Bl. Antonia Messina
Defender of chastity. More like defender of my foot up your ass.
Antonia was 15 when she was murdered because she would not let a 19 year old man rape her. She ran off from him twice, but the third time he knocked her down and then proceeded to beat her with a rock 74 times, smashing her skull and disfiguring her face. The man was sentenced to death and Antonia was not there to plead mercy for him. He died by firing squad.
The more accounts of rape or attempted rape I read, the more I am convinced that rape is not a sin of chastity, but a sin of power. Rape is a power move. I want what I want and I’ll take it if I have to. It goes against everything God is. It goes against love, against self-donation, against self-determination, and is all about overpowering the other to get what you want. Love is about the other, about doing what is good so the other can attain goodness, too. Antonia’s attacker had none of that.
Antonia isn’t a blessed because she fended off an attacker and successfully defended her chastity (an autopsy revealed she had not been violated during or after the attack). She’s a blessed because she loved Jesus, took real actions to be closer to Him, and was virtuous in many ways. She was coming home from mass when she was attacked, for goodness’ sakes! She was also part of the Catholic Action group because it “helps you to be good” and was a great recruiter for them. She was naturally gregarious and used that to bring people closer to Jesus.
It’s a true tragedy that Antonia’s life was cut short due to some horny, entitled male. Part of me thinks her attacker got what he deserved. Another part of me thinks that it’s a tragedy that his life was lost, too, with no chance for redemption. The whole of me is saddened by this story of two lives lost due to rage and entitlement. I know Antonia is praying for her attacker. May we all desire the good of the other like Antonia did.
Bl. Antonia Messina, pray for us!
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