Our Journey Apart Now Spiritually United

My name is Marie Elizabeth Herrington.  My mom and I have a loving, spiritual connection although she has never held me physically in her arms.  She carries me lovingly in her heart every day.  My earthly life was terminated eight weeks after conception.  Mom made the decision to abort me.  She was a 21-year-old daughter of a Southern Baptist Minister and decided it was best to keep me a secret.  As the years passed she became involved in drugs and encountered multiple failed relationships.  She took a path that would lead her deeper into the abyss of sin.  I prayed even harder for mom during those thirty years as she wandered aimlessly searching for peace and resolution to relieve herself of pain and guilt.

In 1990, God blessed her in great abundance when she met and married my spiritual, adoptive father Don.  After nine years of marriage, Don experienced a conversion of faith and returned to the Catholic Church. Soon he too was praying for my mom. In 2004, our prayers were answered as he sponsored her though RCIA. During her first confession, years of sins including her abortion was revealed and she was confident our Sweet loving Jesus had forgiven her.  Forgiving herself, however, remained difficult and the struggle of remorse and grief remained.  In 2005 she and dad attended a Healing Mass in McClenny with Fr Jose. They were concerned about their granddaughter Courtney, who was three and had not been baptized.  Concerns haunted them as to where her soul would spend eternity if our Father should call her home. They voiced their concerns to Fr Jose after the Mass and were assured Heaven would be her ultimate destination.  Driving home that evening, dad mentioned that he felt all aborted babies ascended directly to heaven.  Hearing the word “aborted” mom realized she had an angel (that would be me) who had been in Heaven for 30 years. It was obvious the spiritual healing during the Mass brought to surface the painful secret that was buried for so many years. Our Sweet Jesus allowed her to feel remorse, grief, sorrow and pain of that terrible decision she had made so many years ago.  Desperate to procure peace to her soul, she and dad decided to visit the Memorial of the Unborn at St. Joseph’s Cemetery to memorialize me.  Scripture was read, and a tiny angel was placed at the Memorial.  Mom could not remember the last name of my biological dad so Don insisted upon giving me his last name. When she visits the Memorial to talk with me, she holds the little angel.  A yearning for additional support and continual spiritual healing became evident as time passed.  It was at that time she made the decision to attend Rachel’s Vineyard, a spiritual retreat for women suffering remorse from their abortions The first evening of the retreat, she was intentionally late and upon arriving wanted to leave immediately. Dad refused to take her home, because he knew more spiritual and emotional healing was needed.  She was afraid to confront her past and her fear of the unknown was uncomfortable. As she lay crying into her pillow on her bed, a sweet, compassionate, counselor entered the room to comfort her and give her much needed reassurance.  She requested mom stay for 30 minutes.  If comfort and support did not present itself, then leaving would be her choice.  Thanks Be to God she listened to the Holy Spirit and remained at the retreat.

Lovingly Yours, Marie Elizabeth Herrington

Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ, if you are suffering from a past abortion, I cannot emphasize the healing you will receive during this beautiful and most blessed Ministry.  During our weekend, we were given the opportunity to honor the lives of our children lost to abortion.  They were given the dignity they deserved for so many years.  Don had contributed monetarily for two abortions many years ago and although his initial intent during the retreat was to play a supportive role for me, he received healing and forgiveness from his past participation.  Since our children were of different biological parents, we were enabled to spiritually adopt each other’s children, both deceased and living during a special Mass.  We currently have a family of angels that we greet each morning with “good morning kids” and request they pray for us throughout the day.

“Be Not Afraid” as our beloved Pope John Paul II tells us. A counselor at Rachel’s Vineyard quoted those same words to me, as I so desperately wanted to leave during my first evening of the Retreat.  Forgiving yourself is the most difficult part.  Knowing Jesus forgives us and our children forgive us will bring comfort and healing. Pray to your deceased children, they are your closest advocates to Jesus. You will always feel the void of your aborted child because they are a part of you, however, that void becomes bearable as you begin to experience our Lord’s mercy and forgiveness. Your child (children) loves you and is praying for you. You deserve to be spiritually connected to your child and bask in the bliss of a spiritual journey together to the Blessed Homeland.  When our Loving Father calls you home, your Angel will embrace you as you enter His Kingdom making your reunion all the more joyous as you join our Precious Lord, Blessed Mother Mary and all the Angels and Saints.

 If you would simply like to talk, please contact us.  We DO know what you are going though.  Rachel Vineyard’s staff is a compassionate, loving Ministry.  Scheduled reunions enable you to connect and receive continued support. You will meet so many brother and sisters sharing the same regret of their decision to abort life. You can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with and all is kept strictly confidential.

We would like to share this prayer with you:

In Loving Memory of Marie Elizabeth, Don Michael and Mary Theresa:

You are now in the presence of God, and in your spotless innocence, which He loves, you can speak to Him with a voice that He will heed.  So with confidence, then, I speak to you.  Intercede for me to obtain the favor that I here ask through a child who stands before the throne of God.  But, if what I ask is not according to the wisdom and loving designs of Almighty God for me and others, then ask Him to grant what is best according to His good pleasure and to give me the wisdom and faith to conform my will to His.  Amen.

Our God is a merciful, forgiving, loving God.  May God Bless you always.

Sharon & Don Herrington

Marie Elizabeth

Don Michael Jr.

Mary Theresa

Stephen Michael (living)

Chad Alexander (living)

p.s.  Our granddaughter has been baptized and our son Chad is registered for 2006-2007 RCIA. THANKS BE TO GOD and our family of Angels.