VIGIL: TO WATCH ONE HOUR

“And they went to a place which was called Gethsem'ane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I pray." And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch." “
(Mat. 14:32-34)

The Sun is still below the horizon, one car and then two more move pass the building and park at the side of the road. Three people emerge into the chilled morning air and walk slowly to the grassy area in front of the building. There is a row of trees planted delicately in an alternating pattern just beyond the property line; an attempt to soften to the eye the true purpose of this place. The building, with a brick veneer, has the appearance of a small fortress with an iron fence to keep someone out, or perhaps to keep someone in.

As the sun rises, more people come to join the first three who have begun to pray. They gather together in greeting, shaking hands and embracing one another. There are brief introductions and then they return to prayer.

Two more cars arrive, one turns into the driveway, moves around the building and disappears. The second car parks in the right-of-way at the side of the road and a man and a woman get out. They walk to the side of the drivewa, pamphlets in hand with information to be given to frightened mothers driving into the building to keep an appointment. Some of the mothers are brought by their friends, by their boyfriends or husbands and some by their parents: the grandmothers and grandfathers of the babies.

More cars turn into the driveway and without bothering to slow down, disappear behind the building, but one car, blue with several rust spots and a broken tail light, stops and the woman who has stood near the driveway, the sidewalk counselor, approaches. She smiles and waves and the window is rolled down. Words are exchanged, a pamphlet is offered and received. It contains words and images of the truth that goes on inside the building. The man and woman in the car thank the counselor and they also disappear behind the building.

“And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."” (Mat. 14:37-38)

Soon a police car arrives and parks at the end of the building. The officer is there to make sure everything is safe. By now the sun has risen, peeking above the office building to the east. More cars arrive carrying prayer partners, Bibles in hand. As they step onto the grassy prayer vigil area, those who had arrived earlier greet them and then leave to go to their jobs and continue their day. This new group opens their Bible to read a familiar passage. A man there with rosary in hand silently prays, meditating on the life of Christ, the sorrowful mysteries. He falls to his knees as he considers the scourging at the pillar of our Lord, and tears slowly roll down his face. In his mind, in his soul, he sees Jesus suffering and he sees the bodies of the innocent unborn who suffer and die within this building.

An expensive looking car drives in and everyone takes notice. Some make the sign of the cross and say a special prayer for the driver. Clouds seem to block the sunlight with the sun now higher in the sky while prayer partners come and go. A man carrying a tall pole with a crucifix on tops comes to pray. A couple with their two small children spread out a blanket while five high school students sit in a circle, rosaries in hand.

The man who cried while on his knees rises and approaches another group in prayer. The apparent leader of this group is praying passionately. He grips a Bible tightly in his and asks God to forgive him, to forgive our country and free us from the sin of abortion. Each member of this group in turn lifts up a prayer from their heart. The man at his turn offers up his own prayer. He prays for the babies, for the mothers who are frightened and for the fathers who are confused. He prays for the grandparents who may never hold their grandchildren in their arms. And he prays for the abortionist whose soul is tortured by daily acts of violence done to those who are silent.

“And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."” (Mat. 14:40-42)

By God’s grace they come, you come and pray, to keep the vigil and to give witness to the pain and suffering, to the lie that is abortion. Everyday the vigil is kept. Every hour someone is there. Many wonder why you waste your time. “Have you nothing better to do?” “Why don’t you mind your own business.”

Suddenly there are sounds of joyous laughter as the rusting blue car drives away. The sidewalk counselor walks over to the prayer partners. “The girl said she had prayed for a sign, if she was making the right choice. When she saw you praying here she wasn’t sure what to do. The father didn’t really want the abortion, so they just sat in the car and prayed. They said they just couldn’t do it.”

This is why we do it, why we stand in the cold, and the rain, to pray for that one child, that one family. This is the end of abortion.

Come to keep the vigil, to respond to our Lord’s plea. Come to the garden and watch one hour with Him.

Eric Slaughter
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary