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"I've only seen the Orthodox and Catholic differences as a different flavors of salt (yep, salt tastes differently around the world depending on where it comes from)."

Indeed this is true but beyond the "flavor", there are differences in discipline which have lead to some differences in our understanding of the Mysteries on a practical, if not theological, level.

By the way, your tagline is one of the truest statements I've ever seen. I remember many years ago when our youngest was born with Down Syndrome, a very dear friend from my childhood, a Roman priest, told my wife as we both were wallowing in despair and confusion, that a mother's love and prayers would conquer any hardship. He was so very right!

One cannot possibly know the joys that await them in Heaven for their lifelong work caring for weaker souls. As a child, I was horrified when watching nature tv programs where large aggressive predators hunted and devoured young prey. It chaffed against the world in which my Catholic parents raised me.

What I hope to examine is how a survivor can, without falling to the vain traps of sinful guilt, be of use to the souls who've suffered from the violence the survivor inflicted. It's Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" that influence this thought. If suffering and sorrow is the penance that can redeem a murderer, then there is Hope and healing for mothers who've aborted their children and soldiers who've killed in war.

Before Christ redeemed the world, the blood of innocents' cried for revenge. But the souls that fall prey to Satanic influence and oppression are souls that cry for Salvation from the place of the dead. The survivors can help to achieve such through works of mercy just as the Saints intercede for the mortal still living.

Thus is the Divine Mercy we should know, live, and love: that those we've hurt are the same we beg of God to heal. That hearts and souls wounded by our willing or negligent malice should receive that Grace God would have passed to us, let it pass through us to those in most need of Christ's Mercy.

"As a child, I was horrified when watching nature TV programs where large aggressive predators hunted and devoured young prey. It chaffed against the world in which my Catholic parents raised me."

Sorry I didn't continue on this thought very well...it's late, but it's no excuse.

Young souls that don't know Christ, and worst still, children's' souls that haven't been Baptized, are desperately helpless against the very real demonic forces of our spiritual world. As infantile my understanding of Scripture is, I read that the "serpent" is cursed to crawl on it's belly and eat dirt. Later in the same chapter, I read that Adam is from dirt and to dirt must we all return. Later, God warns Cain to not be crestfallen because a demon is crouching at the door and is inclined toward us...essential desiring to devour us. Satan devours souls.

My understanding of abortion is that its chief purpose is to feed souls to Hell. We know that demons possess young children because they aren't as strong as an adult's spiritual defenses. Unborn children must be much easier game for the damned spirits.

But, we also know that Jesus descended into the place of the dead to bring souls into Heaven. This opportunity is still there for Saintly intercessions and for the Divine Presence of the Holy Eucharist. Christ's suffering and death purchased Salvation for the entire world. Our duty in remembrance of His Divine Sacrifice continues this Divine Mercy to those souls suffering without Christ in Purgatory. This opportunity even exists for those souls who suffer there because of our sinful actions. We hurt them then, but we can help them now. And we should help them.

I can't help but feel an ecstatic joy.