Padua was very excited to hear from special guest speaker Rosario Rodriguez on November 13. She is from Los Angeles and has spoken all over the world. Rodriguez is a victim of not just one, but two violent crimes. She shared with us how she forgave those who had hurt her.
The First Encounter
To begin the talk, Rodriguez immediately began with the first violent crime that she went through. The first attack occurred when she was only 14 years old. One morning on the way to the school bus, she was attacked by a serial killer/rapist. Coming from an exceptionally religious family, her first reaction was to yell as loud as possible the “Hail Mary.” The rapist was frightened and actually ran away. Rodriguez went on to explain that she was the only victim that the serial killer did not kill and she believes that it is all because of God’s grace, as He decided it was not her time to leave this earth.
State of Mind
After the incident, Rodriguez became extremely depressed and had suicidal thought. because of the angst she had endured. The depression actually controlled her state of mind for a total of five years. After struggling with this for far too long, Rodriguez proved to us that it is okay to seek help. She told her mother that she was in need of her assistance and began professional treatment from a catholic priest. Rodriguez assumed that she would be set up with a woman, but God had planned for her a man to help.
Forgiving
The priest began by telling Rodriguez that she must forgive the rapist and that every morning, she must say, “I forgive this man,” even if it was not true. At first, she admits to being skeptical of the priest, but continued each day by trying to forgive the man and even pray for him. The priest’s ideas became transformational. Rodriguez was happy again and stated, “Forgiveness taught me to love again. Forgiveness is freedom. Forgiveness is love.” She could not believe the results and attributed it all to God, her loving Savior.
The Second Encounter
Just three years ago, Rosario Rodriguez was working in Hollywood as a missionary. She lived in Beverly Hills, supposedly the safest town around. One day, some young adults were robbing houses for gang initiation. Rodriguez specified that a woman of age 24 shot her in the chest. Her esophagus was destroyed, her lungs collapsed, and the bullet missed her heart by only one centimeter. Rodriguez’s story is truly inspiring because when the woman fled, Rodriguez chased the car to get the license plate number, even after she was shot! She prayed to God and asked him how it could be possible to catch the license plate. It turned out that the woman’s car eventually stalled out and the license plate read “SHIELD.” Rodriguez thanked God for all of his help. Surprisingly enough, after the woman was caught, Rodriguez even forgave her after all she had attacked her. Rodriguez continued by advising us to, “Run to the sacraments… We all need love.”
In the End
Due to her fear, Rodriguez still cannot walk outside by herself when it is dark. The first man was never caught, but the woman went on a three year trial and received life in prison. After all of Rodriguez’s emotional violence she had to endure, she forgave both of the people who had hurt her. Rodriguez completely embraced the grace of God and is truly inspirational.