October 15, 2023 - "Domestic Violence Awareness"

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Today, I want to present some thoughts on this important and relevant topic.  “The number of women who are beaten and abused in their homes, even by their husbands is very, very high,” Pope Francis said in answer to a question by a woman named Giovanna, a victim of domestic violence .. “The problem is that, for me, it is almost satanic because it is taking advantage of a person who cannot defend herself, who can only [try to] block the blows,” he said. “It is humiliating. Very humiliating.” Giovanna said that she had four children to take care of after they escaped from a violent home. For women suffering abuse, help is available.
 
“The Catholic Church teaches that violence against another person in any form fails to treat that person as someone worthy of love. Instead, it treats the person as an object to be used. When violence occurs within a sacramental marriage, the abused spouse may question, ‘How do these violent acts relate to my promise to take my spouse for better or for worse?’ The person being assaulted needs to know that acting to end the abuse does not violate the marriage promises.” – US Bishops, When I Call for Help.
 
One in 4 women and 1 in 10 men have experienced domestic abuse: physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or economic. If you experience abuse, please know there is help. To get help now for yourself or a family member, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800‐799‐7233, you can text “START” to 88788 or visit thehotline.org. You can also learn more about domestic violence and family peace at catholicsforfamilypeace.org.
 
Let me close this column by giving some intercessions that we can pray every day of this week.
 
Sunday, October 15: That more Catholics may answer the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ call to help break the cycle of domestic violence and that we as the body of Christ protect our most vulnerable members, we pray to the Lord.
 
Monday, October 16:  For women, children and men experiencing violence at home, may they be filled with Christ’s healing and strength, we pray to the Lord.
 
Tuesday, October 17: That we as Catholics may comfort and shelter victims of domestic violence from their past and current pain, we pray to the Lord.
 
Wednesday, October 18: For the members of the parish who experience domestic violence, may we see them, love them and guide them to safety, we pray to the Lord.
 
Thursday, October 19:  For all people in abusive relationships. May they experience God’s love and know that their abuse is not God’s will. May they find in our parish community support to seek help, find safety, and free themselves from domestic violence, we pay to the Lord.
 
Friday, October 20: That as a Church we might be a place of refuge for those experiencing domestic violence. For women, children, and me traumatized by violence in their homes, we pray to the Lord.
 
Saturday, October 21: During this month of Domestic Violence Awareness, we pray that the Lord might open our eyes to see families suffering domestic violence in our midst, so that we might be able to better protect the vulnerable among us, we pray to the Lord.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John