As dawn broke over the Capitol on the morning of Sept. 24,
dozens of congressional guests waited patiently in chairs on
the Upper Terrace to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis.
Amidst the friends and family of Congress members were two
religious sisters dressed in blue and white. They were
Sisters of Life from New York City and guests at the
invitation of the papal nuncio, Archbishop Carlo Mariá
Viganó. They eagerly awaited seeing the pope and
hearing his message of life.
The sisters' order is devoted to protecting and enhancing the
sacredness of human life and ministering to women suffering
from the effects of having an abortion. They are on the front
lines of the pro-life movement, operating houses for mothers
in crisis pregnancies and conducting retreats all over the
country. The order participates in the annual March for Life
in Washington where their banner can be seen clearly in a sea
of thousands on Constitution Avenue.
Earlier this year the sisters celebrated the pope's
announcement of the Year of Mercy, during which priests will
be allowed to forgive women who come to confession under the
weight of abortion.
"Even though priests already have the authority to do this in
America, it was an encouraging reminder to women," said
Sisters of Life, sister Magdalene. "These women we serve are
suffering and just need mercy."
Pope Francis encouraged America's lawmakers to "defend life
at every stage of development." His defense of life was met
with applause from the sisters and thousands of others on the
terrace and West Lawn of the Capitol.
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© Arlington Catholic Herald 2015