My friend Tony Rossi has had the opportunity to interview one of the foundresses of the Sisters of Life, Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, for The Christophers Closeup, and it’s really rather wonderful and inspiring:
Founded after New York’s Cardinal John O’Connor visited the Dachau concentration camp and vowed to protect the dignity of every human life, the Sisters of Life provide a safe haven for women who experience an unplanned pregnancy and aren’t sure what to do. Mother Agnes Mary Donovan tells Christopher Closeup host Tony Rossi that when they get a call for help, “We speak to (the woman) and say, ‘What are the desires of your heart?’ Inevitably she’ll say to us, ‘If this wasn’t the situation or that wasn’t the situation, I’d want this child.’…Then we start putting together ways in which we can meet her needs so she can fulfill her heart’s desire…95% of the women who call us will bring their child to birth.”
…
Abortion is an issue that stirs up a lot of anger, but Mother Donovan offers a prescription for the negativity – “We’ve found that the simple alchemy of love – loving those that come to us one heart at a time – that is what changes them…(Some) that come to us tell us they are pro-choice; that’s no issue to us. Oftentimes as they’re with us…and we’ve loved them, something will emerge where they’ll say ‘I could never think that again.’…What we see is abortion and those kinds of decisions are fueled by fear. St. John says, ‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ When one is supported and surrounded by love, they see the world and themselves differently.”
You can download the podcast interview with Mother Agnes and other broadcasts, and stories of hope here. It’s very interesting, but very sad to hear that -while many mothers who choose to bear their children manage to reunite with their families- it is a rare thing for the fathers to get involved with their children. Mother Agnes says that the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal assist the sisters in their ministry. I wonder if perhaps someone down the road will found a “Brothers of Life” – an order of meant whose charism is to model responsible, adult manhood, for such young men?
I’ve managed to spend a little time with some of the Sisters of Life, and they are joy-filled women of faith who give tremendous witness to the value of the human person, and the sanctity of life. You can help become a co-worker with the Sisters of Life.
UPDATE: I liked this video so much I have cribbed it from Msgr. Pope
H/T New Advent
Related:
Why Life is Worth So Little in Prosperity
Obamacare and Abortion
March 9th, 2010 | 2:51 pm | #1
Thanks for the plug! You quoted my favorite line from the interview in which she says “the simple alchemy of love” can change hearts and minds on abortion. As a writer, I really like that phrasing.
[Yes, both descriptive and literal -admin]
March 9th, 2010 | 7:19 pm | #2
The Sisters of Life are our favorite charity. Several years at the Maine Right to Life Committee’s annual convention a delagation from the Sisters were invited and attended. Several protesters showed up and we were advised not to confront them. The Sisters went out to chit chat with them. In five minutes the protesters left dragging their signs behind them. Two of the daughters of the then president of MRLC have become Sisters of Life.
This past Christmas they sent the most incedible card we have ever recieved. It showed three of their adorable “saves” dressed as the Maji; each with a special message.
The Knights of Columbus have also been signigicant supporters. Among other efforts they acquired an abandoned convent in CT and donated it as a retreat house. The Sisters have made good use of it.
God bless this wonderful group of women.
March 9th, 2010 | 8:31 pm | #3
Ohh! Loved that video!!! Isn’t he a beautiful man??? Praise God for his bio-mom’s “choice”!
The sisters rock. They’ve come to a few of our West Coast Walk for Life. Anchoress, you need to come out here for that too!!!
March 9th, 2010 | 10:38 pm | #4
[...] Anchoress Abortion, the Sisters of Life & Hope – My friend Tony Rossi has had the opportunity to interview one of the foundresses of the [...]
March 9th, 2010 | 10:41 pm | #5
Oh my. That video brought tears to my eyes.
And bless those sisters. Bless them, bless them, bless them.
Thank you Anchoress.
March 9th, 2010 | 10:59 pm | #6
will the sisters count the babies living in their mothers’ womb as members of their household on the 2010 census?
March 10th, 2010 | 11:23 am | #7
Does it really matter if they list them as household members or not? The census is just a nose count, it doesn’t confer humanity.
March 10th, 2010 | 2:31 pm | #8
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