We Are All Prisoners
One of my favorite themes in both literature and film to explore is that of woundedness.
Below are a few reflections on psychological wounds:
Reflection 1A: Wounds and the Human Condition
The definition of a wound is damage done to our bodies or our minds. A wound causes harm, and in the case of psychological wounds, the wounded mind as a result of being wounded associates evil with a particular good.1
To put it simply, the result of psychological wounds is that damage has been done to our perception of reality. We begin to believe falsehoods in how we view ourselves, others, or God.
This is vitally important to understand. Go back and read that paragraph again.
The wounds that each of us carry impact our wellbeing on all fronts. At a superficial level, wounds are commonly manifested in physical ticks or manifestations. We see it more deeply in the way people respond to crises or abuse from their past.
By acting out of their wounds, each person is attempting to cope with some evil that has happened to them. This is the equivalent of being stabbed by a knife and holding onto it to keep it from hurting you any more than it already has. This is very bad.
What we must do is to pull the proverbial knife out so that the healing process can begin to happen, but many people never do this out of fear of the pain they will experience.
Concretely, the evasion of addressing one’s wounds is done by avoiding silence, abusing substances, or by living in the past due to regret or in the future out of fear.2
Confronting the truth of the problem directly is what is necessary. While it certainly is a painful process, akin to pulling a knife out of one’s body, only then will we be able to begin the healing process that brings lasting freedom.
Reflection 1B: Interior Life and the Human Condition
What follows from this first reflection is that wounded people hurt themselves and others. Oftentimes, they act out without realizing why they are doing it.
An example of this might help. If a child was often corrected harshly for being clumsy — spilling things, for example — and told they were stupid, they may go on later in life to believe that they are inherently stupid and incapable of doing good.
So next time you are angry at someone in traffic, or you are frustrated at a certain way somebody behaves, it is worth reminding yourself that this person is likely carrying some baggage that makes them the way they are. If you or I were in their shoes, we would probably behave much worse than they do.
This knowledge should incline us to stop speaking poorly of others; we should be critical of ourselves and forbearing with those around us.
2nd Reflection: Absolute Evil and the Human Condition
Serious woundedness often involves events from people’s past that are extremely dark. Abuse and serious hurt are not as rare as we would like them to be, and these experiences can put people in a dark place. These traumatic experiences can also cause them to turn around and hurt others.
It is easy to believe that some people are just purely evil and do things to maximize damage, akin to Batman’s nemesis the Joker. This is not true, however; Aquinas says that even those who commit evil are seeking some good. This is likely a very warped sense of good, such as justice in the form of vengeance, but the truth remains that these people are not wholly lost. What we must do is pray for them, without justifying the evils we see them commit.
In Summary
The reality is, we are all prisoners of our own wounds. By acknowledging the truth of our past traumas and by living in reality, we can begin the healing process that makes us whole.
I would highly recommend that everyone go and listen to the two lectures linked in the footnotes of this article.
Prayers for Overcoming Woundedness:
Lord Jesus, Thou camest to heal our wounded and troubled hearts. I beg Thee to heal the torments that cause anxiety in my heart; I beg Thee, in a particular way, to heal all who are the cause of sin. I beg Thee to come into my life and heal me of the psychological harms that struck me in my early years and from the injuries that they have caused throughout my life. Lord Jesus, Thou knowest my burdens. I lay them all on Thy Good Shepherd's Heart. I beseech Thee – by the merits of the great, open wound in Thy Heart – to heal the small wounds that are in mine. Heal the pain of my memories, so that nothing that has happened to me will cause me to remain in pain and anguish, filled with anxiety. Heal, O Lord, all those wounds that have been the cause of all the evil that is rooted in my life. I want to forgive all those who have offended me. Look to those inner sores that make me unable to forgive. Thou who camest to forgive the afflicted of heart, please, heal my own heart. Heal, my Lord Jesus, those intimate wounds that cause me physical illness. I offer Thee my heart. Accept it, Lord, purify it and give me the sentiments of Thy Divine Heart. Help me to be meek and humble. Heal me, O Lord, from the pain caused by the death of my loved ones, which is oppressing me. Grant me to regain peace and joy in the knowledge that Thou art the Resurrection and the Life. Make me an authentic witness to Thy Resurrection, Thy victory over sin and death, Thy living presence among us. Amen.3
Blessed Mother of God and St. Joseph, I completely open up to you all of my wounds, together with all of the sins I have committed to cause these wounds. I beg you to wash, cleanse, and purify these wounds in your tears and in the Precious Blood of your Son. I beg you to bring your Son into these wounds to heal them. I beg you to fill these spots with charity, and together with your Son to stay and rule.
Come Holy Spirit to see myself as you see me, and to love myself as you love me.
Blessed Mother, help me to see myself as you see me, and to love myself as you love me.
Taken from a lecture on wounds by Fr. Chad Ripperger
Taken from a lecture on wounds by a traditional priest.
Taken from Fr. Ripperger’s book Deliverance Prayers for the Laity
Great article. This is a subject that gets more real as you get older. You come to realize that literally everyone is acting out of some sense of woundedness. I think we reach Maturity when we become aware of our personal wounds and cease to be controlled by them but rather work to heal them and/or help others to heal.
My healing process began with my conversion and I suspect it will continue until I take my last breath. It can be painful at times of course, and possibly more so as my heart goes from stone to flesh, ‘regrets, I have a few’..but with faith, there is great comfort in uniting our suffering with His. I think of the beautiful C.S. Lewis quote, “We are like blocks of stone out of which the sculptor carves the forms of men. The blows of his chisel which hurt us so much is what makes us perfect.” God bless you Patrick, great piece.