How to help in someone's conversion?

[Monica4316]

Hi,

I’ve been thinking about something… there’s someone I know who is close to me who has had an abortion. From what I’ve understood while talking to her about this, this person is against abortion, but believes that in her case it was the better option. (she was concerned for the health of the child). I can see her view, but I know the Church teaches that abortion is always wrong and that we need to repent of it… I don’t want to judge her, and I don’t know her heart or what God will say, but based on the Church teaching, sometimes I get really worried. Is there anything we can do to help others come closer to God, to repent of sin, convert, etc? I mean besides talking… are there any powerful prayers, novenas, etc? I’ve offered a Mass for her and want to pray and offer “little sacrifices” like what St Therese spoke about… and ask Mother Mary and the Saints to intercede… do you think it is a good idea for me to really trust that God would answer my prayers?

I know that we should primarily care about our own salvation because otherwise we might be tempted to judge others and be blind to our own faults… I by no means consider myself ‘holier’ and I have many sins and many faults to overcome. But since this person is close to me, it really hurts thinking about this.

By the way, this person got baptized many years after getting abortions… is the sin forgiven even without explicit repentance? or should repentance/confession still be there? is it enough that she is against abortion? but it worries me because she believes for her it was the only choice. I don’t know what to think and I really don’t want to judge

What do you think?

thank you

 

[kentuckyliz]

Baptism removes all personal sin.

If she had an abortion annually, then converted, and at Easter Vigil she was baptized (and confirmed and eucharisted), then she died in a horrible car crash on the way home, she’d go straight to heaven.

In fact, if she had repented, and the car crash was on her way to church at Easter vigil, she’d still go straight to heaven–Baptism of Desire.

The “hard cases” are difficult for a lot of people. Was the health problem just a disability? Or something that could be treated?

Don’t distress yourself. Trust the Holy Spirit to enlighten her mind and convict her of sin if it’s relevant. You are not the Holy Spirit.

She may have already discussed this with a priest in confession. Don’t suffer scruples over it.

You may keep an eye out for a Mass of commendation–children lost through miscarriage or abortion. The child has an eternal soul even if never born into this world. Name the child and entrust him or her to the mercy of God and count on the child’s forgiveness and intercession. Our parish has this every once in a while.

If she aborted a child just because it was disabled or Down’s, hopefully if she gets to Know people with disabilities, that will enlighten her mind that people with disabilities have value and deserve life–and society should stand by and support families with children with disabilities.

Even children with severe disabilities who won’t live long should be born and loved and baptized. I have known parents who have had this experience–a great grief, certainly, but also with joy and love and holiness.

Utilitarian morality (certain disabled unproductive people aren’t worthy of life) is infecting this health care reform–due to demographic and economic pressures, I believe we will see more denial of care to the senior citizens. The generation that decided it was OK to abort unwanted babies will find that they’re the unwanted elders about to be euthanized. Chickens, meet roost.

 

[tonyp]

Baptism removes all personal sin.

If she had an abortion annually, then converted, and at Easter Vigil she was baptized (and confirmed and eucharisted), then she died in a horrible car crash on the way home, she’d go straight to heaven.

In fact, if she had repented, and the car crash was on her way to church at Easter vigil, she’d still go straight to heaven–Baptism of Desire.

The “hard cases” are difficult for a lot of people. Was the health problem just a disability? Or something that could be treated?

Don’t distress yourself. Trust the Holy Spirit to enlighten her mind and convict her of sin if it’s relevant. You are not the Holy Spirit.

She may have already discussed this with a priest in confession. Don’t suffer scruples over it.

You may keep an eye out for a Mass of commendation–children lost through miscarriage or abortion. The child has an eternal soul even if never born into this world. Name the child and entrust him or her to the mercy of God and count on the child’s forgiveness and intercession. Our parish has this every once in a while.

If she aborted a child just because it was disabled or Down’s, hopefully if she gets to Know people with disabilities, that will enlighten her mind that people with disabilities have value and deserve life–and society should stand by and support families with children with disabilities.

Even children with severe disabilities who won’t live long should be born and loved and baptized. I have known parents who have had this experience–a great grief, certainly, but also with joy and love and holiness.

Utilitarian morality (certain disabled unproductive people aren’t worthy of life) is infecting this health care reform–due to demographic and economic pressures, I believe we will see more denial of care to the senior citizens. The generation that decided it was OK to abort unwanted babies will find that they’re the unwanted elders about to be euthanized. Chickens, meet roost.

It is not in our judgement that we will say that they go straight to heaven. We look and see the outside action of a person but not the intention. Only God can decide because His the only one who knows the heart of each everyone of us. Every sins that we confessed will always be forgiven but the effect of the sins need to be healed and be purged in Purgatory if we die with such kind of situation.

 

[Monica4316]

thanks for the replies…

one of the reasons I am worried is because this person has never been to Confession and does not attend church, however she was baptized. I can see God working in her life though. I think I need to trust Him and pray…