By Jayne Ragasa-Mondoy
Special to the Herald
“Every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image and likeness of the living and holy God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2319)
We sat with each other and wept. Eleven weeks into my friend’s pregnancy, the cramping and heavy bleeding began. She knew she was having a miscarriage and a trip to the emergency room confirmed this.
Later, we struggled to put the experience into words. In her case, the body of her baby was unknowingly expelled before she was admitted to the hospital. Was there dignity in the child’s death? Was there a way to commemorate the life of this beloved little human being who never knew life outside the womb? Should she name her baby? So many questions …
Miscarriage has touched the lives of many families, including my own. And it is through our stories that I’ve come to realize that there is a kind of holiness in the experience of a mother whose womb has held both life and death. Of a father, also devastated, who longs to provide comfort. Of their living children who struggle to understand what happened to their baby brother or sister. Of grandparents and family members who also mourn.
Many seek comfort and wholeness through the physical signs and rituals of the church, especially in the sacrament of Eucharist through which we are reminded that God loves us, gave his life for us, and accompanies us. But in our diocese, a ritual specifically for miscarriage had not been formally practiced — until now.
On March 25, during the Mass on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, Bishop Larry Silva will introduce a new “Order of Naming” during which mothers and fathers will be given an opportunity to name the babies who died through miscarriage and receive a special blessing. We welcome you to attend whether your miscarriage happened recently or many years ago.
If you can’t be with us that evening, know that this is just the beginning. Clergy in the Diocese of Honolulu will be provided with the “Order of Naming” text and are encouraged to offer the ritual at appropriate times throughout the year.
Inspired by this grace-filled time together we encourage those who attend to reach out to, pray with, and offer consolation to others who may have lost a child. What a meaningful way to be a sacrament to one another as Christ is for us.
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
And Order of Naming of a Child of Miscarriage
- 6 p.m., Thursday, March 25
- Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa
- Celebrant: Bishop Larry Silva
- Seats must be reserved in advance at: catholichawaii.org/AnnunciationMass_MiscarriageBlessing
- Contact: Deacon Gary Streff, gEstreff@rcchawaii.org
- Co-sponsored by the diocesan Offices for Respect Life, Faith Formation, and Worship
Ragasa-Mondoy is the diocesan director of Faith Formation/Religious Education.