The Rachel Rosary, by Rev. Larry Kupferman, is beautiful and heartbreaking. It’s an intercessory prayer for victims of post-abortion syndrome, and in this, the month of the Rosary and respect life month, seems to be the time to share it with you and invite you to pray with me for an end to abortion and healing for those who have been involved in abortions.
The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion
At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. These women had followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him. There were also many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. (Mark 15:33-41)
We pray this decade, keeping in mind the many types of death that accompany abortion; but at the same time we hold fast to the hope that is always offered by God and is so desperately needed by those who suffer the pain of Post-Abortion Syndrome.
Our Father…
Ten Hail Marys
1. For the child who dies in the womb of his or her mother. Hail Mary…
2. For the young mother who dies as a result of an abortion procedure. Hail Mary…
3. For the spiritual death of a woman who undergoes an abortion procedure. Hail Mary…
4. For the death of a relationship between a young woman and her lover as a result of an abortion experience. Hail Mary…
5. For the marriage that dies as a result of an abortion. Hail Mary…
6. For the death of the dreams of a young girl who is stifled by her feelings of guilt. Hail Mary…
7. For the many small deaths that occur over and over again in the life of the woman or man who cannot accept the healing forgiveness of God. Hail Mary…
8. For the emotional death of a man who would abandon his lover and his child as a matter of convenience. Hail Mary…
9. For the physician who uses his life-giving training to terminate the lives of children in the womb. Hail Mary…
10. For the moral death of the clinic counselor who spends his days counseling women to kill their babies. Hail Mary…
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, it is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
