God's Divine Mercy--Post Abortion Healing "Rachel mourns her children; she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more. Thus says the Lord: Cease your cries of mourning. Wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward. There is hope for your future."--Jeremiah 31:15-17 The Church has always taught through scripture and tradition that God is merciful and forgiving and that we, too, must show mercy and forgiveness. But in the Divine Mercy devotion, the message takes on a powerful new focus, calling people to a deeper understanding that God’s love is unlimited and available to everyone. The message of mercy is that God loves us no matter how great our sins. He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy. It is a message we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC. A — Ask for His Mercy. God wants us to approach Him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and upon the whole world. B — Be merciful. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us. C — Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love He had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), raises us up with Him…that in the ages to come He might show us the immeasurable riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” -Ephesians 2:4-7 What does the Church say to women who are experiencing the aftermath of abortion? Pope John Paul II in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) says, "I would 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 definitely 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." Project Rachel is named for the Old Testament figure who wept over the loss of her child. Like Rachel, many women discover that the loss experienced after an abortion leaves them traumatized and inconsolable. In their experience of pain and regret, they long for a merciful and compassionate response from the Catholic Church. Project Rachel is such a response. It is an outreach of the Catholic Church to women who are struggling with the aftermath of abortion. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Evansville offers this counseling service. What services does Project Rachel offer? For Catholics: The central focus of Project Rachel is the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), a privileged place of encounter with God's Mercy, the source of all healing. Through your contact with Project Rachel, you will be able to meet with a priest who will welcome and counsel you in a prayerful atmosphere of respect and sensitivity. Referral for further counseling is also available to help you find continuing support in the healing process. For Non-Catholics: Project Rachel will enable you to meet a pastor who will assist you in healing spiritually and you can meet with a specially trained counseling professional. So if you are hurting because of an abortion experience - whether you have had an abortion, have helped someone else to obtain one, or have been professionally involved as an abortion advocate or provider; if you yearn to be reconciled with yourself, with your unborn children, with your church and with God; and if you desire to be made whole again by the power of God's forgiving love...please call 812-423-1445 (Evansville, Indiana) or the National Referral Line of the Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing: 1-800-5WE-CARE. ALL CONTACTS ARE CONFIDENTIAL. *For more information about The Divine Mercy Devotion, please log onto EWTN and www.marian.org Back to homepage
|
