Victim soul
Encyclopedia
A victim soul is a concept in Catholic theology with pre-Christian roots, however it is not an official term in the Roman Catholic Church. The concept is described by one theologian as a soul or person "chosen by God to suffer more than most people during life, and who generously accepts the suffering in union with the Savior and after the example of Christ's own Passion and Death."
In Judeo-Christian thought, the concept of one being suffering in the place of another has a long history. One early and well-known example of this is the scapegoat
ritual of Yom Kippur
, described in Leviticus
chapter 16. Christian tradition tends to interpret the scapegoat practice as a prefigurement of Christ's atonement through his own suffering and death. The concept of the victim soul builds on this, bolstered by such New Testament
passages as Christ's declaration that "If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.", and St. Paul's statement that "I find joy in the sufferings I endure for [Paul's fellow Christians]. In my own flesh I fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His Body, the Church."
Many Christian figures throughout history have claimed to be or popularly recognized as victim souls.
One recent example is that of St. Faustina, who wrote in her diary that Christ had chosen her to be a "victim offering," a role that she voluntarily accepted.
Another is St. Gemma Galgani, who wrote in her autobiography how Jesus told her, "My child, I have need of victims; strong victims, in order to appease the just anger of my Divine Father. I need souls who, by their sufferings, trials and sacrifices, make amends for sinners and for their ingratitude. Oh, if I could make all understand how angry My Father is by the impious world!”"
In Judeo-Christian thought, the concept of one being suffering in the place of another has a long history. One early and well-known example of this is the scapegoat
Scapegoat
Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any party for unmerited negative treatment or blame. Scapegoating may be conducted by individuals against individuals , individuals against groups , groups against individuals , and groups against groups Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any...
ritual of Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
, described in Leviticus
Leviticus
The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah ....
chapter 16. Christian tradition tends to interpret the scapegoat practice as a prefigurement of Christ's atonement through his own suffering and death. The concept of the victim soul builds on this, bolstered by such New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
passages as Christ's declaration that "If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.", and St. Paul's statement that "I find joy in the sufferings I endure for [Paul's fellow Christians]. In my own flesh I fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His Body, the Church."
Many Christian figures throughout history have claimed to be or popularly recognized as victim souls.
One recent example is that of St. Faustina, who wrote in her diary that Christ had chosen her to be a "victim offering," a role that she voluntarily accepted.
Another is St. Gemma Galgani, who wrote in her autobiography how Jesus told her, "My child, I have need of victims; strong victims, in order to appease the just anger of my Divine Father. I need souls who, by their sufferings, trials and sacrifices, make amends for sinners and for their ingratitude. Oh, if I could make all understand how angry My Father is by the impious world!”"