We are Catholic women who are also survivors of abusive relationships, like St. Marguerite d’Youville. Some of us were abused by our parents, some by our in-laws and friends and churches, and most by our husbands. We have clung to our faith through our struggles and suffering, and we have wrestled with the disconnect between the way we are treated by those who should love us and the inherent dignity we bear as daughters of God.
Having grown in our faith and freedom, either in spite of or because of our abuse, we now want to help other women struggling to find their voices, their selves, and their worth when they are being subjected to emotional, verbal, psychological, sexual, physical, and financial abuse. Like St. Marguerite d’Youville, the suffering we have endured has helped us to see the suffering around us. Just as we were drawn from the fire, we want to help draw others from the fire.
Maggie Youville is not one woman, but many. We share our stories to encourage and inspire other women. Many of us are still in relationships with our abusers because we share children with them, and so our stories are shared anonymously to protect us and our children.
We share our stories not to say “this is how you should handle abuse” or “this is how to get out,” but rather to raise awareness of this difficult and complex issue and to empower women to find their path forward. We recognize that each woman, each relationship, each journey is unique but we hope that our stories will inspire courage. Most of all, we want you to know you are not alone, and it’s never too late to seek healing and help.
Disclaimer: the thoughts and ideas expressed here are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the exact teachings of the Catholic Church. While each of us is Catholic, our beliefs and views are also informed by our life experiences. We invite you to read with a curious, open, reflective mind.