Victim Soul

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soulyluna

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I was prayed over by a prayer team this weekend. One person is well respected in the charismatic renewal and has been very active in it for several years. I was told that I am a “victim soul” after I asked them to pray for an illness that I have. I have been doing research on the topic of victim souls and I am confused. I don’t know what to think about this. I know that all Christians are called to “offer it up” when we suffer, but to be a victim soul seems like a calling from God. Am I really any different from the rest of us who are called to carry our crosses? It seems like we ALL should be victim souls in that regard. I am a little embarrased to tell anyone that I am a victim soul, as if I have a special annointing to suffer when I know that we all suffer in our own ways (and many people suffer MUCH more than me) and why should my suffering be considered any more holy than anyone else’s suffering? Wouldn’t it have been better to tell me to just “offer it up” than to tell me I am a “victim soul”? Any help would be appreciated.
 
soulyluna said:
I was prayed over by a prayer team this weekend. One person is well respected in the charismatic renewal and has been very active in it for several years. I was told that I am a “victim soul” after I asked them to pray for an illness that I have. I have been doing research on the topic of victim souls and I am confused. I don’t know what to think about this. I know that all Christians are called to “offer it up” when we suffer, but to be a victim soul seems like a calling from God. Am I really any different from the rest of us who are called to carry our crosses? It seems like we ALL should be victim souls in that regard. I am a little embarrased to tell anyone that I am a victim soul, as if I have a special annointing to suffer when I know that we all suffer in our own ways (and many people suffer MUCH more than me) and why should my suffering be considered any more holy than anyone else’s suffering? Wouldn’t it have been better to tell me to just “offer it up” than to tell me I am a “victim soul”? Any help would be appreciated.
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you could pray this life offering

Life Offering to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
through the Immaculate Heart of Mary

My dear Jesus, before the Trinity, Our Heavenly Mother, and the whole Heavenly Court, united with Your Most Precious Sacred Blood and Your sacrifice on Calvary, hereby I offer my whole life to the intention of Your Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Together with my life I place at Your disposal all Holy Masses, all my Holy Communions, all my good deeds, all my sacrifices, and the sufferings of my entire life for the adoration and supplication of the Holy Trinity, for unity in our Holy Mother Church, for the Holy Father and for priests, for good priestly vocations, and for all souls until the end of the world. O my Jesus, please accept my life sacrifice and my offerings and give me Your grace that I may persevere obediently until my death.
Amen.
The Five Promises of our Heavenly Mother to those who offer this prayer
with humble heart, firm resolution and clear intent
“Their name will be written in the hearts of Jesus and Mary, inflamed by love.”
“Their life offerings, together with the infinite merits of Jesus, can save many souls from damnation.”
“None of their family members will go to hell, even if it seems otherwise, because they will receive in the depths of their souls the graces of sincere contrition before the soul departs from their bodies.”
“On the day they offer their lives, their loved ones suffering in Purgatory will be released.”
“I will be with them in the hour of their deaths. They will not know Purgatory. I will carry them in their souls straight to the presence of the Glorious Trinity, where they will live with me in a special place created by God and will rejoice forever.”

NIHIL OBSTAT: P. Alberto Valenzuel, S.J.
IMPRIMATUR: Pbro. Agustin Gutierez de la Torre,
Vicario General de la Arquidiocesis Guadalajara,
12 de junio de 1988.
IMPRIMATUR also by the local Bishop in Hungary.
(Verbal. The Bishop himself offered his life according to the request of Our Lady)

the booklet for it is called life offering available from

divinemercy.org/products/products.php?pageNum_rsProducts=3&totalRows_rsProducts=73&p_category_name=Book%20Library

theres also a site that you can offer yourself as a victim soul for priests…

heres the offering prayer

Morning Offering

Holy Blessed Trinity,
I offer You all my prayers,
Works, joys and sufferings,
Of this day. No matter what
little thing I do, I offer it to
You In reparation:

For holy priests
For the conversion of priests
For more priests
For the return of many priests
Who have left the priesthood
For the priests still in purgatory
Especially those most in need.
I offer myself this day (optional:
And hereafter until my death)
As an offering for holy priests.
In union with the suffering,
Death and resurrection of Jesus.
And in union with the Sacred
Body And Blood of Jesus
Consecrated daily on all the
Altars of the world by Your
Holy priests.
I make this offering freely,
Trusting that You will take care
Of all my needs, spiritual and
Temporal, for the state in life
To which You have called me.

I make this offering through
The Immaculate Hands and
Heart of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, Mother of Divine Love,
That She might take this
Imperfect prayer and
Present it to Her Son,
That through His Sacred Heart,
He might perfect it,
And present it to Our Father
By the Power of The Holy Spirit.
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.

(With ecclesiastical approbation.)

the site for this is
dwp.bigplanet.com/holybrides/morningoffering/

also there is the apostleship of prayer where you offer everything up each day

the prayer for this is

Traditional Daily Offering of the
Apostleship of Prayer

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

the website for this is
apostleshipofprayer.org/dailyOffering.html
 
soulyluna said:
I was prayed over by a prayer team this weekend. One person is well respected in the charismatic renewal and has been very active in it for several years. I was told that I am a “victim soul” after I asked them to pray for an illness that I have. I have been doing research on the topic of victim souls and I am confused. I don’t know what to think about this. I know that all Christians are called to “offer it up” when we suffer, but to be a victim soul seems like a calling from God. Am I really any different from the rest of us who are called to carry our crosses? It seems like we ALL should be victim souls in that regard. I am a little embarrased to tell anyone that I am a victim soul, as if I have a special annointing to suffer when I know that we all suffer in our own ways (and many people suffer MUCH more than me) and why should my suffering be considered any more holy than anyone else’s suffering? Wouldn’t it have been better to tell me to just “offer it up” than to tell me I am a “victim soul”? Any help would be appreciated.
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I think your hesitancy to accept this is correct. This is something to be discussed with a priest who is an experienced spiritual director. I think it was ill-advised for the person to tell you this.
 
FCEGM said:
I think your hesitancy to accept this is correct. This is something to be discussed with a priest who is an experienced spiritual director. I think it was ill-advised for the person to tell you this.
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Agreed!
 
soulyluna said:
I . Am I really any different from the rest of us who are called to carry our crosses? It seems like we ALL should be victim souls in that regard. I am a little embarrased to tell anyone that I am a victim soul, as if I have a special annointing to suffer when I know that we all suffer in our own ways (and many people suffer MUCH more than me) and why should my suffering be considered any more holy than anyone else’s suffering? Wouldn’t it have been better to tell me to just “offer it up” than to tell me I am a “victim soul”? Any help would be appreciated.
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I think your perspective is the correct one. I don’t know if “victim soul” has a specific theological meaning, but I don’t think everyone who suffers, even one will do to offer up their personal suffering for the sake of others in union with Christ, as you do, is by definition a victim soul. That seem to be a label best applied by the spiritual director to such a person who has given evidence of heroic suffering and holiness beyond the ordinary for a considerable length of time. I am sure the person who said that meant to be comforting and offer you a source of strength in your suffering, but not so sure they had authority to say such a thing. He also probably meant to use your example to inspire others, which you certainly are doing.
 
I think that those who are/were victim souls have generally felt as you do, hesitant to identify and reluctant to reveal the fact. I believe it should generally be kept private to avoid a risk of pride. In any event, I would urge you simply to continue to seek and do God’s will in everything and God bless you.
 
Thank you all so much for your help! I read each one and I found each response insightful and helpful. I was able to speak to a priest last night and he helped me to understand that we are all called to join our suffering to Jesus on the cross and he told me to be careful of some of the prophesy of charismatic lay people. They have such kind, caring hearts. Sometimes they may say things to comfort us and are well-meaning, but it may confuse us (I have been told I was healed by one person which was not true, then that I was a victim soul, etc.) It is always good to speak with a priest to clarify what was said to us. I always appreciate prayer teams and I know that so much healing comes from their intercessory prayers. I will continue to seek prayer from prayer teams when I see them at my bible studies, etc. but when it comes to prophesy, I will speak to a priest before I take it to heart.
God bless all of you!
:heaven:
 
BluesPicker: Wow, that is a great article. I also looked at the other unhealthy devotions and the prayers. They were very helpful. Thanks for the link!
 
Who might have guessed that the Father was such an excellent seamstress that by sewing together the lives of His saints He embroidered the elegant fabric of our faith ?
 
FCEGM said:
I think your hesitancy to accept this is correct. This is something to be discussed with a priest who is an experienced spiritual director. I think it was ill-advised for the person to tell you this.
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Precisely so!
 
You were right to question what the charismatic had said to you. If a learned, holy validly ordained priest had told you in spiritual direction that you were a victim soul, that would be a different matter. God bless you.
 
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