Witness for Life: Beyond the Photos
It's the stories that go unseen that often hold the most beauty
In the midst of the crowds, prayers, and protest signs, New York City's 'Witness for Life' harbors countless stories that are too profound for any lens to capture.
Some are shared, others confined to the quiet sanctuaries of the human heart.
But they all testify to the courage and Faith of those who make the sacrifice to stand for life...
The Prayerful Protester
The participants returned to St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, filling the pews silently in prayer, following a rather 'lively' Witness for Life.
The voice of the Priest echoed off its domed ceilings as Benediction began with the words, "Blessed be God, Blessed be his Holy Name…"
A peace descended upon the congregation as their hearts and souls turned to Christ.
Just then, a young woman, appearing to be a protester, slipped quietly through the massive wooden doors of the old Cathedral.
Her appearance was that of one distraught and confused.
She frantically looked about. She clearly felt out of place and uncertain about what she should do.
She stood frazzled in the central aisle, furtively looking around and then, for a moment, sitting, then rising again, then sitting, and then seeing as everyone was kneeling in prayer, knelt.
It was only for a moment.
And then she began to cry.
She rose and ran out the way she came.
Vanishing in tears to the city streets...
Nadia
It's incredible how fast a 2 ½-year-old can run.
Such short, stubby legs, apparently propelled by rocket fuel and a blissful, innocent ignorance of all physical limits.
She weaved in and out. Darting between the legs of those sipping their coffees, earning her smiles, chuckles, and grins along with several "Oh, to be that young again!"
A young child, brimming with energy and full of joy.
But she wouldn't have been there had it not been for the sidewalk counselor who offered her mom compassion and care as she gravitated towards Planned Parenthood 3 years earlier.
It would also not have been the case if the Sisters of Life hadn't taken her in and provided shelter and support throughout her pregnancy.
Today, with the support of the pro-life community, that mom proudly graduated college and is raising her daughter independently.
A Faithful Witness
She had spent nights questioning whether she should come, wrestling with a fear that gripped her heart.
Now, standing there, her doubts resurfaced like unwelcome guests.
She clutched her rosary, the beads slipping through her trembling fingers as if seeking escape.
The group began to move, and she, too, took her first step.
She felt like a small boat in a tempest, almost swayed by the jeers and shouts from those protesting the Witness for Life.
Her thoughts spiraled into a storm of 'what-ifs.' What if someone she knew saw her? What if her convictions wavered?
But just then, she felt it—the words of a prayer being recited by the crowd. A soft murmur, yet enough to break through her storm of doubt.
"Our Father, who art in Heaven…"
Her lips began to move in unison, her heart joining the collective prayer. The sound seemed to rise above the noise, an act of defiance against the storm that sought to consume her.
Her fears, her doubts—all fading, giving way to a torrent of Grace.
Her hands steadied for the first time that morning, and she clung to her rosary not as a lifeline but as a chain linking her to something far greater.
She realized that her Faith was not a silent whisper but a resilient shout, able to rise above the clamor of the world. She understood that sometimes, one had to leap to find solid ground.
And leap she did, right into the arms of Christ.
...
I'll leave it at this.
No photo can do the Witness for Life justice.
It can't capture the heartfelt dedication of those who sacrifice their time and turn up in the bitter cold of January or the scorching heat of August.
It can't capture the decisions to choose life that women freely make as they are affected by the Grace borne through the prayers of the participants.
And it can't capture the love and compassion that each woman experiences when they encounter a sidewalk counselor.
And it's just as well.
While every picture tells a story, the stories that go unseen often hold the most beauty.
