turning our backs on God."
"Pray that the world will find again the culture of respect for God's creation," Keyes urged. "The greatest failure is silence when you hear the cries of the innocent."
Father Andrew Apostoli, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal and a host on the Eternal Word Television Network, expressed similar sentiments during his homily at the Mass. Prayer has the power to stop "the culture of death, which advocates abortion, assisted suicide, corruption and abuse of the young, sins of immorality, destruction of families," he said.
The World Apostolate of Fatima's goal for the day was 100 million prayers for life from around the world. Michael La Corte, Blue Army executive director, said that based on the number of participants and prayer pledges received this goal seemed to have been reached.
"This day brings an aspect of hope and joy to the fight for the sanctity of life," La Corte said. "There is tremendous unity and power in our prayers and in our hard work."
Among other events marking Respect Life Sunday were life chains at an estimated 1,100 sites around the United States and Canada, including more than 75 in Illinois.
More than 100 people gathered in front of the Aanchor Health Center in Glen Ellyn, Ill. Many of them were responding to a call from a pastor during Sunday Mass.
"What's going to be changed is us," said Father Peter Jarosz, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Lombard. "We're going to be different because of this. Lives can totally change because of this."
Ron Miranda of St. Matthew Parish in Glendale Heights followed the advice of his pastor and brought three of his four children, ages 4 to 14, to the life chain. "I want them to form a good foundation that will lead them to make good decisions in the future," he said.- - -
Contributing to this story was Kathrynne Skonicki in Glen Ellyn, Ill.
