Tomorrow I’ll be giving away two copies of “My Peace I Give You”, so be sure to come back and enter!
I recently sat down with Dawn Eden, author of the compelling new book, My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints (Ave Maria Press, paperback, 256 pages.)
Dawn weaves in her own story of childhood abuse alongside saints who were hurt, mistreated, and abandoned. By witnessing how they found joy in their sufferings, the book helps you journey toward your own spiritual healing. Whatever wounds you have, whether they be sexual, emotional, social, or physical, this book provides much-needed hope and relief.
During our chat, we discussed several themes from her book, including the meaning of suffering, how the saints can help us, and how our wounds bring us deeper into God.
Watch, stream, or download the interview below:
Video
Audio
Download the mp3 here (16 minutes)
Topics Discussed:
1:07 – Who was St. Josephine Bakhita and what can she teach us?
2:40 – St. Josephine as a model for suffering
5:11 – How did the saints find joy in their suffering?
5:49 – Christopher Hitchens and Mother Teresa
7:32 – The meaning of Christ’s suffering on the Cross
8:35 – Why would God allow pain and suffering?
10:23 – The difference between pleasure and joy
11:36 – What would you say to people who have been abused?
12:37 – “God does not will abuse”
Excerpt
Q: What is the meaning of suffering?
Pope John Paul II says that God wants to be united to every one of us, and in a particular way to those of us who suffer. As one who was abused in childhood, the teachings of the Church on evil were very important to me, because I learned in the Catechism that God does not positively will evil.
He permits it because he can bring a greater good through it. And the greater good that I believe he’s brought through the evil I’ve suffered is the good of being able to be more closely united, through my wounds, with the wounded and Resurrected Christ.
Be sure to check out Dawn’s new book, My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints, and follow her writings at The Dawn Patrol.
If you liked this interview, check out my other discussions with people like Fr. Robert Barron, Christopher West, Marc Barnes, and more. And be sure you don’t miss future interviews by subscribing to The Thin Veil via feed reader or email.
How have you found joy during suffering?
Tomorrow I’ll be giving away two copies of “My Peace I Give You”, so be sure to come back and enter!