Requiem for the Unborn

The 4th annual Requiem Mass for the Unborn will take place at the Cathedral in Los Angeles this Saturday at 7:30pm, celebrated by Cardinal Mahony in memory of victims of abortion. It doesn't look like I will be able to make it, unfortunately. The Tidings article makes some interesting points:

Last year, said Sister Callanan, a teenager and her mother were among the worshippers healing from the pain of abortion. The teenager, who hadn't confided in her mother when she got pregnant and had an abortion, had since told her mother. At the liturgy the two of them walked together and placed a candle on the altar in memory of the lost child and grandchild.

Abortion also affects siblings very profoundly, said Sister Callanan, as children miss the brother or sister who was conceived but never born. Last year one surprised mother turned to Sister Callanan for counseling because her son kept saying he was missing his sister, even though the mother hadn't told the son about the abortion.

Sister Callanan said that numerous times it has been observed that children somehow know that someone is missing from the family. In this particular family, the mother acknowledged the abortion to her son, and then the two of them attended last year's Mass to bring a candle to the altar and honor the sister that was never allowed to be born.

And let's not forget that men are also affected in the aftermath of abortion:

Deacon Thomas Brandlin, who also works with Project Rachel to provide post-abortion counseling to couples and to men, said men often experience two emotions following an abortion --- rage and guilt.

"They are furious because either they weren't told about the abortion or they had no say in it, and they really wanted the child. They feel betrayed," said Deacon Brandlin. "Or they feel guilt because they promoted the abortion or did nothing to prevent it. Now they've seen what damage it's done to the mother and to themselves."

Of course, with repentance, we find that the mercy of God is greater and deeper than the worst of our sins.