Reclaiming Our Children

July 2019 - Men's Day

Hosted by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

And Lumina/Hope & Healing after Abortion

Workshop for Young Adult Group

Day Of Mourning

The state of New York just voted to expand abortion access right up to the birth of the baby! To celebrate this unbelievable
depravity they lit the One World Trade Center in pink! Women used to celebrate motherhood and find joy in their children. Today, in places like New York City, they are taking joy in destroying their children. The state of New York has crossed a line of inhumanity that should drive us to our knees. Forty-six years of the state-sanctioned killing of our most helpless and defenseless children should cause us to weep, to mourn, and to take action. What is to be thought of a society that kills her own children? What will the future be of such a heartless society that celebrates such barbaric inhumanity?
“If the foundations be destroyed what shall the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3) We are calling for a national Day of Mourning and repentance. We are in desperate need for God to move upon the hearts of young and old in our nation. If our hearts do not break over the killing of these little image bearers of God in the womb, then how can we expect those growing up in this lost, confused and decadent culture to take our message seriously? Join us February 23rd for a "Day of Mourning.”
- WEAR BLACK
- DON'T SHOP
- CLOSE BUSINESSES
- REPENT FOR ABORTION

Check out the site: Day of Mourning 

Our Abortion "Boils"

We were all touched by the image of Pope Francis embracing the man with a timorous disease. We could empathize with the suffering the man must endure because of this genetic disorder. He surely must be shunned by many, an outcast, suffering on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.  But, more than that, our hearts were moved to see the Pope’s compassion as he kissed the man's head and blessed him.

 

It is a double edged sword… empathizing because we are happy for the man and if it were us, we would want and long for that embrace, and yet in the face of it we are confronted with our own failings.  Would we be able to do the same? Could we be the face of Jesus to this man?  Sadly, for most of us, the answer is probably, "no."

Pope Francis is challenging us to be the Face of Christ. He is calling us out of ourselves as Jesus did with those He walked with. It brings to mind the story of the leper in the Bible, who was shunned by the people, but who, in his suffering and great faith, cried out to Jesus for healing.  “Lord, if you are willing, make me clean. “ Jesus moved with compassion touched him and said, “I am willing. You are made clean."

Being post abortive, we can sometimes feel like the man in the picture or the leper in the Bible.  Our “boils” may not be visible and we have them as the result of something we did ourselves, but the suffering on emotional, spiritual, and sometimes physical levels can be great.

We often live in denial or deep shame, acting out in ways we do not even know are a result of our abortion experience.

Most of us have felt the judgment of others and heard the shouts of murderer, or perhaps just as bad, the voices who tell us abortion is no big deal.  Most of the time, we hide the truth of our abortions for fear of this judgment, but even though people may not know about our personal experience we hear the voices and they lay hidden in the recesses of our minds. We long for healing, but are terrified of both the judgment and the attempts to make the “stigma” go away and abortion a common experience.

As we look upon the embrace of the Pope, we can relate. We may be the silent sufferer who longs for that compassion and empathy, desiring the healing touch of the hand of Jesus. The Pope's actions make that desire seem possible. We may also be someone who has already experienced that embrace through those who have been that face of Christ to us whether it was a priest or a lay person.

Recently, I read an article about how some of the faithful feel Pope Francis has embraced sinners too much, forgetting about the faithful. It reminded me of one of my favorite scenes in the film “Jesus of Nazareth” when Jesus goes to the house of Matthew the tax collector to eat with him. Peter was very against this. He did not feel that Christ should be associated with these “sinners” and decided not to go, but then followed Jesus and stood in the courtyard outside the house. It is a poignant scene as we watch Peter as he listens to Jesus tell the story of the Prodigal Son.  Tears fill his eyes and suddenly he has an understanding of the fact that Jesus came to call sinners and he joins them in Matthew's house.

For sure, we are, each of us, sinners. Some of us may be very far from God, others close by, but still falling short of what it is we are meant to be. Like the man, and the leper, may we each put our trust in Him knowing He wills to heal each one of us no matter what “boils” we may have.  It is then that we will have the ability to embrace every man because we know how Jesus has, in His compassion, touched us.  ~TB

 

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Perfect Love

On this Valentines Day may you immerse yourself in the two hearts beyond all others.

The source of true love, forgiveness and mercy!

Blessed Valentines Day!

Steubenville entering Canaan Retreat

Nani Chineke

Light today with this beautiful song by Fr Tansi…enjoy

Hey, I will glorify HIm!...

 

 

Afternoon of Prayerful Remembrance Diocese Kansas City March 9th

Kansas City Afternoon of Prayerful Remembranc

Yes, Good Women Do Have Abortions, but Abortion Is Never Good

When I met Mary she was in her fifties. Mary had suffered from postpartum depression upon the birth of her sons. In those days, depression was treated with hospitalization and shock treatment. It was a difficult time for her family.  When she became pregnant again, her husband told her she needed to get an abortion or he would leave her. He did not feel it was fair to the family, especially her two young children, to take the risk of her being hospitalized again. Mary gave in to the pressure and aborted her unborn child.

Kathy’s husband was an alcoholic. She was struggling to raise and support their children alone. Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, she panicked. She did not see any way she would be able to continue the pregnancy and still take care of the children she had. Sadly, Kathy chose abortion, thinking it was a solution.

Beth and Tom were told their baby had deformities. Her doctors and other people made Beth feel that it would be selfish to bring the pregnancy to term.  The couple caved in to the pressure and aborted their child.  They have lived with that decision every day since.

St. John Paul II said to post abortive women in the Gospel of Life, “I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To the same Father and his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone's right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life.”

While we know abortion is never the answer and is always wrong, we are called to be a sign of God’s mercy and forgiveness to those who have made this terrible decision in their lives. While some women make a mockery of abortion, we need to remember that unless they experience the love of God they are unable to look at their abortions, and so it is necessary for them to rationalize, justify, and even embrace what they have done.

It is disturbing to read the words of many who condemn those involved in abortion.  It is something they have done, not who they are. They are children of God and should be treated with dignity. No one will be moved to repentance by the judgment of those who proclaim them murderers or who like to believe they care more about their children then they did. Many women think of their aborted children every day of their lives.

Years ago when a priest became involved in post abortion ministry, he said to me after his first retreat, ”These are such good women. I do not know what I expected, but God has taught me something here.” Good women sometimes do bad things.

 Jesus came to earth for the salvation of souls. He suffered, died, and rose again because he loves us and wants us all to be with Him for eternity, babies and parents alike. We have the ability to be the face of Christ in this world, not the face of despair and judgement. Which one do you choose?

In the end, you may find that you yourself have spiritually aborted many souls from God for eternity by your words.

The Tracks of My Tears

I am sure some of you will remember the old Smokey Robinson song "The Tracks of My Tears."

People say I'm the life of the party
'Cause I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty            
Deep inside I'm blue

So take a good look at my face
You know my smile looks out of place
If you look closer it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears

As someone who had an abortion over thirty years ago, I remember how the words of this song expressed the feelings I was having and the deep pain inside that I hide from the rest of the world. On the outside, it may have looked like I was “the life of the party," but "deep inside” I was more than blue. I was suffering with suicidal ideation, depression, and self loathing.

These days the song may not be popular, but the feelings expressed by it’s lyrics are still felt by countless men and women suffering from a past abortion. The shame associated with abortion keeps many women and men hiding the "tracks of their tears” for fear someone will find out they have participated in the death of their child.

Do you know someone who may be suffering from an abortion? We challenge you to “look closer” and trace the tracks of their tears in order to offer them the help they need to heal!         

T Bonopartis

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Are you living in darkness and depression after an abortion?
Unable to get past the pain of your loss?
There is Hope.  There is Healing.  There is a way out of the darkness.
Email us at [email protected]
Call us at 1-877-586-4621