patroness of survivors of rape

[photosynthesis]

so... St. Maria Goretti and St. Dymphna are thought to be the patron saints for survivors of rape and sexual violence.

Why would this be so, if it never happened to them?

I know that sometimes people can be patron saints of this or that, without being directly related to a cause. Such is the case for St. Clare and television.

but it just strikes me as odd that these two women are revered for NOT being raped, still they are considered patron saints of people that were raped. They were both killed after refusing to let men violate them sexually. What about people who weren't successful at fending off attackers?

This is making my head spin...

[zabbazooey]

Makes sense to me that they are the patrons though...

[Carrie]

photosynthesis, your question is something I've wondered about quite a bit.

I think they are the patron saints for survivors of rape and sexual violence because they can understand the terror of being a person targeted for sexual violence. Both were faced with the horrible situation of having to choose their lives or their purity.

Some of us weren't given the choice between our lives and purity. But it is comforting to know that there are saints in heaven praying for those who were in sexually violent situations. Although they were never actually raped, who can better understand being in a terrible situation like that.

[theculturewarrior]

There are rape survivors who are Saints. There is one Saint from Ireland I think who was raped, and her son, who came from that is also a Saint.

[zabbazooey]

Awesome! you should find out their names.

[photosynthesis]

[quote name='Carrie' date='Nov 7 2005, 10:11 AM']photosynthesis, your question is something I've wondered about quite a bit.

I think they are the patron saints for survivors of rape and sexual violence because they can understand the terror of being a person targeted for sexual violence.  Both were faced with the horrible situation of having to choose their lives or their purity.

Some of us weren't given the choice between our lives and purity.  But it is comforting to know that there are saints in heaven praying for those who were in sexually violent situations.  Although they were never actually raped, who can better understand being in a terrible situation like that.
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They would understand better than someone who was never in a sexually violent situation, but they could not fully understand. I just read their stories and think, "Lucky."

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Nov 7 2005, 10:22 AM']There are rape survivors who are Saints. There is one Saint from Ireland I think who was raped, and her son, who came from that is also a Saint.
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Who are they?

[Carrie]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Nov 7 2005, 12:22 PM']There are rape survivors who are Saints. There is one Saint from Ireland I think who was raped, and her son, who came from that is also a Saint.
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Any idea what their names are?

[theculturewarrior]

I'm looking! Unfortunately, Catholic.org only let's you search the Saint's name, and you can't search the site for the information.

I thought the son was Saint Chad, but I appear to have been mistaken. I'm looking!

[zabbazooey]

Thanks for looking!!!

[photosynthesis]

I looked [url="http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/pst00598.htm"]here[/url].

St. Agatha, St. Agnes of Rome, St. Antonia Messina, St. Dymphna, and St. Solange were "martyrs to purity." Though they did in fact experience great sufferings, they did not experience rape.

St. Potamiaena' s biography is unclear as to whether she experienced rape. St. Joan of Arc is on the list, but her biography is unclear. St. Zita is listed as a virgin.

[theculturewarrior]

That's the thing. There's like a thousand Irish Saints from early Ireland. I would have to click on each Saint's name in the Saint's index to find which one it is. This is from catholic.org. I already searched catholic-forum.com. You can use Google for that, but not the Saints Index!

[theculturewarrior]

It's clickin' time!

[Anthony]

[quote name='photosynthesis' date='Nov 7 2005, 02:47 AM']so...  St. Maria Goretti and St. Dymphna are thought to be the patron saints for survivors of rape and sexual violence.

Why would this be so, if it never happened to them?

I know that sometimes people can be patron saints of this or that, without being directly related to a cause.  Such is the case for St. Clare and television.

but it just strikes me as odd that these two women are revered for NOT being raped, still they are considered patron saints of people that were raped.  They were both killed after refusing to let men violate them sexually.  What about people who weren't successful at fending off attackers?

This is making my head spin...


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St. Maria Goretti was raped when she was a little girl. She became of a martyr as a result of her faith and morals. She struggled because she knew it was a sin. She even yelled something to this degree to her rapist. She was a teenager at the time. I think she appeared to her rapist in an apparition and forgave him. I think the rapist then helped in the canonization of St. Maria Goretti also.

St. Dymphna on the other hand is the patron saint of mental illness. Maybe she could be thought as a patron saint of rape survivers because of the impact that rape has on a person's mental state.

Edited November 7, 2005 by Anthony

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='Anthony' date='Nov 7 2005, 03:02 PM']St. Maria Goretti was raped.  She was martyred in the process.  During the rape she yelled outlout something like it's a sin; pertaining to the act of sex outside of marriage.  She was a teenager at the time.  I think she appeared to her rapist in an apparition and forgave him.  I think the rapist then helped in the canonization of St. Maria Goretti also.

St. Dymphna on the other hand is the patron saint of mental illness.  Maybe she could be thought as a patron saint of rape survivers because of the impact that rape has on a person's mental state.
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Maria was stabbed 14 times resisting sexual advances.

And to clarify, Maria is not listed as patron of survivors of rape, but rather victims of rape.

[photosynthesis]

[quote name='Anthony' date='Nov 7 2005, 03:02 PM']St. Maria Goretti was raped when she was a little girl.  She became of a martyr as a result of her faith and morals.  She struggled because she knew it was a sin.  She even yelled something to this degree to her rapist.  She was a teenager at the time.  I think she appeared to her rapist in an apparition and forgave him.  I think the rapist then helped in the canonization of St. Maria Goretti also.

St. Dymphna on the other hand is the patron saint of mental illness.  Maybe she could be thought as a patron saint of rape survivers because of the impact that rape has on a person's mental state.
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Are you sure? All of the biographies I've read about her say that St. Maria Goretti was not actually raped. She is listed as a virgin, and is hailed for her purity. St. Dymphna is also a martyr for purity, and listed as a virgin.

Also, a saint can be the patron saint of MANY things. St. Dymphna is not only the patron saint of the mentally ill, survivors of rape, but is also the patron saint of mental health "professionals," and people who are grieving.

[quote name='hugheyforlife' date='Nov 7 2005, 03:06 PM']Maria was stabbed 14 times resisting sexual advances.

And to clarify, Maria is not listed as patron of survivors of rape, but rather victims of rape.
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how are you defining the difference between survivor and victim? Both are words used to describe someone who has undergone something unpleasant.

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='photosynthesis' date='Nov 7 2005, 04:27 PM']Are you sure?  All of the biographies I've read about her say that St. Maria Goretti was not actually raped.  She is listed as a virgin, and is hailed for her purity.  St. Dymphna is also a martyr for purity, and listed as a virgin.

Also, a saint can be the patron saint of MANY things.  St. Dymphna is not only the patron saint of the mentally ill, survivors of rape, but is also the patron saint of mental health "professionals," and people who are grieving.
how are you defining the difference between survivor and victim?  Both are words used to describe someone who has undergone something unpleasant.
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a survivor is one who lived through the ordeal.... many do not. ((im not trying to be mean ive just never seen her listed as patroness of 'survivors' of rape, rather 'victims' of rape.))

[theculturewarrior]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Nov 7 2005, 02:07 PM']It's clickin' time!
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I don't know how far I got. I lost track of the names somewhere after St. Adalbert. Praise God for so many holy Saints, but Lord, give us a search engine!

[avemaria40]

St. Joan of Arc is also a patron for rape victims, b/c even though, correct me if I'm wrong, she wasn't rape, she was the victim of sexual molestation while in prison

[photosynthesis]

[quote name='hugheyforlife' date='Nov 7 2005, 04:33 PM']a survivor is one who lived through the ordeal.... many do not. ((im not trying to be mean ive just never seen her listed as patroness of 'survivors' of rape, rather 'victims' of rape.))
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If you are defining the word "victim" as someone who does not survive an unpleasant experience, then wouldn't so-called "victims" of rape not need a patron saint, since they would already be dead?

Some people don't like to be referred to as "victims" because of the stigma attached to the word. The word "survivor" and the word "victim" are not mutually exclusive.

[franciscanheart]

yeah okay whatever....