Congressman Chris Smith, a devout Catholic and pro-life advocate, will be honored at this year’s National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, United States.
New Jersey representative to receive annual award Lay Christians of the organization in the 20th National Catholic Prayer Breakfaston February 28. Previous recipients of the award include religious freedom advocate Jimmy Lai, legal scholar Helen M. Alvaré, jurist and policy expert Mary Rice Hasson, and former United States Attorney General William Barr.
Receive the main news from ACI Prensa by WhatsApp and Telegram
It is increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channels today:
The Christifideles Laici award was instituted in 2019 by the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast to highlight the “good works” of those serving the Church, according to the organization’s website. The award itself is an original work commissioned by the organization from the classical artist Isaac Dell and is inscribed with the words “In honor and gratitude for fidelity to the Church, exemplary, selfless and constant service in the vineyard of the Lord.”
Currently serving his 22nd term in the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey’s 4th Congressional District, Smith is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and has been a tireless advocate for those facing religious persecution and trafficking. people.
Smith, a strong advocate for the pro-life cause, is among the confirmed speakers at this year’s March for Life along with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Live Action founder Lila Rose.
Late last year, Smith told EWTN News’ CNA in an interview after a Mass celebrated at the United States Capitol that he and his wife, Marie, share a special devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and that his office “places all of our pro-life and human rights work under her mantle.”
“I deal a lot with the issue of human rights,” he said at the time, “and every time we turn to her and pray, and ask her for guidance.”
Smith told CNA that he has a life-size replica of the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe hanging in his office. “I’m surprised how many people I meet — because I meet with diplomats all the time because of my human rights work and my committee assignments — and they always notice (the tilma).”
“It seems to me that there is a lot of devotion, particularly among Latin Americans who come here; They look at (the tilma) and it is instantaneous,” he said. “And so, of course, this is a celebration of her, (and) the whole story of Juan Diego, and the whole story of, you know, 8 to 9 million people who were converted from human sacrifice and the worship of Gods, it is an incredible story of conversion and repair of souls.”
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.
Low tide Elhabbal
Madalaine Elhabbal is a CNA journalist based in EWTN’s Washington DC bureau. She has published articles on CatholicVote and has also worked as a foreign language assistant in France. She is a graduate of Benedictine College.