Marian Helper Summer 2013

“T he emotions that come out when you see or touch something that you have never been able to touch before are so deep, so powerful. I finally feel at peace with my daughter who was never born,” Antoinette said just after seeing the tile she had created as a memorial for her daughter at the Shrine of the Holy Innocents on Eden Hill in Stockbridge, Mass. “To give her a proper, faithful Catholic memorial is so overwhelming, but it’s a great feeling.” More than 30 years ago, Antoinette was in a very dark place. She had abandoned the Church. During that time, she had an abortion. “I had pushed my feelings about the loss of my baby deep down until I learned about Divine Mercy,” Antoinette said. “When I realized how merciful God is, that He has forgiven me for what in my mind is the worst sin you could ever commit, I knew I needed to do something for my daughter whom I never got to meet.” She says God’s mercy led her to the Shrine of the Holy Innocents. “My sister was sending me a lot of prayer- cards from the Marians Fathers. Then, I saw in your magazine that the Marians had a shrine for children who had died at an early age or before birth,” she said. On April 7, Divine Mercy Sunday, Antoinette was able to see her tile for the first time. “It was just the perfect day to come see my daughter’s tile,” she said. “I feel so inspired and relieved about so many things. Spiritually, to know there is a beautiful shrine for children who have died gives me great peace. “I felt so guilty for so long, something like 30 years, but coming to this shrine and to be with my daughter and give her this tribute … this is the best memorial that I could think of.” In fact, Antoinette believes that even her visit to the shrine was part of God’s mercy. “I didn’t know how I would get here or how I would even find my tile. But after praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, a friend called to tell me that our church had decided to put a bus trip together for Divine Mercy Sunday this year. I knew I was going on that trip to see my daughter’s tile.” Like Antoinette, benefactors can have the name of a deceased child etched on a glass tile or on a candle rack. You may also include your name or someone whose pro-life witness you want to honor on a plaque for “Protectors of the Sanctity of Life.” The children memorialized at the shrine and their families are remembered daily in the Holy Mass, the Rosary for Life, and during the Hour of Great Mercy at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, and in special Masses on Dec. 12, (the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe), Dec. 28 (the feast of the Holy Innocents), and on the third Saturday in July. To learn more about these and other opportunities, please call Father Joseph’s Assistants for Special Gifts at 1-800-671-2020 or visi t MemorialsOnEden Hill.org. Antoinette touches her daughter’s tile for the first time at the Shrine of the Holy Innocents on Divine Mercy Sunday. It meant so much to her. MH by Andrew Leeco A NDREW L EECO Shrine of the Holy Innocents Back to Index