Day 21: Thank you to Triumph of the Holy Cross parish, Jefferson County Christian Academy, Divine Mercy parish and Saint Matthew parish, Shaler

Jeremiah 31:15 “Thus saith the Lord, A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.” Speaking these words of scripture has always been a little difficult for me. They get stuck in my throat like a ball of emotion and reality that comes from a deeper understanding of the carnage that abortion has been for so many women. The reality that life will never be the same for a Mother whose child has died through a procured abortion. The pain that will stay with her all the days of her life. Mourning and weeping without consolation in spiritual darkness; with regret and heartache; grieving for the child who is no more.

Bible commentaries speak of the name Rachel standing as the woman who is Mother to the Hebrew children, taken away in the Babylonian captivity. She mourns and intercedes for them before God. The verse is heard again, most especially on December 28th, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, in the first pages of the New Testament, Matthew 2:18. Shortly after the birth of our Savior, Herod sends his soldiers to kill all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to murder the Christ child spoken of by the three wise men. Studies of the number of boys under two years of age killed by the sword, based on the population in Bethlehem at that time, range from four to thirty. This is an historical event that speaks of a barbaric reality. Destroying by the sword also brings to mind our great struggle against the killing in the womb and speaks to the bloody event of a surgical abortion. We pray and hope for an end to this modern barbarism and a time when the joys of being a parent will replace the lie: life is better after the pregnancy is terminated. After the child is no more.

Thankfully hope and healing are available for Mothers who have bought into the deceptive and tragic lie that ends the life of a developing baby. There are a number of organizations offering a path to healing, and a chance to overcome the guilt. Project Rachel is one option, named for the very Mother spoken of in the scriptures, offering counseling for parents who are mourning their loss. The opening statement of the Project Rachel web page reads: “It’s normal to grieve a pregnancy loss, including the loss of a child by abortion. It can form a hole in one’s heart, a hole so deep that sometimes it seems nothing can fill the emptiness. You are not alone…

Many have found hope and healing, and are brought back to the love, forgiveness, and comfort of our Lord after abortion with the help of counseling at Project Rachel. Pray God that the courageous sidewalk advocates, offering contact information for Project Rachel, will reach all post-abortive women with hope.

-Ken

7:00 – 9:00 AM Tracy

Kevin and Mary Pat from Triumph of the Cross Parish were there bright and early. Jackie came along to advocate and Anthony was present, as well. Bill dropped by briefly.
There were no escorts today. PP appeared to be doing plenty of business and not many stopped to engage in conversation with us. We did see a young couple who appeared undecided or maybe they were intimidated by our presence. They kept passing by across the street or near us halfway down the block. Eventually, we no longer saw them and hoped they’d decided against whatever they’d come for.

9:00 – 11:00 AM Beth

So many wonderful prayers today. Anthony, Kevin, Mimi, Amy, and Father Zywan were at PP for our shift from Triumph of the Holy Cross parish along with Linda, a new Tuesday regular, and Bill. And a million thanks to the teachers and students from Jefferson County Christian School whose presence, prayers, and song saved a cold, dismal day at a cold, dismal place. God bless you all.  The students came in two shifts with beautiful prayers and two part harmony for “Amazing Grace.”  Thanks for taking that hour-long drive to get to PP. 

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Sheila

What a joy it was to be surrounded by a large presence of high schoolers and their teachers from Jefferson County Christian School (Ohio). It definitely irks P.P. when so many life-defenders are out there — the guard kept checking that nobody was crossing into the bubble zone and was throwing obscenities at one of the young men who barely had his foot over the line a few times.

1:00 – 3:00 PM Mike

3:00 – 5:00 PM John

We had some young people come up to us and ask about abortion. We showed them the plastic babies. We prayed the Rosary, Chaplet and Stations to end abortion. We had some heckling and people thanking us. Dave, Bob, John and John. Saint Matthew parish.

5:00 – 7:00 PM Johanna