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March 9, 2023
An Unexpected Message
Philadelphia, Pa
Hello! My name is Bella and I would like to share a story with you..
On October 11, 2021, I returned home from my scheduled Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour, and busied myself at the kitchen sink. Earlier I had wrapped my rosary loosely around one arm, and it fell without my notice. Upon hearing something hit the floor, I glanced down and saw it there. When bending down to pick it up, I was struck by a familiar shape. I stopped. It had randomly landed there, assuming a shape like that of a child in the womb, as if holding the cross. Though not the first time I’d witnessed certain Holy images appearing on candles, etc., this was quite different. I spontaneously grabbed my cell phone, taking three pictures of my Fatima rosary in this compelling shape. (see image below).
A Phone Call to a Friend
Later that same evening, I returned a young man’s call from Brooklyn, NY. He has this gift for researching the many titles of Our Lady, as well as securing statues of her. We were discussing the acquisition of a nice Marian statue to be placed in my home chapel, in honor of Mary, Ark of the Covenant. He then told me he’d found such a statue, actually dedicated to Mary, Ark of the New Covenant, and immediately texted me a link to the Preborn Jesus Ministry Website. The first image I saw was their logo of a baby in the womb with a cross - Baby Jesus! I was speechless.
(Preborn Jesus Logo below)
Immediately, I texted him the image of my rosary on the floor, and he suddenly stopped talking. Knowing this young man was much like me in zeal for his faith, it was obvious the image had momentarily made him speechless. Then we excitedly talked about what God was obviously doing. Then I gratefully requested the contact information for Bernadette (Founder) of Preborn Jesus Ministry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A Phone Call to Bernadette, Preborn Jesus Ministry
On October 12, 2021, I called Bernadette Conklin, of Preborn Jesus Ministry, to inquire about her ministry and hopefully purchase a statue. After all, December 8th would be
the one-year anniversary of establishing a Mary, Ark of the Covenant Chapel in my home. Bernadette’s account was amazing. She said the ministry was conceived on First Friday of July, 2009. She had been kneeling quietly in the church, making a Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour with Our Lord, when the church bells began echoing from the steeple, announcing the noon hour. After reflexively beginning to pray the Angelus, Bernadette unexpectedly began envisioning preborn Jesus within His Mother’s womb. However, instead of an umbilical cord connecting Mother and Child, she saw Our Lord encircled by a rosary. When later describing it to her son, James, he drew a remarkable picture of the vision. After listening to Bernadette’s story, I was then compelled to share my rosary photo and my family background with her.My Family
Neither of my parents finished high school. After she had five children, my mother’s first husband died from an accident. She then remarried and had five more children, her second husband (my dad) being a carpenter. Mom was a seamstress. Making ends meet was tough, so my parents sold produce for additional income. Very early one morning, mom heard the neighbor’s dogs barking. Soon after, she opened the door to leave and beheld a covered basket on the steps. Inside was a sleeping baby, a dirty bottle of milk and a piece of linen. Calling to my dad, she brought the child inside. Dad, understanding the situation and, knowing mom’s thoughts, said keeping the baby wasn’t an option, due to already stretched finances. But mom, knowing dad’s thoughts, changed his mind!
That baby was hospitalized for almost a year. The child had a serious abscess on the neck, spine infection and severe dehydration. When mom asked the doctor, likely reasons for the baby’s serious problems, he only gave one. He seemed rather certain it was the result of an attempted abortion.
I was that baby!
The Truth Hurts
Twelve years later, while playing with a neighborhood girl, she sneered, “You know, you are not really a child of your mom and dad.” I thought she was joking at first, but then realized she was serious. She dared me to go home and look at my family pictures. So I did. With each photo, I noticed they had different facial features, and realized I didn’t really resemble anyone else in my large family. Not knowing how to ask my parents about it and, afraid of how they might react, I remained silent. Eventually, slowly being engulfed with sorrow, pain, and anger, I decided to take my own life. While planning to carry out this desperate decision, I suddenly heard a soft whisper. It suggested going to church, though looking around I saw nobody there. So I went to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and poured out my heart in a flood of tears. Gradually, my intense sorrow was transformed into a sense of gratitude. I realized how grateful I needed to be for my parents who gave me their unconditional love before they ever knew me. I didn’t want to be a child who would return sorrow for love. I needed to be a daughter who could return their unconditional love.
The Rosary
I returned home and soon found myself praying to the Blessed Mother Mary in front of our large crucifix. At the bottom of it was a prayer describing the steps of praying the rosary. I picked up a rosary and prayer book and started memorizing the words. I believe the Blessed Mother guided me. With each rosary, I’d ask her for the truth about me and my family. Some time after, in a conversation with my aunt, I hesitantly mentioned my concern to her. She paused momentarily, then revealed that I was indeed adopted. It was still heartbreaking for me to have that truth finally confirmed, but I began giving it to the Blessed Mother when praying the rosary.
At that time I was concentrating on my education, but was also even considering entering a convent. With continual prayer, God faithfully guided me to a decision. I became a pediatric nurse and have been for sixteen years now.
Meeting My Birth Parents
I met my birth parents for the first and only time in March, 1999. Our last time together had been right before leaving me on my family’s doorstep. At that meeting, I asked them for the truth. My birth mother looked straight in my eyes and said, “You weren’t meant to be born. We tried to abort you, but the drugs affected me instead of you. As such, we continued the pregnancy.” At that moment I was graced with an understanding of the total rejection that Jesus knows.
Repect For Life
In the fall of 2018, two friends took me to Our Lady of the Unborn in Czestochowa, Poland. While praying, I felt a sudden choking sensation for no apparent reason. It was a struggle to breath. When it ceased, I sensed I’d been allowed to experience what unborn babies suffer when killed by some abortion methods. Along with other survivors, I feel obligated to share the plight of innocent victims killed by abortion, and of those who survive abortions. I am not severely deformed, but have scars resulting from infection brought on by the abortion drugs. But I’m proof that God creates every life to be lived. Last December, my birth mother reached out to me with a phone call. In our conversation I asked her to pray for the unborn. It apparently hit a nerve and her retort was, “I wish we had finished the abortion.”
Truth hurts but, when accepted, affords freedom to believe in God with fervent faith. It can also result in faith-filled prayer and trust in power God has given his Mother through the Rosary. I love the following scripture passage. It anchors me with great confidence in my mission. (Jeremiah 1:5) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Forgiveness
I’ve been lifting up my birth mother and father to God’s clemency (God Bless their souls), for difficulties they encountered in their lives, even though my birth father has passed. Only God knows their hearts and why they acted as they did. Through the Rosary, reparation, and offering up petitions for my mother’s conversion, I try to share forgiveness and help overturn our culture of death. Recently my birth mother called me again, and said something that left me almost speechless again. Except this time, it was to inform she wanted to come back to the church. Only with fervent prayer and forgiveness can we find, or help others to find, the love and mercy God has for us. Her first act was approaching a priest for the sacrament of reconciliation. Abortion causes a wide spectrum of pain. For a child, the most intense pain is rejection and, for mothers or fathers, it’s regret. The sacraments are God’s agents of healing for all, and it’s my hope and prayer she receives it in full measure.
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