Reclaiming Our Children

The Humility of Healing & the Peace of Christ

 

 

 

I believe we all have different struggles after having an abortion. For
me, I never believed that God had forgiven me or that I could ever forgive
myself. Anytime I would go to confession, I would confess my sins of
abortion until one day I started going to the same priest and he said to
me, "you don't have to confess that anymore...God has forgiven you." And
 even though this made me feel better, I couldn't understand how it was
 possible.

One of my biggest challenges was my pride. I would hear Theresa say it
 time and time again, "Do not let your pride stand in the way of your
 healing." My thought process was that I wasn't proud of what I had done,
 I  was embarrassed and ashamed. I would say to myself over and over, "I
 can't believe I could have done something like this...and not just once."

You see, I didn't realize it at the time, but by telling myself things like
 that it was as if I believed I was above sin, like, I was too perfect to
 do something as grave a sin as abortion. The truth is we are all capable of any
sin without HIs grace. It was hard to accept that 
this was in fact my pride.

 
 One of the greatest steps I took in this healing process was taking time
 each day to sit before the Blessed Sacrament. I have done this for the
 past 11 years and I can't even tell you the things that have been
 revealed to me about who God truly is and about myself. I remember the
 time I brought this whole pride thing to Jesus to try and sort it out and
 as I looked up at the cross and saw Him hanging there, I began to see it
so differently. There He was, after he had been beaten, humiliated, spit
 at nailed to a cross and hung there in agony for hours, and all I could
think about is how could that not be enough for my sins? As if I needed
 Him to do something "grander" than that for me.

 We all have our own struggles, but I believe we all carry the same shame,
 guilt and pride. But the good news is God's gifts of mercy and love are
 greater and bigger than any of those things. We just need to be humble
 and gracious enough to accept them.  -V

LIVE ACTION

She had an abortion at 36 weeks gestation, and here’s what she learned
By Theresa Bonopartis | January 27, 2019 , 

Here in New York, legislators in Albany have been trying to pass Reproductive Health Act (RHA), since 2007. It has been a long battle for us, which unfortunately we knew would probably be lost along with the seats this past election.

Tuesday, January 22, 2019, was a grim day in the state of New York not only for unborn babies, but for women too.

As I sat listening to some of the senators voice their reasons for voting for passage of RHA I could not help but think of the many women we serve each year here in New York that are devastated from a prior abortion. Each year, Lumina receives close to two hundred requests from people who have been suffering emotionally, spiritually and sometimes physically, and I am sure that is only the tip of the iceberg since most women stay shrouded in silence and shame for years before coming forward for help.

Sen. Brad Hoylman, from Manhattan, told the story of a woman named Erica, who he said was inconvenienced when she had to travel out-of-state to have a late-term abortion. Hoylman argued that New York owed Erica an apology for forcing her to look out-of-state to find legal third-term abortions.

 

the rest is here

Upcoming Events - Healing from Abortion

Detailed info is on the clickable flyers, or you can call or email Lumina: 877 586 4621    lumina@postabortionhelp.org  
for further information.

 

March 1-3, 2019 – Entering Canaan Mercy Retreat “The Grace of Abandonment"
Stirling, New Jersey (full-wait list)
This is our yearly “Mercy” retreat for those who have been on the journey to healing and wish to go deeper into the wound.

March 9, 2019 - Afternoon of Prayerful Remembrance 

Diocese of Kansas City-ST Joseph, Missouri
1:30pm-3:00pm Contact: Teresa 816-591-3804

March 29-31, 2019 – Entering Canaan Hope & Healing Weekend
The Hope & Healing weekend is a deeper look at issues that people struggle with around healing from abortion, including issues such as the difference between shame and humility, self-forgiveness, and allowing God to love you.

August 16-18, 2019 – Entering Canaan Sibling Retreat Weekend
Lumina’s “Entering Canaan weekend retreat for Siblings” provides a safe refuge for those who have lost a sibling through abortion as they share their feelings and work through some of the issues surrounding their lost brother or sister. The retreat is place where they are free to be themselves and find out they are not alone as they share the experience with others who have also suffered this loss. (Scholarships are available)

www.enteringcanaan.com

www.postabortionhelp.org

Running Away From God

Certainly something we all do when we do not want to face our abortions...a beautiful witness of turning around and running towards

 

Allowing God to Love Us

I am very excited to be adding some guest bloggers to the site to share experiences of their healing journey's. Here is a beautiful reflection by V on healing through the Blessed Sacrament.

 

For many of us there is so much guilt and shame that comes with having an abortion. We try to bury those feelings and keep ourselves "filled" and
busy in an effort not to face the pain. If there is one thing, I have learned over these years it is how necessary it is to stop the filling and
begin the *emptying* so that the *miracle of healing* can occur.

About 11 years ago, I decided to make time in my day to sit and pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament. This was extremely foreign to me being that
I didn't have a very strong faith to begin with. At this time, I had been to a few "Entering Canaan" retreats and had even begun volunteering at a soup kitchen, joined a bible study and lead a rosary at a nursing home. And even though serving God in this way helped, interiorly I still suffered.

Initially, I would just sit for a few minutes and say a quick prayer. However, as time went by, I stopped reciting prayers and learned how to be still and allow myself to feel what was stirring up inside of me. I began to remember all the things I had been trying to forget and run from. There were many days that I couldn't stop crying as He emptied me of all the shame and guilt I had been carrying. And then one day I realized that there were no more tears left as I had finally given it all up to Him while I was with Him. I never believed I could come to such a place where I was able to finally accept His mercy and forgiveness. What He had done for me and in me was a miracle.

Not too long ago, while sitting in prayer I thought about the first miracle Jesus performed during the wedding feast at Canaan. And then I thought how ironic...It wasn't until the bottles of wine were* empty *that the* miracle *occurred.
Coincidence? I think not.

Murder or Mercy? God is Mercy Himself !

No one needs to remind those of us who have had an abortion that we rejected the gift of life God gave us. They were our children. Despite that, God still longs to join us together. To have us "reclaim" them.

It is not easy. We are often called murderers, and many would like us to dwell in our misery in what they see as a just punishment. They are right. But that is not God's desire. His desire is for us to allow Him into our lives and for us to experience His mercy. His desire is for us to embrace the children we aborted and who are now safely in the arms of Our Lady, praying for our conversion. 

I know beyond reason, the most powerful voices for the unborn are their mothers and fathers who mourn. Today at the Supreme Court many of those voices will be heard through Silent No More as they share the pain of abortion and reach out to others so they can learn of Gods mercy.

These women and men live each day knowing what they lost, having often given in to the lies of our society which misrepresents abortion, but the amazing thing about God's goodness is no matter what the circumstances He is there waiting to bring them peace and forgiveness.

It can be difficult at times to hold on to the truth of God's mercy, especially when you know the things people are throwing at you are true, but this is not about us. It is about a God who loves, who forgives and longs to give us His mercy.

It is about reconciliation, forgiveness, and the embrace of true love. It is about willingly suffering in reparation for our sins, not out of guilt or because we deserve it, but because we have been touched by Mercy Himself!

None of us will ever forget the babies we aborted. They are etched in our souls and hearts. Honestly, I would not want to forget. But we must cling to the forgiveness of God despite what some people say, despite what some people would like us to believe, despite what the devil throws at us, or those who think they know better than us. Despite our very own feelings, because all that matters in the end is the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ who died for our sins and longs to embrace us in His mercy.

Post Abortive? March for Life & Abortion News getting to you?

 

The March for Life is in a couple of days and the 46th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision of Roe vs Wade, is right around the corner. Since that time,  60 million unborn babies have lost their lives to abortion, not to mention the devastation to millions of women, men and siblings.

This time can be particularly difficult for those new to healing, or those still living in the silence and shame of abortion, feeling crazy and all alone. For many, it is an excruciatingly painful time, which may cause them to isolate. The distress often comes from both sides of the issue, leaving them feeling caught in the middle.

So, what should you do if you are struggling with the upcoming March & anniversary?
Put on your armor and gather the weapons to help you during this time.!

I certainly do not have all the answers but here are some things that have worked for  many  who have felt the same.

 

•  watching TV or reading an article about it? If it is upsetting you -turn it off or stop reading it. You already know what abortion does.
•  go for a walk
• listen to music
• read a good book
• watch a movie 
• pick up the phone and call someone who understands, a counselor, someone from ministry, or another person who will help you
• besieged by pain, regret, guilt, anger, rage...acknowledge your feelings-its okay, they are normal, just don't act on them…again, pick up the phone so you can process them with someone who understands!
• pray and seek direction before going front and center at these things ...remember, we need to do God's will for us, not our own will! Some feel they need to do these things in order to heal. This is not true and in fact can be harmful if you are not ready.
• pray, pray and then pray some more...remember the agony in the garden...Jesus gets it!

Jesus knows, He sees, He loves you and longs to heal you!

There is no doubt abortion will continue to be a controversial issue. It has always been controversial, which leads to the question, if it is so good and okay to have an abortion, why is there never any peace surrounding it?

In spite of the fact that the feelings of those who have been hurt by abortion continue to be ignored and rejected in many venues (even the APA), the truth is, there are millions of us out there. Abortion will never be a settled issue, but healing from abortion is always possible. Remember that.

If you have not gone for healing please go! Check out the list of resources below.

The victory is already won through Jesus Christ!
Jesus we trust in you!

Post Abortion Help
Women's Resources
Entering Canaan
Entering Canaan is comprehensive post abortion ministry consisting of Day of Prayer & Healing, weekend Retreats and monthly Gatherings. It also includes a yearly "Mercy Renewal Retreat" which enables those involved in the ministry to come aside each year to grow more deeply in their healing and faith. EC has separate retreats for women, men, siblings and those who aborted because of an adverse diagnosis.

Bethesda The House of Mercy
A community of hope and healing for those suffering after an abortion a  ministry of The Community of Jesus, the Living Mercy, a private association of the Christian Faithful and founded by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.

Lumina Hope & Healing After Abortion
A post abortion ministry of Good Counsel, Inc., Lumina provides groups, retreat days, trainings, public speaking, & referrals to post abortion ministries, professional therapists and clergy. 

Forgiven and Set Free
A Bible study for healing.This study was developed out of Linda Cochrane's own experience of being freed from the bondage of guilt and grief that followed her abortion. Forgiven and Set Free guides suffering and hurting women to bring their emotional scars from abortion "out of the dark past and into his holy light," where true and lasting healing can take place. Appropriate Scriptures help women deal with issues such as relief, denial, anger, forgiveness, depression, letting go, and acceptance.

Rachel's Vineyard
Weekend retreats offer you a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal and healing. Rachel's Vineyard retreats combines a unique and creative process for psychological and spiritual healing.

Deeper Still
Deeper Still hosts weekend healing retreats for both women and men who have experienced or participated in an abortion as the mother or father of the child. We have 3 retreats a year plus a Chinese retreat at our homebase in Knoxville, TN as well as retreats happening around the country in our 10 Deeper Still Chapters! Enjoy looking around the website and please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have through

Ramah International
Designed to help women find a way to God’s healing after making the devastating choice of abortion. Written by a post-abortive woman, Sydna Masse, it includes testimonies of strength, healing and hope. Sydna compassionately leads you on the difficult journey through denial, anger, and grief, to forgiveness, redemption, and letting go. Her Choice to Heal offers a road map to healing – Assistance for those hurting from post abortion syndrome through communication, resources, and local referrals.

Project Rachel
The Catholic Church's healing ministry for those who have been involved in abortion.
National Office of Reconciliation and Healing
A network of researchers and psychotherapeutic professionals working in the field within the U.S. and abroad, consulting on the formation of post-abortion support services within secular and religious settings.

Abortion Recovery International
ARIN is an affiliate association, dedicated to connecting and assisting like-minded abortion recovery centers, programs and services; as well as individuals working within the field.

Men's Resources
Entering Canaan Men's Ministry
Fatherhood Forever
House of Esau Ministries
Misty Mountain
Reclaiming Fatherhood

The latest segment of my quarterly shows on "Love Will End Abortion" radio with Jim Havens.

http://lovewillendabortion.com/theresa-bonopartis-lumina-hope-healing-after-abortion/?fbclid=IwAR1UlePcM1QNPQzTOc_2pb3Cw2G_1293L8c2RE3uFqcsyp4B2BPkQQARbZs

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I want to be a door keeper

“Put yourself in God’s hands; He abandons no one.” St Andre

Yes, that is right, a door keeper...just think, Blessed Solanus Casey and  St Andre Bessette were both door keepers!

Today is the feast day of St Andre Bessette who  has always been one of my favorites. A Brother of the Congregation of the Holy Cross in Canada he was known as a miracle worker and had  a strong devotion to St Joseph. His dream was to build a shrine to St Joseph and St Joseph's Oratory in Montreal http://www.sacred-destinations.com/canada/montreal-st-josephs-oratory is the realization of that dream.

If you do not know about him and his healings, look him up...pray to this humble Brother to intercede for your healing...

 

EC Hope & Healing Retreat -CT