There is a beautiful Eucharistic prayer in our faith that goes like this, ‘When we were sinners and could not find our way to you, you loved us more than ever.” How beautiful, that when we were lost, He loved us more than ever. Not when we became what we saw as “ok”, but when we were sinners & lost. What love.
I think there are few as “lost” as those suffering from a past abortion. They feel as though there is no forgiveness for their sin; they feel condemned forever. It is only God’s love and mercy that can free them.
Saint Faustina Kowalska's diary, “Divine Mercy in My Soul”, tells of words spoken to her by Christ: "Let the greatest sinners place their trust in my mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My daughter, write about My mercy towards tormented souls. Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than asked. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to my compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in my unfathomable and inscrutable mercy."
Years ago the USCCB asked me to put my testimony into words for them so that they could include it in their yearly Respect Life Month packet to be distributed across the United States. Once printed, I was sent a copy of the witness. I always end my witness talk with the quote from St Faustina’s diary above. I know it is the mercy of God that has healed me from my abortion and it is this same mercy that heals each one of those who come to us, but, I will never forget my mortification when I opened my witness up. There before me it was, with the title “Divine Mercy in My Soul”. The same title of the autobiography of St Faustina!
I loved the book of St Faustina’s diary and have read it often. This saint of mercy so pure and holy! And they had given the witness of my life, so different from St Faustina’s, the same name as her diary! I was completely mortified and began panicking. This was going to be all over the country…what would people thinking! I quickly called my spiritual director not knowing what to do. Thinking he would advise me on a way to fix this, I proceeded to make an appointment to see him. However, I got a completely different response than the one I had hoped for.
”Theresa, It is Divine Mercy In Your Soul. Accept the title in humility, for your story is not about you, but about the love and mercy of God. ”
How true…God works in each of us in different ways according to our needs…but it is His mercy in each one of our souls that brings us all to HIM no matter what our experiences.
The tag for Lumina says “Lumina-a ray of light in abortions darkness”. Christ and His Divine Mercy is that light. One of my favorite books, “In the Arms of Mary” by S.C. Beila, has a line that says, “Only when you believe that you are loved will you adapt, in the face of overwhelming difficulties, the attitude of a child, who with trust, presents oneself before its Father. You will then find the courage to learn in a deeper way about the abyss of your own wretchedness.”
By leading those who come to us to the love and mercy of God and helping them to develop a personal relationship with Him, they are then able to look at the “wretchedness” of their abortion. Safely encompassed in His mercy, they are able to see the truth about themselves without despairing, because they know in their hearts what He has done for them. It it this shelter of Divine Mercy that I believe, as Pope John Paul II speaks about in the Gospel of Life when he addresses those post abortive.
“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. You will come to understand that nothing is definitively lost and you will also be able to ask forgiveness from your child, who is now living in the Lord. 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.”
And so, I dare to say DIVINE MERCY HIMSELF brings those post abortive out of themselves and to Him and we at Lumina and Entering Canaan are called to be a sign of His Divine Mercy in all we say and do with those we serve.
reprint from 2009
