On Saturday, January 9, San Francisco’s Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, joined by five priests from his archdiocese, celebrated an 8 a.m. Mass for Life at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The Mass was followed by a Rosary procession to Planned Parenthood’s soon-to-opened abortion business on San Francisco’s Bush Street, less than a half mile from the cathedral. The Mass and procession were the first of a series of what will be an ongoing event held on the first Saturday of each month. The January 9 event was held on the second Saturday because of the holidays.
About 140 of the faithful attended the Mass, including 20 novices from the Missionaries of Charity, probably the largest congregation in the cathedral since the beginning of the pandemic.
The archbishop noted at the beginning of his homily that we are at the time of year when the nights are long. “It does indeed seem that there is increasing darkness in our world today,” he said. “Darkness as a metaphor for sin, for ignorance, and in particular, death…We see this culture of death all around us. Thank you for being here today. Thank you for being a light in the midst of this darkness, a light being a witness to the sanctity of human life. Thank you for being advocates, and as we should say today, activists for the Culture of Life.
“I am grateful that you have come together today, for the celebration of this Mass and for the procession to the clinic and your commitment to doing this, praying the rosary in front of the clinic on the first Saturday of the month in response to Our Lady’s request to us, to honor her Immaculate Heart on the first Saturday of the month.
“We need to tap into this power of prayer, especially because the prince of darkness, that is to say the prince of death, is right at our doorstep. We need to ramp up the power of prayer. I would hope we can do this well beyond the first Saturday of the month to every Saturday and even throughout the week if possible. We need the power of prayer and fasting to defeat the powers of darkness so that this darkness might not continue to increase but might decrease, so that Our Lord might increase. He is the One who is the giver of life, who gives us this light and goodness. This happens when we follow that example of St. John the Baptist, our model of discipleship: ‘He must increase, I must decrease.’”
The full Mass and homily may be seen here.
Following the Mass, the faithful gathered in the Cathedral Plaza and the Rosary procession to Planned Parenthood began. Approximately 120 people joined the archbishop as he led the procession. The facility is still under construction, the windows still covered with plywood. The only notable feature is a sort of demonic figure above the entrance. The next Rosary procession will be on Saturday, February 6.
– California Catholic exclusive story by Gibbons Cooney
“Tap into the power of prayer… ramp up the power of prayer.” Under “Catholic” President Biden, abortion is about to become much more welcome, promoted, funded, and prevalent in America. What of the power of prayer before the election for a result that would avoid what’s to come? Call me skeptical. Our Lord said with faith you can move mountains, but I’m not seeing much positive happening through the Church.
To use a heinous example: at Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago, the priest celebrated Mass with Chicago Bears paraphernalia all over the sanctuary and in the nativity scene, even using a Bears team linen as the altar cloth. He prayed the Bears would win the game. He even ad libbed during the Eucharistic Prayer: after the consecrations, when he was praying for the Church in unity with Mary, Joseph and all the saints, he paused and added, “Except the New Orleans Saints.” Such grave liturgical abuse. Don’t believe me? Watch the video:
https://livestream.com/oldstpats/events/9038563/videos/215838221
Anyway, the Bears lost big time. So much for the power of prayer.
And don’t say it’s a silly example. The priest was using the Mass to pray for the Bears to win. Let’s get real and distinguish between which prayers work and which don’t. Not much seems to be working, so maybe the Church isn’t praying the right way.
Kevin T. if you do not have faith the size of a mustard seed, you are not going to move any mountains.
You don’t listen to us so I suspect you do not listen to God, either.
You really have to trust Him.
He is not a genie granting you wishes.
God answers my prayers. I am grateful to Him.
There were a lot of Catholics praying for Biden to win. On the Feast of the Epiphany (Manifestation) we saw why He permitted that. He is aware of things that we are not aware of, including the future and those things hidden from our eyes. He has His own plans. Nothing can upend them.
There will come a time when evil appears to win. Then the Lord will come in His glory. We are supposed to be waiting in joyful hope for that.
“What I have come to understand is that this whole groundwork of prayer is based on humility and that the more a soul lowers itself in prayer the more God raises it up.”
“How is it, Lord, that we are cowards in everything save in opposing Thee?”
Let nothing disturb you;
Let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God.
God alone suffices. (St. Theresa of Avila’s bookmark)
Kevin T. Maybe you should check this out: “Fr. Altier reflects on the state of America” on YouTube
https://youtu.be/MV7XQ8LeEH8
It looks like something that is completely opposite of a stork carrying a child. A most fitting symbol for Planned Parenthood and its “birth control” with no control and no birth. If the “pills’ fail, just kill the child. And sense they usually give out cheap low dose pills, they are almost guaranteed to fail.
You want a clinic to have a sculpture of a stork? Really?
No, I am just comparing the two symbols, and it is not a clinic; it is an abortuary where children die. They do no mammograms nor help women there. They only give out contraceptive pills and perform abortions. When women are injured by the abortionists, they send them to hospitals.
The building’s proximity to Chinatown probably has something to do with the dragon on the exterior. That statue was on the building before Planned Parenthood acquired it, when it was Bee Automotive and perhaps even before that. Don’t read into things in an attempt to score spiritual points.
Um. Clearly not a Chinese Dragon. Try again boss…
Who cares about some stupid sculpture on a death clinic. We have a better one. In Hoc Signo Vinces
@ Anne TE – thank you for your excellent response. As a long-time volunteer for (formerly) Birthright, I can attest to the undue pressure young women are subjected to when they visit PP. In their desperation, women with crisis pregnancies feel that their only hope is to listen to the siren of death. Intervention is paramount. We who uphold the sanctity of life must continue to speak out and put pressure on the mostly Catholic lawmakers who ingratiate themselves with the enemy of life.
I know. I volunteered for Birthright, and we helped everyone. I once took a Hindu lady and her little boy back and forth to Stanford Children’s hospital for appointments when I was still working part time, and my own daughters were in or had graduated from college. I dropped her and her child off for their appointments and spent the rest of the wait at the Stanford Mall, then went back, got them and brought them to the Birthright office in our county. I sorted good baby and maternity clothes, some new and some used, brought in from churches for clients, and took excess to other charities. Great at multitasking.
SO and Anne, thank you for serving girls, women and babies through Birthright. Many years ago, I too was a Birthright volunteer (and board member). The movement to restore protection and respect for life is multifaceted. Thanks to all who serve in some way.
And, as Catholics, our faith calls us to serve all, regardless of religion, race, age or any other distinguishing factors. As you may know, the first (non-military) hospitals in history were started by St. Basil the Great and those with him in the fourth century. And, even then, our faith called us to serve all and not only our fellow Christians.
Thank God for Archbishop Cordileone and those joining him in standing up for life.
@ Deacon Craig Anderson – it’s always a pleasure to read your thoughtful insights and compassionate responses. It doesn’t surprise me to learn that you were also involved in Birthright, as was Anne TE. This is who we are in our Catholicity, as we are called to stand against a throwaway culture that turns its back on the most vulnerable amongst us.
I attended the Divine Liturgy at St. Basil the Great in Los Gatos, CA, at least once, and I have called Fr. Anthony Hernandez, who is bi ritual, on occasions to get his trustworthy advice.