Why does today’s march in London echo the crusades of conscience across history?

In London, two opposite ideological marches were walked in the same square. Imagine it – does the police want a confrontation between the two? It is actually a representation, purely and clearly, that a spirit drives both sides to fight for life or death, spiritual life or death. Pride is a deadly sin that leads to death, and overcoming pride awakens you from the depths of fallen nature into a new reality. Life is eternal, and we must live and represent it right now. What better can represent the March for Life? It actually shows the infinite importance of life that God promised us. Yes, this is promised and needs to be lived right now – from consciousness.

I proclaim this time a time of crusades of consciousness, witnessing the necessity to pick up your moral burden to fight the ideological wars, and there is no exception, Christians – we are all called to do this. It is a battlefield for souls that somebody must save. I call these crusades on purpose to resurrect the only argument non-believers have against us – crusades in the past. Although we are often accused of the Crusades being the darkest moments of Christianity, they nevertheless contain an element deeply rooted in every Christian: the struggle for good and for what is right, and the readiness to die for one’s convictions. Let us remember the past a little bit. In 1095, Pope Urban II called for the First Crusade to liberate Jerusalem and defend Christians in Byzantium from Islamic attacks. The motivation of the Crusaders was clear: to defend Christian Europe, to protect pilgrims and holy places, and to preserve Christian civilization itself.

Today, however, the “advance” in Europe takes place differently – it is cultural and social, not military, as it was in the past. Muslim communities in Western Europe are growing due to migration and higher birth rates. Unlike the Middle Ages, the current advance is shaped through schools, media, fashion, and public spaces. At the same time, while Muslim communities firmly preserve their identity and values, European Christianity remains drowsy, and secularism has weakened its ability for cultural self-defense.

In such a battle, it is worth recalling the words of William Wilberforce: “You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.” Just as Wilberforce stood tall against the slave trade despite the opposition of powerful structures, so today’s activists must stand tall against the culture of death that threatens Europe. Our own death is not only in abortion and childlessness, but also in a false tolerance that allows cultural conquest. His example shows that the perseverance and courage of small groups of Christians throughout history have been capable of changing the course of entire civilizations.

But let’s be realistic for a moment. To go on crusades of conscience sometimes means to lose battles. We are losing them on many fronts – from the fight for the rights of the unborn to the defense of the elderly from assisted suicide. There are moments when we truly use all our spiritual and physical strength to remain even a small fragment of light in this world. All this we do because of the virtue of courage, from which all other virtues spring, and yet we often fail. 

March for Life in London was not merely a pro-life gathering. Instead, it was a sign of spiritual confrontation. Just as the Crusaders in the past set out with faith to defend Christianity and the holy places, today’s activists take to the streets with the conviction that they are defending truth and the dignity of human life. The weapons are no longer swords, but banners, prayers, and the witness of joy. “By their fruits you will know them,” – and indeed, the fruits were visible. This joy was clearly evident on the streets of London: balloons, children, families, songs, and an atmosphere of hope. Over 10,000 people supported the fight for the good in a country where many see no future. And yet, our March was a celebration of life. Contrastingly, the counter-protests offered only anger, destructive slogans, and a vision of darkness. It was a clash of two visions – the culture of life and death, or anticulture.

Every generation, including our own, stands before that only choice: will we be ready for sacrifice in obedience to what Christ asks of us, or will we submit everything to our own ego – an ego willing to destroy the unborn child, the family, and the future itself, only to avoid bearing the consequences of its own irresponsibility? March for Life has shown that true strength lies in light – in the joy that comes from truth, in the fellowship that witnesses to life, and in the courage that refuses to be silent. When families with children, even the youngest holding balloons in their hands, walk the streets of the capital, then the world sees that there is hope. Let us remember: God was willing to spare Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of just a few righteous men. In London, 10,000 people were ready to respond to the call of good and support the March for Life. Is this not a sign that God is still raising a remnant that shines in the darkness?

Perhaps next year, for an additional sign of joy, we will add an ice cream van to the March—for what better displays the beauty of the culture of life than the smile of a child? Perhaps even the hearts of our opponents may be softened by the innocence of children rejoicing over ice cream. Truth, joy, and beauty always have greater power than anger and darkness.

Our times are also marked by brutal images – even in Europe, muslim radicals or haters still attack churches, but faith endures. Material churches can be destroyed, but the Church we ourselves are – the community of living witnesses – cannot be burned down or crushed. This is the strength of the Body of Christ, which has endured for centuries through persecution.

Ultimately, it becomes clear: our struggle is not merely social or political, but profoundly spiritual. As Saint Augustine said, it reflects the ongoing conflict between two cities – the City of God, founded on the love of God to the contempt of self, and the City of Man, founded on the love of self to the contempt of God. Today, that conflict is no less real than it was in Wilberforce’s time or in the age of the Crusaders; it has simply taken on new faces and methods. Therefore, we must not be discouraged. Christ warns us: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Mt 10:28). Our strength lies in the light that darkness cannot overcome. If we remain faithful and ready for sacrifice, we will become a city on a hill, a beacon of hope for Europe staggering between life and death. And this is precisely the sign of the times: a call to a cultural crusade in which the weapons are truth, joy, and the courage of faith.