Mourn for the Unborn

Amen, amen I say to you my brothers and sisters, each one of us came through the choice of our mother.

As we think about this today, I ask you for your thoughts and prayers tomorrow (Saturday) as many people walk for life through the streets of San Francisco. I ask you to remember all the lives that did not get to see the world and all the people who are affected by abortion, physically and emotionally and spiritually.

Recently I have begun reading “The Faith of the Early Fathers” which is composed of ancient letters of the Early Church Fathers dated from the early centuries. The first document of volume 1 is called the “Didache” or “Teaching of the Twelve Apostles”. Among other commandments the document reads:

“You shall not procure abortion, nor destroy a new-born child.”

I was astounded to see that this teaching was to be found in such an early document of the Church. I was under the impression that, other than despotic leaders trying to kill babies, that this issue was a more modern issue. And in reading this statement, I am led to infer that even in ancient times, people, other than rulers, were killing the unborn.

I was once one of those that didn’t take the time to mourn the unborn; it never became a personal aspect of my spiritual life. Then I began to think about it more and more, and one day I was out praying for a pastor who was jailed for being in front of an abortion clinic, and I began to weep for the souls of the unborn. They are voiceless. They can’t scream when they’re being killed. I began to internalize this pain and this helplessness.

In listening to some speakers, I’ve heard there is a lady who is one who survived an abortion. I looked up her story, an abortion performed at 7 ½ months. This is her story:

Gianna Jessen
Testimony of abortion survivor Gianna Jessen before the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee on April 22, 1996.

My name is Gianna Jessen. I am 19 years of age. I am originally from California, but now reside in Franklin, Tennessee. I am adopted. I have cerebral palsy. My biological mother was 17 years old and seven and one-half months pregnant when she made the decision to have a saline abortion. I am the person she aborted. I lived instead of died.
Fortunately for me the abortionist was not in the clinic when I arrived alive, instead of dead, at 6:00 a.m. on the morning of April 6, 1977. I was early, my death was not expected to be seen until about 9 a.m., when he would probably be arriving for his office hours. I am sure I would not be here today if the abortionist would have been in the clinic as his job is to take life, not sustain it. Some have said I am a "botched abortion", a result of a job not well done.
There were many witnesses to my entry into this world. My biological mother and other young girls in the clinic, who also awaited the death of their babies, were the first to greet me. I am told this was a hysterical moment. Next was a staff nurse who apparently called emergency medical services and had me transferred to a hospital.
I remained in the hospital for almost three months. There was not much hope for me in the beginning. I weighed only two pounds. Today, babies smaller than I was have survived.
A doctor once said I had a great will to live and that I fought for my life. I eventually was able to leave the hospital and be placed in foster care. I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a result of the abortion.

I’ve never met Gianna, but in looking her up, I discovered she’s not alone. There are other survivors.

Here in the U.S., we use the Roe v. Wade case to support abortion, yet have you ever wondered what ever happened to “Roe.” Who was she and what does she do today? I’ve learned that she is now a supporter of the Pro-life movement. Praise the Father Almighty and the love he works through.

So, my brothers and sisters, I ask for your thoughts and prayers, even if it is for split seconds, for the unborn. Lord willing, we’ll be marching tomorrow in support of the babies and for the people who are facing that choice.

And if the sympathy for the aborted babies and their mothers haven’t penetrated your soul, let us thank the Blessed Mary for not having an abortion. And if that hasn’t penetrated your souls, let us all do something we can all relate to: Giving thanks to our own mothers for choosing life for us.

May the Almighty God bless you: In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.