Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

About 8 years ago, I was given a letter from a priest that he had received from a woman who was 93 years old. She was suffering from a abortion she had had when she was in her 20's. She had been carrying around the guilt, shame and despair in secret for almost 70 years.

The woman had seen the priest on TV and did not live in our area. She wrote to him asking if God in  His Mercy could ever forgive her for the abortion. She had been to confession years before, but was still tormented by it, and knew her days on earth would not be long…she longed for Christs peace.

I began to correspond with this woman. She was such a delight and so grateful for the message for Gods Mercy with abortion and to learn, although at a very late age, the dynamics of post abortion trauma and they ways in which to deal with it.

Like many women still today, even when psychological help is sought they are told "to forget about it", "it is in your past","a lot of women get abortions", move on with your life". The refusal of society to acknowledge the impact of abortion is a huge disservice to women. One they are just beginning to speak up about. After years of thinking they are crazy for their feelings, they are now realizing society is the one who is crazy for even thinking you can kill your own child and not have it bother you. It is about time!

I corresponded with this woman for a long time, then, I received a letter telling me not to write anymore. She had to give up her home and move in with one of her children and she did not want them to know about the abortion she had had so many years before. She was fearful of them finding a letter, and so our correspondence ended.

I am sure this woman, who touched my heart in a profound way, has passed onto a better life. I am also sure she died knowing Gods great love and Mercy for her.

There are many women like her still out there. Carrying the pain of abortion around for decades. Some manage to find us and come in if they are able. Others carry their secret to the grave…pray for these women on this wonderful feast of Mercy, that God may settle their hearts with His love and that they may rest in His peace.