In annual Mass for the Unborn, Bishop Solis leads prayers for those affected by abortion
SALT LAKE CITY — Almost half a century has passed since seven of the nine U.S. Supreme Court justices voted in favor of legislation that effectively made abortion legal in the United States for women whose pregnancy was in the first trimester.
In the 47 years since the ruling on the Roe v. Wade case, which was decided on Jan. 22, 1973, more than 61 million abortions have been performed in the U.S. More than a million abortions took place annually from 1975 to 2012. Since then, the number has decreased each year. Last year, an estimated 862,000 unborn children were aborted – more than the population of San Francisco.
These millions of unborn children were commemorated in solemn ceremony at the Cathedral of the Madeleine on Jan. 21, as Bishop Oscar A. Solis celebrated the third annual Mass of the Unborn and Ceremony of Light.
Ministers of the Mass, wearing white, processed into the cathedral as the organ strains of “O Lord, the Giver of All Life” resonated through the air. On either side of the steps leading to the altar stood a table holding thick, unlit, 14-day white candles.
Concelebrating the Mass were Msgr. Colin F. Bircumshaw, vicar general; Fr. Martin Diaz, rector of the cathedral; and numerous priests of the diocese. Deacon of the Mass was Deacon John Kranz. Deacon George Reade, chancellor of the diocese, was the chaplain.
With the pews more than half full of people, young and old, from throughout the diocese, Bishop Solis greeted those present in English and Spanish. Then, in English, he pointed out that only a few weeks earlier, they had celebrated the Savior’s birth.
“The joy of the birth of our Lord Jesus is known to be the foundation and fulfillment of the joy of every child born into the world,” Bishop Solis said. “As Jesus began his redemptive mission among us, he said, ‘I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.”
Each human life is of great value and dignity, and should be protected and safeguarded, the bishop said. “Any threat to the dignity of human life must necessarily be felt in the Church’s very heart. Therefore, we gather this night to pray and commit ourselves again to advancing the Gospel of Light as proclaimed to us by our Savior, especially for those who are most vulnerable and defenseless.”
The first reading, Isaiah 57:15-19, spoke of God’s anger and people’s sinful greed, but promised healing. The second reading, Ephesians 1:3-14, told of the forgiveness of transgressions offered through the blood of Christ. The Gospel reading, Mark 9:30-37, was the story of Jesus placing a little child among the gathered Apostles, and saying, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Bishop Solis gave his homily in both English and Spanish.
“Tonight is a great moment for us to reflect on the sanctity and beauty of every human person, including the defenseless lives in the womb of their mother aborted and deprived of the opportunity to see the light of day,” he said. “It is sad to think, and hard to imagine, how our world has gone this low to allow the killing of innocent lives through abortion.”
The world today is aware of the need to conserve the environment, and people have a great affection for animals, which is admirable, the bishop said, but he questioned whether the lives of the unborn, the poor, the sick and the elderly have been forgotten.
“Brothers and sisters, it is time to change our minds and hearts,” he said. “We need break the cycle of violence and division among ourselves – between the right to life and the right to choose, between those who are pro-life or pro-choice, between a culture of life and a culture of death. The wasteful destruction of human life, especially of the most vulnerable, must end.”
The Mass was a time “to mourn for the unborn and entrust their souls to God,” he added. “We also pray for all the women, their families, doctors and others who participated in this tragedy, for our government leaders who allow this to happen, as well as for penance and reparation for our sin of neglect and indifference.”
The candles on the tables before the altar were lit after Communion, in memory of the victims of abortion as well as to seek the light of Christ in order to “illuminate our minds and hearts and dispel the darkness of sin,” Bishop Solis said. “We can no longer remain silent. The world needs new prophets to witness to the truth that life is sacred. Let us invoke God’s grace to strengthen us so we can recommit ourselves to the teachings of Christ in building a civilization of love and a culture of life.”
After the candles were lit, members of the diocese’s Young Adult Ministry picked them up and stood in a single line in front of the altar. The lights in the cathedral dimmed as Father Joseph Delka, the cathedral’s parochial vicar, led prayers for those affected by abortion.
Following the prayers, the candles were carried outside and placed in the shape of a cross on the cathedral steps, offering “a tribute and as a shining witness to our city and our world of our commitment to life,” Fr. Delka said.
Outside the cathedral, Bishop Solis intoned the “Salve Regina.” Members of the congregation added small votive candles to the memorial. The Utah Knights of Columbus provided an honor guard for the memorial on the cathedral steps until 10 p.m.
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