The Archdiocese of San Francisco Respect Life Ministry has begun an annual Memorial Mass & Healing Service for Miscarriage & Infant Loss.
Catholic San Francisco interviewed Maria Martinez-Mont, coordinator of the Respect Life Ministry of the Office of Human Life & Dignity.
What is the reason for the Mass for Miscarriage & Infant Loss?
The Catholic Church and the archdiocese know it is important to walk alongside those experiencing grief. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offers the healing of the Eucharist and the community of Catholic Christians sharing a graced time with Our Lord. The Mass is a way the Office of Human Life & Dignity can support parents during this difficult time in their lives. The Mass is an acknowledgement of our belief that all lives count, from conception to natural death. This baby, unborn or born, is a human being, and the loss brings the grief of losing a son or daughter. The Church can be present to offer emotional and healing support. By offering a healing Mass, we provide grieving parents a way to heal and get closer to Christ.
How many parents suffer this loss, estimated?
It is estimated that one out of four pregnancies ends in miscarriage. This loss can have a profound effect on the mothers, fathers and families of the children who pass away, and many of us may be unsure how best to respond to those who are hurting.
What are some of the ways miscarriage and infant loss affect mothers and fathers?
It can take a few weeks to a month or more for your body to recover from a miscarriage. Depending on how long you were pregnant, you may have pregnancy hormones in your blood for one to two months after you miscarry. Most women get their period again four to six weeks after a miscarriage.
However, miscarriage includes emotional, relational and spiritual suffering that requires assistance from family, friends and church leaders. The Mass is one way to do that.
Do you have any personal experience with this that you would like to share?
My husband and I personally suffered four miscarriages and it was very hard to experience. We know our first miscarriage was a boy because you can find out if you have the opportunity to test the remains. It was helpful for us to bury our children in the cemetery and have a priest in some instances join us.
Memorial Mass & Healing Service for Miscarriage & Infant Loss
December 4, 2021, 10:30 a.m.
Celebrant: Father Vito Perrone, COSJ
St. Dominic’s Catholic Church
2390 Bush St., San Francisco, CA 94115
More info: Maria Mont Martinez, prolife@sfarch.org
The above comes from a Nov. 23 posting in Catholic San Francisco.
See you say to natural death. But when someone dies a natural death you want to put tubes into them until they die a very unnatural death.
Many of you want to force a very unnatural death upon death row inmates.
Many of you tell lies about life saving vaccines.
This hypocrisy is why the pro-life movement doesn’t get anywhere with the American people.
Family don’t know what to do. Mine just never mentioned it, which was fine. My husband’s family sent flowers, which were just a reminder, so I shut them off in a bedroom and closed the door so I would not have to see them
I had a 2 year old at the time. Giving him a hug was the most healing thing.
My husband’s aunt had made a birth momento for my 2 year old which was blocks and a rocking horse. I made one for the miscarried baby, with blue and pink and yellow and that was enough. Later, in a dream, I think I was told that the miscarried baby was a boy and was given his name.
My MIL lost a baby. She told me at the time that everything reminded her. The baby girl was lost at about 7 months gestation so there was a grave but my in-laws never visited it. One November my husband listed all his deceased family members in the Church’s memorial page and my MIL saw the miscarried baby’s name on the list and said “Who’s that?”
So it does not stay painful. You do forget about it. And then you feel guilty and like you are a bad mom. Mom guilt is real.
Peace to all.
1) “See you say to natural death. But when someone dies a natural death you want to put tubes into them until they die a very unnatural death.”…..it is not hypocritical to use modern technology to prolong life provided that the technology does not separate the soul from its destination with God in heaven. Feeding the hungry and healing the sick are Christian imperatives.
2) “Many of you want to force a very unnatural death upon death row inmates.”….the State does not bear the sword in vain
3) “Many of you tell lies about life saving vaccines.”….what is the source of the cells used to manufacture or test the dose of vaccine you advocate?
4) “This hypocrisy is why the pro-life movement doesn’t get anywhere with the American people.”….no true Scotsman?
Only 29% of Americans support overturning Roe. I offered what I thought were reasonable explanations as to why. You, apparently disagree with me, and that is fine. I’ll leave my disagreements with your points for another day. So what is your explanation for why so many want Roe kept in place?
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-americans-really-think-about-abortion/
“So what is your explanation for why so many want Roe kept in place?”….lack of effective evangelization to counter hardened hearts