A Deeper Look at the Flawed Healthcare Bill

Details: 09 April 2010

My daughter, know that My Heart is mercy itself. From this sea of mercy, graces flow out upon the whole world. No soul that has approached Me has ever gone away unconsoled. All misery gets buried in the depths of My mercy, and every saving and sanctifying grace flows from this fountain… Sooner would heaven and earth turn into nothingness than would My mercy not embrace a trusting soul.”

These words from the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska (#1777) are a beautiful expression of God’s Divine Mercy, which we celebrate this Sunday. Divine Mercy Sunday provides an excellent opportunity to communicate God’s limitless mercy to post-abortive women and men in particular.

The Church communicates and facilitates God’s mercy to those involved in abortion primarily through an outreach called Project Rachel. Project Rachel is comprised of specially trained clergy and professional counselors who provide individual, confidential counseling and reconciliation to women and men suffering from a past abortion.

In Nebraska, Project Rachel can be accessed by calling 1-800-964-3787. Information on abortion’s emotional and spiritual aftermath is also available online at www.hopeafterabortion.com.

The name of this outreach comes from the Old Testament figure Rachel who “mourns her children” and “refuses to be consoled because her children are no more.” Our Lord, however, tells Rachel to “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)

Project Rachel acknowledges that abortion can be one of the most traumatic experiences in a person’s life. As outlined in our local Project Rachel brochure “feelings of grief, anxiety, guilt and anger are common, not only for the woman who undergoes an abortion, but also for the man involved, relatives, friends, counselors and even medical personnel.

“In many cases, the pain of loss may initially be buried, sometimes for years, but may be manifested by relationship difficulties, depression, or other psychological or spiritual problems. It may even be intensified by a sense of alienation from God and the Church.”

Project Rachel acknowledges that abortion has physical, psychological and spiritual effects, and that knowledge of God’s limitless mercy and love is a significant part of the healing process. Project Rachel allows post-abortive women and men to move toward reconciliation with themselves, their unborn children, their families, their Church and with God.

The foreword of a recently revised Post-Abortion Manual for Priests and Project Rachel Leaders begins with a reference to Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 homily on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul in which he soberly cautioned that “without the healing of souls, without the healing of man from within there can be no salvation for humanity.”

“How essential then to the mission of the Church are the pastoral and apostolic activities that draw women and men burdened by the sin of abortion closer to God’s merciful heart,” the foreword continues. “It is no exaggeration to say that the Church’s ministry of healing and reconciliation after abortion is at the heart of the Church’s mission at this time in her history.”

The foreword concludes by encouraging us to make this most beautiful prayer of St. Claude de la Colombiere, SJ, the spiritual director of St. Margaret Mary, our own:

“Lord, I am in this world to show Your mercy to others.
Other people will glorify You
By making visible the power of Your grace
By their fidelity and constancy to You.
For my part I will glorify You
By making known how good you are to sinners,
That Your mercy is boundless
And that no sinner no matter how great his offences
Should have reason to despair of pardon.
If I have grievously offended You, My Redeemer,
Let me not offend You even more
By thinking that You are not kind enough to pardon me.
AMEN.