You created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139
I carried you every second of your life…. and I will love you every moment of mine…
Dear Parents,
Please allow me to extend my sincere sympathy as you grieve the loss of your child. Holy Mother Church grieves with you in your loss and offers prayers for your child, for you and for your whole family. The disappointment, pain and grief that come with the loss of a child, whether born or unborn, constitute a genuine trial for parents. The church desires to walk with you during this difficult time. With hope and trust in God’s infinite love and mercy, may you be consoled as as you persevere in the pilgrimage of life in anticipation of reunion with your child and eternity where every tear will be wiped away.
Along with your parish Pastor, I offer the Miscarriage and Early Infant Loss: A Guide for Parents and the other materials to assist you as you confront your loss and make plans to commend your child to God’s infinite mercy and love. I pray that you will find them helpful during this most difficult times.
May the God of all consolation bless you with strength and peace. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, who grieved over the loss of her own Son, embrace you with her loving prayers.
Sincerely yours in Jesus, the Lord of Life,
Archbishop Emeritus Joseph F. Naumann
Losing a child is a difficult cross to bear, and parents who lose a child before or shortly after birth often suffer silently. If you are in this situation, we hope the resources on this site will be of help.
Resource Library
Books for Adults
Books for Children
Comforting Songs
We pray these songs bring comfort and peace as you navigate the deep sorrow of losing your baby. Many others who have stood at the foot of the cross in their own grief have found solace in these melodies, and we hope they offer you the same grace. May you feel surrounded by blessings as you take a moment to listen.
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- Oceans by Hillsong United
- Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Riddle
- Held by Natalie Grant
- Hold on to Me by Lauren Daigle
- Heaven Someday by Shelly Johnson
- Way to Start by Craig Aven
- I Will Carry You by Selah
- I Know by Big Daddy Weave
Articles & Blog Posts
Videos
Printable Resources
The Archdiocesan Miscarriage Resource
The Pro-Life Office has put together a handbook to assist you during this difficult time. Your child is a precious gift from God, and we grieve along with you in your loss. It is our hope that the “Miscarriage and Early Childhood Loss” handbook link below will help you during this difficult time and will be a useful resource for you to answer the many questions you may have such as:
- What does the Church teach about Baptism for early childhood loss?
- How do we handle the remains of our miscarried child?
- Where should remains be buried? What about cremation?
- What Rites and Commendation ceremonies are available to us?
Catholic Cemeteries of Northeast Kansas has made special low cost arrangements for burial accomodations of miscarried children. They can also make special arrangements for parent who would like to memorialize their child but whose remains are not available.
Please contact Deacon Chris Slater (cslater@archkck.org) for more information on what Catholic Cemeteries has to offer.
Do you want to speak to someone who has been through this?
Other Online resources and articles that mothers who are grieving found helpful….
- A Path to Healing After Miscarriage
- Meditations on the Rosary after Miscarriage
- Heaven’s Gain (infant caskets)
- Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (photography of your birth and infant- free of charge)
- 5 Common Myths about Grieving Parents