For the past two years our parish has held a memorial service on the Mon. after Christmas - the Feast of the Holy Innocents. The Holy Innocents were those baby boys slaughtered by Herod as he tried, in vain, to have the Christ child killed.

A nun at our church asked a couple (who lost their son as a teen) to make this mass specifically for any parent that has lost a child. Sr. Margaret makes a special point to invite us and we've gone both years, it is a beautiful service.

Anyway, Sr. wrote a beautiful prayer that she gave to us yesterday and I wanted to share it here. All of you and your precious babies were in my heart and prayers at this service yesterday and as we did a balloon release. None of our babies will ever be forgotten.

To you, O Lord we humbly entrusted our children,
so precious in your sight.
You took them into your arms and
welcomed them into paradise, where there is no more sorrow, no
weeping nor pain, only the fullness of peace and joy with your Son
and the Holy Spirit.
We are consoled with the knowledge that the children for whom we grieve are cradled in your loving care forever and ever.

Peace to all of you precious triplet mamas in this very stressful season. I know you miss your babies as I miss mine.

Marie

Thank you Marie. That touched my heart.

Karen
Mom to Patrick, William, and our Angel Hunter
7-14-08

Thank you, Marie. That was touching; and a good thing for me to see tonight.

Erika

Mom to:
Matt (1991) Megan (1994) and ^Eric Jr^ Levi and Vivian (2003) at 26 weeks
http://survivingtripletsandteens.blogspot.com

I love this. Thank you.

Too many times foolish people say stupid things like, "God needed another angel..." They have no idea how harmful it is to tell a person that God greedily took their baby away from them. God does not do these things at all.

Instead, when, as a matter of cause and effect (which God has left in place here on earth) our babies go to be with Him, He welcomes them and comforts us. One of my favorite verses remains, "Jesus wept." He was grieving for another person's grief and loss.

This beautiful prayer is such a clear statement of God's love and comfort. Thank you for sharing this.

Cat w/3 Kittens
Caidan, Carina and Caeleigh
Born at 31 weeks, 1/8/04.

Karen, Erika, Cat,

I'm glad you liked this prayer. I not only like the sentiments but I love the fact that Sr. Margaret is so sensitive about the loss of a child. As you all know, anyone who remembers our angels will touch our hearts. She is equally empathetic to those who have lost babies through miscarriage and I find that wonderful as well.

Cat, I remember a TV Special (lame, I know) that had one of the most sensitive comments regarding God and the loss of a child. I think the specific quote was, "God did not take X, He received him." I, too, hate the "God has another angel" comment. I know people mean well but that statement really doesn't build any positive feelings. Now, God grieving with me, God wishing that my son had the opportunity to live bc that is why humans exist - that is comforting and allows me to take solace in the fact that God received him and cradles him and cares for him - though it wouldn't be God's first choice either.

Blessed New Year to you all!

Marie

Marie,
Thanks for sharing. I haven't been here in awhile but my Ari's angelversary is coming up this week and I am revisiting my old haunts.

I wanted to thank you for your support you gave me last year at this time. It meant the world to me. You helped me gain strength to pull through the last few weeks of pregnancy and deliver my sweet survivors. I only hope I could be as helpful to another mom in our horrible position of going further as you were to me.

Much love,
Heather
Mom to Alex, ^Ari^ & Zoi born 2/26/09

Oh Heather, you make my heart ache with your kind words. Many hugs to you this week and as your precious babies birthday approaches.

Thank you so much, you've made my week!

Marie

Marie, It's all true!! You reached out to me, when I needed to hear from a mom like us so badly. I will never forget what you did for me.
Big Hug,
Heather

Heather, I will let you know that it meant a lot to me when you wrote after we'd found out that Caitlin had passed. I feel that there is an extra level of pain to not only lose your child, but to have it happen before you even get to say hello. It helped to know that there was somebody who was going through the same as me.

Amy

Julia, ^Caitlin^ (stillborn due to encephalocele complications) & Gabrielle
30.2 weeks

Thanks for telling me, Amy - I was trying to be as helpful as Marie had been to me. While I hate that we have had to deal with this, I am glad we have each other to keep company. That helps.
Heather

Thanks Marie, that was so comforting.

Jacob, Olivia, Benjamin
30 weeks 1 day