All Saints’ Day: Our Playbook for Defending Life in Ohio and Beyond

Laura Strietmann, Executive Director, Cincinnati Right to Life

On All Saints’ Day, we remember that our mission to defend life is not merely political—it is spiritual. In every generation, God raises up men and women who bear witness to the truth that every human person is sacred. These examples of pro-life heroes and their courage, humility, and faith form a kind of heavenly playbook for how we must live and lead in our own time.

As we work to defend life here in Ohio and beyond, we face challenges that are both legislative and deeply moral. The saints remind us that we cannot win this battle by strategy alone—we must win it through holiness. Whether as parents, doctors, teachers, lawyers, scientists, or public leaders, each of us is called to be a light in the darkness.

Blessed Karl of Austria (1887–1922): A Political Leader Who Never Wavered from the Truth

Blessed Karl of Austria, the last emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, sought to rule as a faithful servant of Christ during a time of war and upheaval. He viewed his political office not as a privilege, but as a sacred duty entrusted to him by God.

Even as his empire fell apart, Karl remained steadfast in his moral convictions. He promoted peace, defended the sanctity of marriage and family life, and refused to compromise his faith for political gain. His life reminds us that true leadership begins with obedience to truth—a lesson that resonates deeply today, as our society struggles to remember that moral integrity must come before power.

For those engaged in the pro-life mission within civic and political life, Blessed Karl stands as a shining model: courage without arrogance, faith without fear, and service rooted in love for God and neighbor.

St. Thomas More (1478–1535): Standing for Truth Against Power

St. Thomas More, another statesman and martyr, refused to betray his conscience, even when pressured by the king himself. Like Blessed Karl, he placed fidelity to God’s truth above worldly success. His courage reminds us that conscience—formed in truth—is our strongest weapon in the defense of life and freedom.

St. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922–1962): The Heroism of a Mother’s Love

St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a physician, wife, and mother, chose life for her preborn child even at the cost of her own. Her sacrificial love mirrors the heart of the pro-life movement: that every human life, no matter how fragile, is worth protecting.

Servant of God Jérôme Lejeune (1926–1994): The Scientist Who Defended the Least

Servant of God Jérôme Lejeune, the French geneticist who discovered the cause of Down syndrome, stood courageously against abortion when his discovery was used to justify it. “Tonight,” he told his wife after speaking against abortion at an awards banquet, “I lost my Nobel Prize.”

His example shows that faith and science are not enemies—but allies in the defense of truth and human dignity.

Servant of God Dorothy Day (1897–1980): Redeemed by Mercy, Champion of the Poor

Before her conversion, Dorothy Day experienced an abortion—an act she later deeply regretted. Yet, through God’s mercy, she was transformed into one of the Church’s greatest witnesses to compassion and justice.

Her life is a testament to the healing grace of God, showing that those who have experienced abortion are not excluded from the pro-life movement—they are often its most powerful witnesses.

St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894–1941): Love Stronger Than Death

At Auschwitz, St. Maximilian Kolbe offered his life in place of another man, a husband and father, condemned to die. His sacrifice revealed the unbreakable dignity of every person, even amid the darkest evil. For all who defend life, his example calls us to love with courage and to trust that even in suffering, God’s love triumphs.

St. Gerard Majella (1726–1755): Patron of Mothers, Defender of the Innocent

St. Gerard Majella, beloved as the patron saint of expectant mothers, was once falsely accused of impregnating a woman. Though innocent, he remained silent, entrusting his reputation to God. His humility was later vindicated, and miracles followed his prayers for mothers and preborn children. His story teaches us that the defense of life requires patience, trust, and gentleness—even when we are misunderstood.

The Battle for Life: A Call to Holiness

The saints and servants of God remind us that the battle for life begins in the soul. It is a spiritual struggle that demands prayer, courage, and holiness. Like Blessed Karl of Austria, we are called to lead with integrity; like St. Gianna, to love with sacrifice; like Dorothy Day, to witness mercy; and like St. Maximilian Kolbe, to embrace love even when it costs everything.

As we continue the work of defending life here in Ohio, let us remember that our ultimate goal is not only to change laws—but to transform hearts. The saints are our allies in this mission, guiding us by their example and interceding for us from Heaven.

“The saints did not all begin well, but they ended well.” — St. John Vianney

May we, too, persevere until every life is loved, defended, and cherished from conception to natural death.