We must have a consistent ethic of respect for every life, from natural conception to natural death, including respect for our own life!
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Rev. Andrew P. Carrozza 
Hi Fr. Carozza,
I just listened to your message this week, and I had a couple questions. What happens when a person has not respected life, maybe even more than once? To disappoint God in one of the worst ways, not once, but twice…is a heavy burden when it’s the truth a person has to face.
I am told that God can forgive any sin, but it’s hard to accept fully. Maybe once, but twice? Heaven can feel out of reach. And, what I’ve done cannot be undone. Mostly I’m heavy hearted for having let God down so greatly and also for not protecting the lives that He had entrusted to me. It’s hard to find my way out of this painful place, but then I think that is what I deserve.
Lauren
Sent from my iPhone
Thank you for your question, Lauren! The amazing thing about Jesus’ forgiveness is that we receive it even if we think we don’t deserve it! St. Faustina, to whom Jesus revealed the Divine Mercy, wrote in her diary of a similar situation. There was a sister in her convent who did not believe Jesus could ever forgive her for what she had done. Jesus told St. Faustina: “Sister’s doubt that I would forgive her hurts my heart more than her sin does!” Wow! Talk about love! Jesus knows our human weakness, even that we sometimes fall repeatedly to the same sin, and his forgiveness is endless. He forgives us even when we won’t forgive ourselves! Jesus dies on the cross to take away our sins, so why would he refuse to take away the sins of someone who is asking for this, no matter how seriously nor how frequently we have sinned? And when you think about it, can anyone actually say we deserve Jesus’ forgiveness? He gives it because he loves us; this is his mercy: forgiveness when it is not deserved. If you have never confessed these sins, do so right away so that you will feel the healing forgiveness of Jesus and know the peace in your heart that only his love and forgiveness can bring. Take courage: he loves you, and he WILL forgive you! I promise you that!
God bless you always!