Early Pregnancy Loss and Salvation

[Schana]

I would like to know the official church teaching on the salvation of a soul that was lost prior to being born, whether through ectopic loss or miscarriage. I recently experienced an ectopic pregnancy. Our child died prior to surgery by no outside means, therefore there was no sin in the evacuation. In our grief we have often referred to our child as our own personal saint, since everyone in Heaven is a saint. Is it safe to assume our child went directly to Heaven without Purgatory (since he never sinned against God)?

 

[Jan_Wakelin]

I want to express my sincere condolences regarding the loss of your little one. To lose one at such an early stage brings its own difficulties. Most others probably did not even know you were expecting. Sometimes there may be less outpouring of sympathy when a child is lost so early on. But I know the pain and sense of loss is tremendous for you and your husband.

Regarding your question, it is safe to assume that your child is in God’s loving care. We must leave the rest to the mercy of God. You had no way of baptizing your child. God knows that. He is merciful and he is just. Trust that.

Here is what the *Catechism of the Catholic Church *says:

"As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus’ tenderness toward children which caused him to say: “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them,” allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church’s call not to prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism ( #1261).

May God bless you and your husband.