Victim of rape, victorious in ChristThe story of Mother Yvonne-Aimée de Jésus

Benedictine Father Mark Daniel Kirby recently shared on his blog the remarkable story of Mother Yvonne-Aimée de Jésus (1901-1951), a holy Augustinian Canoness who, as a young laywoman, was ambushed and tortured by three men—one of whom raped her.

I write in My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints that many of the saints who were given the deepest graces of union with Christ, such as those who received the stigmata, were survivors of abuse: "What we know of their spiritual journeys suggests that the imprints of the Passion they received—whether visible or invisible—gave new meaning to the sufferings they had already endured." Although Mother Yvonne-Aimée is not (yet) recognized by the Church as a saint, her story suggests that she likewise found that, through her own wounds, she was able to draw closer to the wounded and resurrected Christ.

Mother Yvonne-Aimée wrote a beautiful short prayer that went on to be recognized (and indulgenced) by three popes:

O Jesus, King of Love,
I put my trust in thy loving mercy.

To accompany the prayer, she also drew a picture of the Child Jesus, which you can see on Father Mark's blog, along with much more information about her life of faith, love, and service.