I've been asked a few times by people outside of the church - why do you participate in the march for life? My answers have always been short and to the point - "It is the right thing to do." But as I left Eucharistic adoration one Saturday afternoon, a holy priest asked me the same question. He said, "Lina, why do you march for life? This time the usual question resonated in my ears differently. He wanted to know what really motivates me to go to Washington D.C. year after year and walk alongside a sea of people under extreme inclement weather conditions (takes place each winter). I took this opportunity to truly reflect on the meaning and substance behind my pro life journey.

It began nearly 10 years ago when I attended mass for the first time at the National Shrine of our Lady of Czestochowa. Fr. Marian was talking about the dignity of all human beings from the moment of conception until natural death. He reminded us of the words of Jesus Christ -"whatever you do to the least of my people you do unto me." Fr. Marian continued, therefore dear brothers and sisters, do not be part of the culture of death where women have the right to abort their babies and people have the right to euthanize the elderly and the sick. He encouraged us to be gentle disciples of our Lord of life and take part in the march for life.

Ever since then, I have joined the ranks of the prolife movement - participating in peaceful demonstrations in our nation's capital and praying in front of The Blessed Sacrament for those who disregard the dignity of human beings and asking God the Father to shine the light among those to see the truth.

Even though it has been 37 years since the Rowe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court case on abortion and very little has changed in the minds of our government officials, Fr. Marian's encouraging words and those of our Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta - "God does not ask us to be successful, but faithful" - is what keeps me going to the march for life year after year.

I believe that we can advance the culture of life by planting the seeds of the pro-life message with love and charity so it grows in the hearts and souls of believers as well as nonbelievers. So after further reflection, I've learned never try to simplify the true, deeper meaning for what you believe because your words could very well have a long-lasting, positive impact on other peoples' hearts.