Victim Soul
A victim soul is a chosen soul who freely sacrifices oneself, one’s health, material goods, happiness, etc. as an offering to Divine justice for the sins of the world, for sinners, or for the benefit of the Church. Or as Our Lady has often said, these generous souls, after the example of the crucified Christ, are needed to “balance the scales.” Many believe that this is the most sinful and wicked age ever.
The concept of victim is not new, but has been in practice since ancient times. The Jewish priests would make burnt offerings or prepare victims (animals) for sacrifice to God for expiation of sin (Lev. 16.27). However, Catholics believe that this was a mere prefigurement of the ultimate Victim, Jesus Christ, the King of victim souls, the perfect and unblemished offering Who, according to Catholic doctrine, redeemed and restored fallen humanity to its original state of justice in which it was created.
Nevertheless, most Catholics believe that in the mysterious design of the Eternal Father, a certain reparation must still be made for sin so that our sufferings and trials may “fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ” (Col. 1.24). [1], [2],[3], [4]
Joe Nickell, CSICOP's Senior Research Fellow and author of Looking for a Miracle (1993)remarks that
>"Although we live in a scientific age, there has been a resurgence in magical thinking, resulting in a revival of religious fundamentalism, the rise of the "New Age" movement, and an increase in "miracle" claims. The appeal is widespread, although it may be especially strong among the economically disadvantaged, where human despair and superstition may coexist. (The Santo phenomena, for example, take place in the midst of Portuguese immigrant families.) People seem to hunger for some tangible religious experience, and wherever there is such profound want there is the opportunity for what may be called "pious fraud." Money is rarely the primary motive, the usual impetus being to seemingly triumph over adversity, renew the faith of believers, and confound the doubters. An end-justifies-the-means attitude may prevail, but the genuinely religious and the devoutly skeptical may agree on one thing, that the truth must serve as both the means and the end. Ultimately, neither science nor religion can be served by dishonesty." [5]
How does one become a Victim Soul?
One becomes a victim soul "by living with one unique thought in mind: that of consoling Me [Jesus Chris] by redeeming souls. Souls are redeemed by sacrifice. But I [Jesus] am consoled by love, and by enkindling love in hearts, where it was extinguished. The life of a victim-soul is a life of never belonging to oneself again, a life of constant self-giving, a life of being incessantly on fire. And to those who are able to live like this is granted the Invisible Presence, which you too enjoy. Wherever My apostles and My martyrs are, I am there also. And victim-souls are martyrs and apostles."
[6]
Examples of Victim Souls There have been various well documented instances of victim souls. Below is a list of the most well known, some of which have led to beautifications or sainthood status, others of which are controversial [7] not only outside but within the Catholic church. The prototypical victim soul is widely thought of as Jesus Christ.
Alexandrina, also referred to as Blessed Alessandrina Maria da Costa, http://www.unitypublishing.com/Newsletter/Alexandrina.htm], [8],[9]
Audrey Santo,[10],[11],http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb050/is_200203/ai_n5662671],[12]
Gemma Galgani,[13],[14]
Marthe Robin,[15]
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina,[16]
Sister Josefa Menéndez,[17], [18]
Julia Kim, [19],[20]
Veronica of the cross, [21],[22]
Victim Souls and Popular Culture
The concept of the victim soul has been the topic of attention in several American television series. In an episode ofJudging Amy, Judge Amy must determine if a comatose boy who is believed to have healing powers is being abused by his grandmother. This episode, number 4 of the first season first Aired on tuesday, October 5, 1999, was shown again on 01/25/00 and came in at #18, bringing in a total of 13.30 million viewers. Nielsens ratings for Judging Amy Victim Soul came in at # 10 testifying to the subject's popular appeal. [23]
The story of Audrey Santo, an American victim soul, was covered on the 20/20 segment, titled "The Miracle of Audrey" (first broadcast October 4, 1998), Lynn Sherr asked, "Is this 14-year-old child a miracle worker, a messenger of God? Or is this all a cruel hoax, exploiting a sick and innocent girl?" [24] Later, on an episode of CBS's 48 Hours titled "Desperate Measures" (1999), a reporter asked Linda Santo how one would know whether someone in the household was simply applying the oil "in the middle of the night." She replied, "You don't know." "Are you doing this?" Linda was asked. "No," she replied.
The victim soul "phenomenum" was given less than amicable coverage in an episode of Penn and Teller's show Bullshit! Upon receiving a price list for Audrey swag, co-host Penn Jillette, in an uncharacteristically solemn manner, suggested reciprocating by giving Linda a conscience, as "the one she's got is clearly not working." [25] Much of the hosts' animosity seemed to be focused on the marketing of objects related to Santo's miraculous suffering.[26]
In a major piece for the Wall Street Journal, Thursday, February 10, 2005, Peggy Noonan likened the late Pope John Paul the Second to a victim soul. [27]
The highly publicized and dramatized affair of Terry Schiavo led many to liken Terry to a "victim soul for the cause of life." [28]
Other references
"Desperate Measures." 1999. 48 Hours (CBS-TV), June 24. Harrison, Ted. 1998. Miracle child. Fortean Times December, 40-41. Nickell, Joe. 1993. Looking for a Miracle. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books. --. 1997. In the Eye of the Beholder. Free Inquiry Spring, 5. Sherr, Lynn. 1998. The Miracle of Audrey. 20/20 (ABC News transcript no. 1848), October 4. Weingarten, Gene. 1998. Tears for Audrey. The Washington Post July 19.
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