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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Victim Soul	Tessie	Sunday, September 5, 2004
Question: Dear Brother, There is a child in New England somewhere, I forget where, named Audrey Santo, who is in a persistent vegatative state because she was a near-drowning @ the age of 3. Now, years later (she is a teenager), people come from everywhere to pray with her, supposedly statues cry tears and exude oil in the house where she lives. Her mother says she is a victim soul. Is this her family's attempt to find solace because of this tragedy, or is something miraculous really happening here? Could you please explain what a victim soul is, exactly? And what is the Church's view on Audrey Santo? Thank you and God bless you. Tessie
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear Tessie: I do not know much about Audrey Santo. From what I have read the Church has not made any decision about the alleged miracles taking place with this comatose girl. The accounts that I have read sound to me that this little girl has been exploited, displayed like a carnival side-show, the dripping oil phenomena faked, and many of the so-called healings unsubstantiated. I see little in this sad story of a supernatural nature. I pray for her and for the mother, who may be deluded, and await the decision of the Church. In my opinion there is more than enough evidence to suspect what is going on here. Thus, I think the better part of prudence is to have nothing to do with it until such time as the Church verifies it, if ever. A victim soul is a person called by God to suffer on the behalf of others. There is a debate right now about how Audrey could be a victim soul when she cannot be conscious to the other person's suffering. In any event, I recommend waiting for the Church to decide on this one before involving oneself. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Victim Soul

Tessie

Sunday, September 5, 2004

Question:

Dear Brother,

There is a child in New England somewhere, I forget where, named Audrey Santo, who is in a persistent vegatative state because she was a near-drowning @ the age of 3. Now, years later (she is a teenager), people come from everywhere to pray with her, supposedly statues cry tears and exude oil in the house where she lives.

Her mother says she is a victim soul. Is this her family's attempt to find solace because of this tragedy, or is something miraculous really happening here? Could you please explain what a victim soul is, exactly? And what is the Church's view on Audrey Santo?

Thank you and God bless you.
Tessie

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear Tessie:

I do not know much about Audrey Santo. From what I have read the Church has not made any decision about the alleged miracles taking place with this comatose girl.

The accounts that I have read sound to me that this little girl has been exploited, displayed like a carnival side-show, the dripping oil phenomena faked, and many of the so-called healings unsubstantiated.

I see little in this sad story of a supernatural nature. I pray for her and for the mother, who may be deluded, and await the decision of the Church.

In my opinion there is more than enough evidence to suspect what is going on here. Thus, I think the better part of prudence is to have nothing to do with it until such time as the Church verifies it, if ever.

A victim soul is a person called by God to suffer on the behalf of others. There is a debate right now about how Audrey could be a victim soul when she cannot be conscious to the other person's suffering.

In any event, I recommend waiting for the Church to decide on this one before involving oneself.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum