“Dear brothers and sisters, let us be enveloped by the mercy of God; let us trust in his patience, which always gives us more time. Let us find the courage to return to his house, to dwell in his loving wounds, allowing ourselves be loved by him and to encounter his mercy in the sacraments.” Pope Francis, Divine Mercy Sunday 2013
When I heard this I was immediately reminded of Fiona, a woman with whom I corresponded for a number of months. Fiona was 96 years old and had written to Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR, who then passed her letter on to me. She was writing about abortions she had more than 60 years prior. Just think, for over 60 years Fiona lived in the fear that she was not, and could not be forgiven by God even though she had gone to confession. Talk about a living hell.
I saved some of Fiona letters and would like to share part of one with you .
“I particularly wanted to write because many, many, years ago I had 3 abortions. I can truthfully say I am intensely sorry. These were awful sins. I confessed these but it is so very long ago and my memory is so poor I do not remember if the priest gave me absolution. I think he did. I am working on forgiving my husband who is deceased and was an alcoholic. Do you think there can be forgiveness for me? I am praying and hoping”.
Fiona and I exchanged letters for a time speaking of God’s mercy and post abortion healing, but then one day she wrote telling me I would not be hearing from her again. She needed to go live with one of her children who did not know about her abortions and she was fearful they would find out and hate her.
I am sure Fiona has passed but I think of her often…there are countless Fiona’s in this world… women and men who live with the pain and reality of abortion for decades, but the good news is, “His patience always gives us more time. He is always waiting for us no matter what our sin.” What a great message of evangelization to those who have been involved in an abortion. With 60 million abortions herein the US, just think of millions of men and women separated from God, but, He is patient, there is hope and He is waiting for us no matter what our sin.
I am not going to lie; this work of post abortion healing is not easy. The devil attacks from every side because it is truly the work of bringing souls back to Christ. Just for a second, think of how many souls are lost to Christ because of abortion women and men directly involved, perhaps grandparents, friends, doctors, nurses, the list can go on and on. This work is a constant standing at the foot of the cross “dwelling in His wounds” because it is only there in the deepness o f his wounds that healing from the deep sin of abortion can be found, it is there that He won our salvation. But, it is also a work of indescribable joy. For after the cross surely comes the resurrection.
We are also so blessed to watch many who came to us full of despair, find joy in their lives again through the forgiveness and mercy of Jesus Christ. A God who can take their worst sin, and use it to bring them to His merciful heart.
As we prepare for the of birth of mercy Himself, let us remember He came into the world to save us from our sins. He suffered and died on the cross and rose from the dead for our salvation. Let us trust in His patience, which always gives us more time. Let us find the courage, to not only return to His house ourselves, but to dwell in His loving wounds, in order to bring others to His house, allowing them to be loved by Him and to encounter His mercy.
