I’ve had all day to pray in thanksgiving for the gift God gave me this morning. When I first opened this email addressed to me from Fr. Gavin (the co-founder of the Maria Goretti Network) I was expecting to see that he had spoken with someone else in regards to getting a chapter of Maria Goretti at their parish. However, the email was not about ‘business’ but an emailed response to EXPOSED. I did not realize Fr. Gavin has been also on the ‘grassroots’ marketing team and promoting EXPOSED to everyone he knows. He happened to send it to a friend of his who was (not sure if she still is) a professor at the university I attended. She remembered me, or shall I say the situation, (which was the first shock) but what follows in her response (especially after her P.S. … renders me speechless).
Before I share with you this email I’d like to share with you how this makes me feel because I’ve had all day to hold this cherished gift within my heart. In the context of Advent and Mary’s journey, what this email was for me is like an expectant mother feeling the first kick of her baby in the womb. She’s been told she’s pregnant, she sees the blood tests, she even sees the alien form and heartbeat on a screen but it doesn’t fully present itself as reality until she feels it alive and moving within her. Imagine Mary being told she was pregnant (without sexual relations and by God the Father!) she trusts and believes but just imagine the relief, validation, peace, joy, excitement and courage she gained the first time she felt Jesus kick in her womb.
Receiving this email this morning did that for me today. I know without a doubtGod has a plan for me and for the Maria Goretti Nework, most importantly to release all survivors of abuse from the captivity of shame and silence.
Here is the email (I do not know who the professor is, Fr. Gavin kept that private) and I’ve highlighted what hit me hard in the end:
“I remember being so very concerned for the young woman, particularly facing all this clout. Because of the nature of the accusation, the persistence, etc., I think nearly every woman on campus believed her. I actually talked with an adjunct faculty member from town who told me her own daughter had a friend who had some experience that corroborated Shannon’s story, but refused to come forward. There was nothing I could do in those circumstances but pray. (Again, if this is the same man, if my memory is correct, if…….)
However, what she may not know is that this one accusation—–that she did say no, no matter what the circumstances were—–changed things on campus. It changed attitudes. While there may not be much there still (I would need to check) they began having discussions about date rape in orientation, in classrooms around campus, in MY classrooms, for sure. That’s when I did an informal poll in my classrooms. Speaking up, I am very very sure, did prevent the same thing from happening to many more young women. I think until then it was informally ok—just one of those things in some of the frats. After that, not. (I surely hope!) Also, women were better prepared, spoke up, became more forceful. At least that is my impression. I surely did. She changed my actions. However, I’m sure that it still exists…. especially in the many forms it takes that can’t ever be prosecuted but leave women full of self loathing and scars.
So….. I just thought/felt that you/she may want to know this. If youwant to share this, you are most welcome. My prayers, my —heavens—tears, admiration, deep pain, congratulations, etc. — go to Shannon. Please thank her for me.
PS I loved that I went to the student center and prayed for her. Ah…. so poetic! God is quite the Poet.
The reason I remember this is that I can see us standing outside the Liberal and Applied Arts building. I was talking about this with the adjunct faculty member (who died several years ago) after a meeting we had, hearing about her daughter’s friend who said she’d had an experience but refused to come forward (and that there were others…). I was so helpless to help her….. It grieved me so. But I could see the student center as we were speaking and kept looking there, looking to God. I remember that feeling, helpless and hopeful at the same time, standing across the street.
I don’t know why I feel it’s so important to say this. I don’t know why this has been on my mind to tell you, so much so that I’m up at this hour in California to do it. Maybe she needs to know forcefully that prayer is not just for the person praying, but God does use our prayers to care for others, to fill their souls. Prayer is important. We may never know what will be their impact, or when, but God wants those prayers very much and they connect us. Prayer is integral to the Body of Christ.
I will go to Mass for Shannon.”
🙂 Amazing…not me…oh no…GOD… W O W.
December 9, 2010
Thursday of the
Second Week of Advent
Readings: Is 41:13-20; Mt 11:11-15
I am the LORD, your God,
who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I will help you.”
Is 41:13
Advent is the spiritual season of hope par excellence, and
in it the whole Church is called to become hope, for
herself and for the world.
Homily in Celebration of the First Vespers of the
First Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2008
Blessings
Shannon