Patricia Neal died yesterday of lung cancer. She was an award winning actress, and a mother who suffered through the loss of one child and the disability of another child. She had a series of strokes from which she had an almost miraculous recovery after long rehabilitation. She had a well publicized affair with Gary Cooper very early in her career and became pregnant. They decided to abort the baby because Mr. Cooper was married and they wanted to avoid the scandal involved if she had carried the baby to term.
Years later, it was Gary Cooper's daughter Maria, who through her friendship with Ms. Neal brought her back to the practice of her faith, and a sense of peace about the trouble in her life.
When asked once by a priest, if there was anything she could go back and redo, this was her response:
"Father, alone in the night for over 40 years, I have cried for my child. And if there is one thing I wish I had the courage to do over in my life, I wish I had the courage to have that baby."
She went on in her later life to become a very vocal pro-life advocate, talking to young women from her own experience as someone who had been in their shoes and asking them to think carefully about the life of their child and the impact that their decision would have on the rest of their lives.
Read the complete article here.
She was a great actress, but her voice as an advocate for the unborn is what will be missed the most.
Pax
2 comments:
May her Memory be Eternal.
God bless her and may she rest in peace.
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