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Victim Souls experience intensely the redemptive power of Suffering, because God chose them to undergo abnormally intense physical and sometimes spiritual suffering for other persons’ salvation.

St. Paul’s declares, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church.” (Col 1:24)

Although Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption, we are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” (Rom 8:17)

The opportunities for redemptive suffering are distributed unequally among humanity.  Scripture assures we can carry whatever cross God gives us, because we receive strength to endure the cross.

“No temptation has overtaken you, but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure.”  (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The victim soul’s redemptive suffering takes an intense and personal form of Grace often accompanied by mystical phenomena, such as visions and locutions, with excruciating physical and spiritual pains.

The stigmata comprise Christ’s crucifixion wounds on the victim soul’s body, as bloody wounds on the palms, feet, side or forehead.  Invisible stigmata comprise the pains of Christ’s Passion without the wounds.

St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938), Apostle of Divine Mercy, suffered invisible stigmata, and St. Pio of Pietrelcina (1887-1968) had visible stigmata, poor health and frequent evil physical and spiritual attacks.

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