Page 29 - Michael Journal 2019 August

We Live to Love “We are not angry at

God, since we know

and to Be Loved that it is He who is in
charge of everything.

And to understand
The story of 28-year-old Italian Chiara that God is in charge
Petrillo, who died in 2012, can be summed of everything is
up in two words: love and death. She and her one of the most

beloved husband Enrico lost their first two wonderful things
children soon after their births. This was bal- in the world.”
anced by joy when their third child was born (Enrico Petrillo)

and with heartbreak as Chiara prepared for
death. Nonetheless, in Chiara’s life, it was the pregnancy”. However, as Chi- One month before her death, Chiara, accompanied by her husbamd En-
ara admitted: “Each time that Ma-
love that was to have the last word. ria kicked, it was a gift. She truly so rico and her son Francesco, met with Pope Benedict on St. Peter’s Square,
wanted for me to feel her… It was at the end of the general audience, Wedneday, May 2, 2012.
as though she wanted to remind us
thing about them, and to be opened our hearts. Open the that she was there for us.” “I would like to tell How to love again?
ready to change and to sacri- doors and grace will enter; Maria Grazia Letizia came into Half a year later, Chiara and
fice; to give something up for true love, eternity, and the the world on June 10, 2009, and in mothers who have Enrico became expectant parents
them.” sense of living will enter. This the half hour of her earthly life she lost children that we again. This time they were expect-
How Can One Sustain is exactly what Maria Grazia managed to delight her parents became mothers, ing a son - David Giovanni. Like his
Vulnerable Love? Letizia accomplished. God and the others who met her. She sister, he was also an invitation to
God very quickly blessed commanded us to proceed received the sacrament of Baptism receiving the gift of his parents to greater love. During
a prenatal examination, it became
which Chiara called “the greatest
step by step, and slowly ev-
by Maria Zboralska the Petrillos’ marriage with erything became clearer for gift that God could have given us.” children. It doesn’t evident that the little boy was miss-
pregnancy. However, during us. And when we discover Later the young mother said: “I will ing one leg and had only a stub
hiara Corbella, born January 9, a check-up in the 14th week God’s true presence, we man- never forget the moment when I matter how long of the other. Chiara explained:
1984, was 18 years old when she of Chiara’s pregnancy, it was age to love even more.” saw her for the first time. I under- they were given to “The first time God asked us: ‘Are
C met 23 year old Enrico Petrillo. The discovered that the child – a stood then that we would be united you ready to accompany the child
young couple fell in love immediately, but girl – suffered from anenceph- “During the subsequent forever. I was not thinking that she us for.” (Chiara Petrillo) to the place where I am leading
up to the time of their marriage the rela- aly, that is, her skull and brain months of the pregnancy, would only be with us for a short hours. The only thing that matters you?’ We consented, and it turned
tionship was not easy. They quarreled had not fully developed. This the young couple loved their time. It was an unforgettable half is that we received them as gifts out to be beautiful. A second time
frequently, split up, and got back together meant that she would not sur- daughter in a way that con- hour. If I had terminated the preg- and this we can never forget.” God asked: ‘Are you ready to wel-
again. The character of the Petrillo’s rela- vive long after birth. The doc- founded those around them. nancy, to ‘alleviate the problem’, I Nor was it possible to forget the come a handicapped child, even if
tionship changed into a mature one be- tors alluded to the possibility They were not embarrassed certainly wouldn’t have thought of little girl’s funeral. People in atten- he will have serious disabilities?’
cause of two things: the marriage prepa- of an abortion but Chiara was by their daughter’s condition, the day of my abortion as a happy dance were amazed that the girl’s Once again, our answer was ‘yes’.
ration they received under the guidance of appalled by the suggestion. and spoke of her with the one. I would have wanted to for- parents were dressed in white for We were ready to accept the gift of
pride possessed by all expect-
Fr. Vita D’Amat, and the sacrament of mat- She understood that even ant parents. For them her life get about the day because it would the ceremony. To praise God for grace.”
rimony, which they entered into on August though her child would not was not a mistake, and they have been one of great suffering. Maria Grazia Letizia, Chiara played The gift of grace appeared in
21, 2008 in Assisi. It was then that Enrico survive long after birth, it was did not believe it would be Instead, I will be able to remember her violin, and Enrico, his guitar. a new guise. Due to a deficiency
came to understand that “life is worth- up to her to ensure the baby’s better if their daughter were the day of Maria’s birth as one of They had prepared a picture of Our of amniotic fluid in his mother’s
while only if you are ready to truly love” best development throughout different. The happiness and the most beautiful days of my life, Lady, on the back of which they womb, David’s internal organs did
,and Chiara learned to put her faith in God, pregnancy. She would sup- joy evident in the faces of the and I will be able to tell my future had written an emotional letter to not fully develop. This meant he
accepting that the other people in her life port her as best as she could baby’s parents embarrassed children that God wanted for them their daughter, saying: “We can get would not live long after his birth.
were gifts from God and not objects that and not deprive her of her life. not only the doctors, but to have a unique little sister who along without everything else. We In St. Anastasia Church, where the
belonged to her. From that point forward Enrico was of the same mind also many of Chiara and En- would be praying for them in heav- need only to know the Father and parents went after the doctor’s visit,
en. I would like to tell mothers who
the spouses would repeat the words of St. which was a great support for rico’s friends who had heard have lost children that we became prepare ourselves to meet Him. Chiara repeated once again: “I don’t
Francis that love must be purified above the young wife and mother. the diagnosis and were sur- mothers and received the gift of You were born ready for this meet- understand, but I consent.” Enrico
all from the temptation of possession. Chi- He recounted: “Maria Grazia prised that the young couple children. It doesn’t matter how long ing, and we can not find the words thought the same: “We should not
ara wrote that: “To love someone means Letizia [the name they had had decided not to “terminate they were given to us for, whether to tell you how proud we are of expect to own anyone. We have
to accept that you can’t understand every- chosen for their daughter] it was a month or two, or just a few you.” no right to the life of another, and u

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