Jan. 22 marks a heartrending day in our nation’s history. It was on this date in 1973 that the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that obtaining an abortion was a legal right under the Constitution.

This devastating ruling undermined the foundational principle upon which our country was built — that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Every year since that 1973 decision, people from across our country have travelled to our nation’s capital on Jan. 22 to mark this day. They come in vast numbers to communicate to those in leadership within our government that we can do better, that the American people deserve better, that life is precious, and that we have a responsibility to protect life, not destroy it.

Over the years, this movement — this March for Life — has grown, as more and more people want their voice to be heard. The March for Life now draws hundreds of thousands of people to Washington, D.C., all for the same purpose — to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,” as the book of Proverbs challenges us.

Many of those who participate in the March for Life are young people. United in their desire to build a culture of life, their love of life and desire for what is good and true and beautiful is so authentic that this march becomes a joy-filled celebration of life that is nothing short of contagious.

It is truly an honor and an inspiration to see the enthusiasm of our young people and experience their fervent desire to protect and defend life and dignity, from conception to natural death.

This year, as in the recent past, several hundred young people from the Diocese of Rockford will be in Washington attending the March for Life. They will participate in the beautiful opening Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Many will also attend the youth rally and Mass for Life on the morning of the March for Life. Some will also visit other places of significance, such as the St. John Paul II National Shrine.

Throughout the journey they will be praying, learning about life and dignity issues, and reflecting on how they, as young Catholics, can continue to build a culture of life when they return home.

For those unable to travel with our youth to Washington, we might ask ourselves how can we follow their example and participate in this effort to build a culture of life? The bishops of the United States offer us a brief outline for how each and every one of us can — and, in fact, should — do this in our everyday lives.

As Christians, we are called to respect, protect, and love life — at the beginning of life, at the end of life, and in every moment in between. This simple plan, involves incorporating four P’s into our way of life: public outreach and education, pastoral care, public policy, and prayer.

�–� Public outreach and education involves reaching out to the Catholic population, as well as the general public. In short, it is our public witness to the dignity of human life. Examples of this include parents discussing life and dignity issues with their family, teachers and catechists offering solid moral teaching, and Catholic social service organizations and health care agencies providing care for those who are terminally ill or disabled.

�–� Providing pastoral care is essential to building a culture of life. This involves supporting pregnancy care centers either by volunteering or through material donations. It might mean familiarizing ourselves with the Project Rachel ministry so that we can refer people who have experienced an abortion to resources where they can find hope and healing. It also means caring for those who are chronically ill, disabled, or dying, as well as supporting those in our community who are caring for others.

�–� A simple way to engage in public policy is to sign up to receive action alerts from the Catholic Conference of Illinois and the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment. Contact your elected officials about life issues, including bills that affect the unborn, disabled, and elderly.

�–� Last, but certainly not least, we need to pray. Let us pray for all those marching for life, all those working to build a culture of life, and all those who do not yet know the joy of the Gospel of Life.

In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses speaks for God and tells the people, “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life.” We must proudly witness to something very good. That is, we choose life. That’s why we march and vote to end abortion.