On Monday, we will mark the 45th year of legalized abortion on demand with our 10th annual candlelight vigil for the unborn, and this year we have every reason to feel good about it.

But first, an update on the venue. For several years the uncompromising weather really tested our mettle, but we steadfastly gathered at the gazebo and shivered. Last year was even worse, so we moved the vigil across the street to the Natchez Grand Hotel, where they had compassion on us, took us in and sheltered us from the cold.

This year, to take the guesswork out of weather predictions, we arranged to hold the vigil in the Natchez Grand Hotel starting promptly at 5:15 p.m.

We’ll have everything we ever had, including the candles, but without the wretched cold.

Then, if the weather cooperates, we can take our flowers right across the street to the cross display and place a flower on each cross in memory of each unborn child represented there and as a token of our commitment to defend life.

Now are you ready for the real good news, which is much more important to pro-lifers than the aforementioned creature comforts?

The news is that we are winning! It would be premature to throw our hats in the air and cheer because the battle for life is not over, not yet. We still have work to do as long as even one innocent child’s life is taken except to save the life of the mother, please notice we said the mother’s “life” not her “life style.” Even then every effort should be made to save the baby.

Take heart. Numbers don’t lie, and the numbers are heading in the right direction. I have an old poster, printed in 1997. The poster reads: In the USA every hour of every day 169 babies die — killed by abortion. Ten years later, 2007’s vigil on the bluff we put up posters with the updated figures declaring 140 babies aborted every hour. This past week I checked on the latest statistics and guess what? We are not at 110 deaths an hour. That’s a drop of 60 abortions every hour. We can’t stop now. We must not ever slow down.

Come meet with us this Monday and get an update on issues of importance and information on what you and I can do that will make a real difference.

We are also expecting inspiration from a special guest from Louisiana.

It sure looks promising right now.

We will see you at 5:15 p.m. Monday at the Natchez Grand Hotel.

And we’ll be smiling!
Virginia O’Beirne is co-chair of Pro-Life Natchez-Adams County.