There is nothing so incredibly painful than to lose a child. Especially when the child is yet to be born. All of the joy, all of the hopes and all of the dreams that build throughout the pregnancy can be snuffed out in an instant. Sometimes it is part of the normal evaluation process. An ultrasound, meant to watch the baby grow and develop, instead shows that the child has gone to God. And Sometimes, it is the horror of sudden bleeding and cramping that announces that the baby has passed away. In either case, it seems that all is lost.
But Faith is a strong antidote. It does not stop the pain, but it allows us to know that God’s Plan is still alive, and that hope is always alive for people who trust in Jesus. Just as Peter did when he jumped out of the boat in today’s Gospel.
Mother Angelica composed a beautiful prayer for this time. I have listed it below.
My Lord, my baby has died!
Why, my Lord – dare I ask why ? It will not hear the whisper of the wind or see the beauty of its parents’ face – it will not see the beauty of Your creation or the flame of a sunrise. Why, my Lord ?
“Why, My child – do you ask ‘why’ ? Well, I will tell you why
You see, the child lives. Instead of the wind he hears the sound of angels singing before My throne. Instead of the beauty that passes he sees everlasting Beauty – he sees My face. He was created and lived a short time so that the image of his parents imprinted on his face may stand before Me as their personal intercessor. He knows secrets of heaven unknown to men on earth. He laughs with a special joy that only the innocent possess. My ways are not the ways of man. I create for My Kingdom and each creature fills a place in that Kingdom that could not be filled by another. He was created for My joy and his parents’ merits. He has never seen pain or sin. He has never felt hunger or pain. I breathed a soul into a seed, made it grow and called it forth.”
I am humbled before you, my Lord, for questioning Your wisdom, goodness, and love. I speak as a fool – forgive me. I acknowledge Your sovereign rights over life and death. I thank You for the life that began for so short a time to enjoy so long an Eternity.
-Mother M. Angelica.
St Catherine, pray for us!
