Los Angeles archbishop urges widespread participation in Jan. 21 Requiem for the Unborn

Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez will be joined by his auxiliary bishops, diocesan priests, deacons, religious and the faithful at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. for a special Requiem Mass for the Unborn in commemoration of babies lost to abortion in the United States since the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade. 

“With the January anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision, we will se pro-life events taking place across our state and nation,” Archbishop Gomez wrote to priests and diocesan parish life directors in a Dec. 21 letter. “Here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, a beautiful Mass and Ceremony is celebrated each year in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Gathered together with the Auxiliary Bishops, priest, deacons, religious and faithful, we celebrate the Shantigarh Requiem for the Unborn, a special Mass written specifically for this important purpose, and together as an Archdiocesan family we affirm our belief in the sanctity of all human life.”

After the Mass, the archbishop explained, members of the faithful “bring forward candles — one candle for each life lost to abortion that day in the County of Los Angeles. These candles, each representing a life no longer with us, will remain lit and displayed on the Cathedral Plaza for the following week as a vivid reminder, to the greater Southern California community, of our continuing commitment to life.”

In an announcement of the event posted on the archdiocesan website, Archbishop Gomez said he hoped the cathedral would be filled to overflowing for the Mass. “This is not simply a gathering for activists, but rather an opportunity for all to proclaim aloud this most basic tenet of our faith… I urge you to be present with us that evening.”

“Don’t read about it the next day,” says a flyer promoting the Requiem for the Unborn. “Be there. Mourn the loss. Rejoice in our hope. Come as a family. Come as a parish community. All encouraged to attend.”

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 3:27 AM By Joe
What a great idea, and wouldn’t it be wonderful if every diocese in the U.S., and even the world, had a similar Mass on the same day as a sign of solidarity in praying for the end of the greatest evil on earth – abortion.

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 4:42 AM By Abeca Christian
For those of us that do not live near by to attend this, we can offer up rosaries and prayers that evening.

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 5:10 AM By Juergensen
Nothing will change unless and until the bishops (1) squelch the USCCB document that misleads Catholics into voting for abortionist politicians such as Obama (“Faithful Citizenship”), and (2) enforce the law of the Church (Canon 915) and deny Communion to “Catholic” politicians who legislate abortion during the week and receive and profanate the Holy Eucharist on Sundays.

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 6:49 AM By gk
Deo gratias! Marches and political rallies are great but…prayer, liturgy, and petitioning God — Masses and rosaries — are what will turn the tide against abortion.

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 8:43 AM By CJ
God bless Archbishop Gomez! What a gift he is to California, to Catholics, and to the unborn.

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 10:48 AM By Ken M.
Archbishop Gomez deserves Catholic’s support in the Archdiocese and have the congregation flowing out onto the streets surrounding the Cathedral for the Mass for Life.

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 10:57 AM By Just sayin’
Having an annual Mass for the millions of unborn babies who become the victims of the abortionists is good, of course. But don’t forget the other 364 days of the year. We need to do more to keep babies alive, not just pray for them once they’re dead. Every parish cold have a pro-life pregnancy counseling center. Our archbishop, bishops and priests could lead us in regularly scheduled prayer vigils outside the abortion mills. And at Mass every day, we could start obeying the directive of several years ago from our US bishops, or a committee of them, that said a pro-life prayer intention should be read at every Mass, every day. The situation is urgent; babies are aborted all around us, today and every day. Ora et labora — pray and work.

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 11:28 AM By Clinton
May Our Lord bless the little ones He has knit together in their mother’s wombs. May Our Lord protect the most vulnerable of us against the modern day Herods of the world. +JMJ+

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 12:24 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Juergensen, You are right, and Archbishop Gomez has plenty of opportunity in the Archdiocese of Lost Angels to do so. Villagarosa would be a great start! The pro-abortion speakers at the Congress would be another. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 1:11 PM By JMJ
Juergensen: First re-read that document carefully, slowly & prayerfully, and if you still can’t understand what the Bishop’s are saying, then try praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit to help you. As for Canon 915 you are right, but your opening statement is wrong as their is always hope as God is the one in charge & with His Beloved Daughter, Mary, at His side pleading for the lives of His unborn children, WE WILL WILL THIS HORRIBLE WAR AGAINST LIFE that the world has started (yes, this is a world-wide war, not just here in America). You bet that I am very upset about the useless USCCB, but, myself & millions of others are not throwing in the towel. God Bless Archbishop Gomez for doing something positive, instead of wringing his hands as you are always doing. Instead of wringing, why not take up a pair of Rosary Beads & PRAY, PRAY & PRAY some more? Have a very Holy Day. +JMJ+

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 2:45 PM By Abeca Christian
Juergensen you are wise! Great comment you made.

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 3:24 PM By JLS
How many personalized license plates conveying Canon 915 could be thought up and made?

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 4:14 PM By Elizabeth
Everyone, please remember the WALK FOR LIFE WEST COAST in San Francisco at the Civil Center this year on January 21st !!!

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 4:43 PM By Juergensen
JMJ: Re-read Section 34 of “Faithful Citizenship” carefully, slowly, and prayerfully, and if you still can’t understand what the Bishops are saying, then try praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit to help you.

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 6:04 PM By k
From the USCCB website: January 22 Day of Prayer for the legal protection of unborn children- In all the diocese of the USA January 22 (or January 23 when the January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full resoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion. GIRM 373

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 6:16 PM By JLS
How about “915 NOW” for a plate? “GOTO915”? 915LIFE? 915LIVE? 915BABY? LOVE915? L9I1F5E? USE 915? 915WINS? ETC.

Posted Friday, January 13, 2012 9:55 PM By Abeca Christian
JLS how about bumper stickers?

Posted Saturday, January 14, 2012 8:08 AM By Fredi D’Alessio
Defend the unborn and protect pregnant mothers at all times +++ I’ve posted about my favorite ministry, The Gabriel Project, before. Now that we’re in that time of year again, when people get fired up about the despicable 1973 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court ruling and demonstrate their opposition to abortion, I’d like to introduce you to a new website dedicated to the works of The Gabriel Project. The purpose of this website to help interested persons introduce, implement and execute The Gabriel Project in their geographical area. I hope you will take some time to check it out, give its contents some thought and spread the word. See stgabrielproject.wordpress.com

Posted Saturday, January 14, 2012 9:01 AM By Anne T.
Juergensen, I hear what you are saying, but at least these pictures do not let anyone off the hook as to rather or not that is a real baby in the womb. Hopefully they will be put up on walls in churches. Archbishop Gomez is doing a good thing bringing that realization to the forefront. Maybe he will open some hearts and change some minds. Let us pray so. As Fr. Pavone says something similar to this, “Until Americans see abortions, Americans will not outlaw abortions.” This most certainly is a gentle reminder, it is better than nothing.

Posted Saturday, January 14, 2012 9:44 AM By JLS
Juergensen is conveying a critical truth.

Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 2:07 PM By Abeca Christian
JLS how about a loud rap song called Canon 915……. : )

Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 8:04 PM By JLS
That’s it, Abeca … the Lost Chord !

Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 10:40 PM By Abeca Christian
JLS hahaha yip.

Posted Sunday, January 15, 2012 11:24 PM By David
If there is a true anti-abortion politician out there I don’t know her/him. There is what they they do (the willing-to-let-them-die-Democrats) and there is what they say when it’s expedient (I’m talking about the nothing-but-talk-Republicans). I see nothing but wolves. My heart is heavy, Oh Lord, my heart is heavy.

Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2012 12:02 AM By Kenneth M. Fisher
David, You heart might be heavy, but your ears seem to be completely shut when it comes to hearing Pro-Life Republicans such as Rick Santorum and others speaking out against abortion as loudly as they do. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2012 2:56 PM By JLS
Ask Robert K. Dornan what the Republican Party does to uppity pro-life Congressmen?

Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2012 4:43 PM By Tota Tua
an absolutely beautiful Mass

Posted Tuesday, January 17, 2012 5:44 PM By Maryanne Leonard
JLS, yes, your are right about Robert Dornan, but it seems to me the Democrats were much more responsible. A little voter fraud here and there helps their cause too, such as allowing and even encouraging people to vote who are not even legal residents here let alone citizens.

Posted Saturday, January 21, 2012 10:01 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
JLS, I gave Robert K. Dornan his first political appointment when I appointed him to the Republican State Central Committee. Bob would not have been defeated had he heeded our many calls for him to come back to his District, abandon his presidential campaign, and confront Loretta Sanchez Brixey sooner. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher