I decided to write the second blog about the role of inner peace following onto the first one about anxiety.
The role of peace was acknowledged by the resurrected Christ who came among disciples who were sitting in the room with doors closed in fear of the crowd outside John 20 19-31 “Jesus came and stood among them and said: ‘Peace be with you.’” Christianity recognises the role of peace in the Christian’s life and is no coincidence that after the Eucharistic prayer we pray Rite of peace in remembrance of the Lord’s prayer to the Apostles “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you” offering Peace to fellow congregation member at the end.
Victims of domestic violence, anti-social behaviour or any other crime even burglary are in need of the inner peace. Victims of crime get traumatised by the traumatic events which play on the mind of the victim spinning like a disc out of control on the faulty CD player.
Sadly it is still the case that 2 women each week get murdered in domestic violence. The situation is hopefully going to change slowly but surely with new legislations introduced by the government that takes these issues more seriously.
According to Women’s Aid web site: “ On average the police receive over 100 calls relating to domestic abuse every hour.[6]”
The legislation is also looking at how to help the perpetrator. I have witnessed an incident of a domestic violence (controlling aggressive behaviour) by the senior Scotland Yard officer who was involved in the 7/7 bombing aftermath. There is a school of thought that those who deal with distressing situations not necessarily victims themselves also suffer trauma. Perhaps the behaviour of this officer may well be result of his own anxiety. The experts in this area are saying that no-one is spared from this kind of affect.
“The Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme (DAPP) aims to help people who have been abusive towards their partners or ex-partners to change their behaviour and develop respectful, non-abusive relationships.”
I am not quite sure if the local police is quite up to the speed on this issue. During the Feltham Forum they were asked for the number of dv reports but they had no figures ready at the Forum.
There may be other issues such as anti-social behaviour that the police may not quite understand. I still remember the officer sitting on my sofa telling me that when he was young he and some kids used to harass this old man. He thought I was too sensitive. In law sensitivity of the victim is not a defence. The law graduates are thought of the Egg shell rule which states take them as you find them.
I regularly read at the mass at St Lawrence’s Church. We recognise that peace is also required after death as we pray with the congregation “May they rest in peace” during the bidding pray.
I listened with an interest the sermon given by Cardinal Vincent during the pilgrim to Walsingham. I was delighted that he has written me a statement of his recollection when he visited the concentration camp in Germany after I recently emailed him:
‘Another occasion when Our Blessed Lady was close to me came on a journey home from a holiday. I was passing through Munich and saw the signs for Dachau. I went to visit the site of the concentration camp.
It is a visit I can never forget. The exhibition, the reconstructed huts, the concentrated space of the camp; the images of the suffering of those who were held, tortured and died there: all left indelible impressions on my mind. I was shocked into a deep silence.
I walked the length of the camp. At the far end was a chapel, with reminders of the astonishing ordination to the priesthood that actually took place in the camp. I went into the chapel and sat down, still in the stunned silence.
Slowly I regained some capacity to pray. But it was a long time. And then, the only prayer that came to my lips was the Rosary. Slowly I prayed. The repetition of the words, the sense of prayer that they evoke, began to restore a sense of stillness within me. I prayed for all those who had been caught up in the horrors of that place. It was Mary, as our mother, who slowly lifted me up.’
Peace be with you.
if affected by Domestic Violence please see or call the
https://www.womensaid.org.uk/the-survivors-handbook/
24hr freephone National Domestic Violence Helpline (run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge) is available on 0808 2000 247 24 hours a day,
Green Queen 