Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

"Human nature, wounded by original sin, is oriented not toward God, but toward the affirmation of one's own I."  (Open Wide the Door to Christ, pg. 91)

Matthew 2:13-18

When the wise men had departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

"A voice was heard in Ramah,

wailing and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."

If you really take time to meditate on the Holy Innocents whose Feast we celebrate today, not much has changed since that time.

Herod feeling threatened and wanting to affirm his desires ordered the slaughter of the Holy Innocents thinking his position in life would be secure and he would get what he wanted.

Sadly, the “Innocents” are still being slaughtered every day, and many of us are participants in one way or another either directly or indirectly. We can look back at this horrific moment and see it for all of its evil and yet many are blinded to the daily slaughter of innocents from abortion.

I pray we all come to see that true affirmation comes in relinquishing the “affirmation of one’s own “I”, trusting in the One who truly frees and affirms out dignity.

Yet, even in the midst of this terrible event during the Christmas Season, there is room for much rejoicing and cause for peace:

  “Dear children! With great joy, today I am carrying my Son Jesus to you, for Him to give you His peace.

Open your hearts, little children, and be joyful that you can receive it. Heaven is with you and is fighting for peace in your hearts, in the families and in the world; and you, little children, help with your prayers for it to be so.

I bless you with my Son Jesus and call you not to lose hope; and for your gaze and heart to always be directed towards Heaven and eternity. In this way, you will be open to God and to His plans. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

May we find consolation in the thought of our children lost through abortion embraced by Mary who carries both them and us to her Son to embrace us all with His Mercy and fill us with His joy!