Unwavering Trust (A Response to Life)

(The Creche inside the Holy Child Jesus Church)

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to travel down to Washington D.C. with the residents of Saint John’s Seminary to participate in the annual March for Life. The march, held for the forty-third time this year, commemorates the anniversary of the controversial Roe v. Wade decision which legalized abortion in 1973. By attending the march, Catholic pilgrims and other defenders of life aim to act as “the voice of the voiceless” and witnesses of the dignity of all human life. The ultimate goal of the display is to raise awareness of the sanctity of life and to culminate in the end of legalized abortion. This was my sixth consecutive time attending this event and I count myself as truly blessed to have been able to be present at this demonstration so many times. Of course, it would be preferable if I didn’t have to keep traveling down to the nation’s capital each year, since each successive march marks yet another year of legal abortions. However, I believe myself fortunate, for each year my faith in America’s Catholic youth has been continually strengthened. More on that in Friday’s post. 

Today, I want to reflect on the homily given by Archbishop Timothy Dolan at the opening Mass for Life, held at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Dolan prefaced his musings on the sanctity of life with an allusion to what he terms as “the throw-away culture” of the modern age. This viewpoint holds that human life, especially that of the poor and the unborn, is somehow disposable and only deserving of respect when it is convenient. Dolan believes that this ideology has its roots in the overwhelming sense of consumerism and materialism in our world. This is the same kind of materialism that has given rise to the objectification of women in pornography, which has quickly become a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Dolan believes that the only way to combat this “throw-away culture” I by fostering a “culture of life”. 

To demonstrate what he meant by a “culture of life”, Dolan recounted a news story that had recently become very prevalent in his Archdiocese of New York. About a week before Christmas, a new-born baby was found inside the Holy Child Jesus Church in the Richmond Hill district of Brooklyn. The infant, with its umbilical cord still attached, had been left in the manger of the Nativity Crèche by the altar.  The custodian, hearing cries coming from the main church, found the child in the manger. He and a group of other parishioners then brought him to a nearby hospital where the infant was was given a clean bill of health. Named Jose after the custodian, the infant is now being cared for by Child Services before being put up for adoption. About a week later, the mother, while remaining anonymous, told her story to a journalist.

"I was so afraid, and, all alone in the house, suddenly went into labor. I must have been in excruciating pain for at least two hours. I started pushing because, each time I did, the pain would let up. I pushed for 15 minutes and finally the baby, a boy, finally came out. He didn't cry at first, so I was afraid he was not all right. I didn't know what to do, so I left the umbilical cord on. I wrapped him in a clean towel and started to look for some place safe and warm. I am very religious, so I immediately thought of my church. I knew if I left him in God's hands my baby would be OK..."

Dolan argued that it was not hard to imagine another scenario with a much different outcome. The mother, out of genuine fear and insecurity, could have sought out Planned Parenthood. 

 (Left: video surveillance of the mother. Right: the child, Jose) 

However, this woman had an unwavering trust in the Lord and knew that somehow her child would be alright if she went to Him. But where was God? Where could she find Him? For her, it was at her parish. One way or another, whether it was through the example of her pastor or through the warmness and openness of her neighbors in faith, this woman came to feel the presence of God. This  example shows just how important it is to live the faith by our example. One can imagine that if her pastor/parishioners were disinterested and apathetic, she could have easily sought an abortion. In a very real way, the faith of the parish saved the child.

What would I have done if I had been in a similar situation? Many might be quick to judge this woman for her actions, but she certainly demonstrated deep faith and trust. She did what many would be afraid to do. Do I trust the Lord in this way? How would I have responded if I found the child in the manger? If we respond to all life with the utmost tenderness and care, then through our words and actions, we can create a "culture of life" in our parishes, communities, and homes. 

Matthew Laird