Dec
12
Miracles Do Happen
December 12, 2007 |
I knew that Our Lady of Guadalupe (whose feast the Church celebrates today) is the Patroness of the Unborn. But I didn’t realize the significance until I read One Bread, One Body today. The reflection discusses a certain pregnant, unmarried teenage girl who was poor and just starting out in life. Yet, she gave birth to the child, married a wonderful man, became a exemplary mother, and faithfully followed God and Christ throughout her life.
Of course, that pregnant teen was Mary - her son is Christ - her husband was St. Joseph - and because she followed God’s call, she changed the history of man.
But, what would happen if Mary came today in the same circumstances? She would, of course, do the exact same thing. But imagine the cultural pressures she would be under to have an abortion. She would be told that she would be ruining her life (and her baby’s life) if she had the baby; that the ”fetus” was really just a bundle of flesh and not a person; that there wouldn’t be any consequences to her exercising her constitutional reproductive rights. That abortion was the “right” thing to do.
I have a confession to make - I was placed for adoption when I was born and ended up not being adopted until I was an older child. I’m sure my birth mother received advice that she was better off aborting me. But, she placed me in the care of the Sisters of Charity - so I’m guessing that she really didn’t give a great deal of thought to this advice.
And, of course, I’m glad she didn’t listen. I have birth defects - those first years of my life (my ”Orphan Years”) were hard and still play a pivotal role in my life. But I thank God every day that I’m alive and that my birth mother cared enough to give this unwanted child a chance at life. And I bet my two children are also thankful that their unknown grandmother listened to the right voices.
And I’m tired of the abortion lobby’s disingenious talk about constitutional rights. Abortion is big business and largely unregulated. A certain non-profit pulls down millions from government grants and other sources. Doctors and abortion clinic owners are getting rich off of killing unborn children.
But this business never wants to talk about the fact (yes, the fact) that we are dealing with human life - my life - the life of all of the “unwanted” children that, unlike me, are not given a chance at life.
And Mary, our mother, cries over each death. And she is working to change the hearts, minds and souls of those who are contemplating abortions, those who are performing abortions, and those who are advocating on behalf of the abortion lobby.
And we must pray and pray and pray. Eventually, we will turn the tide and unborn children will receive the same dignity and rights shared by us all - the same dignity and right to live that my mother shared with me.
It may seem like a miracle is needed but miracles do happen - just ask St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe.
