My Pro-Life Life

Given by Fr. Kevin Drew of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri: On November 14 th , 1940, five-hundred and fifteen small twin-engine German bombers dropped 500 tons of explosive on the industrial city of Coventry, England. Two thirds of the city were damaged. There was such a high level of destruction that the German propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels later coined the term “coventried” when describing similar destruction in other enemy towns. “Coventried.”  The Coventry Cathedral, a soaring beautiful gothic cathedral built in the 14 th century was fire- bombed and destroyed that night in 1940. The next month, on Christmas the BBC ended a radio program by having people sing in the bombed-out ruins of the cathedral. The broadcast made popular once again an old lullaby with sad lyrics and a haunting melody known as the Coventry Carol. It was written back in the 1500’s as part of a nativity play, when England was still Catholic; before the tyrant King Henry VIII confi...

Vespers hymn from the 1962 Roman Missal: Flowers of Martyrdom, all hail! Smitten by the tyrant foe On life's threshold, as the gale Strews the roses ere they blow. First to bleed for Christ, sweet Lambs! What a simple death ye died! Sporting with your wreaths and palms, At the very altar side. Honor, glory, virtue, merit Be to Thee, O Virgin's Son! With the Father and the Spirit While eternal ages run. Amen V. Under the throne of God, all the Saints cry: R. Avenge our blood, O our God.