Priest forgives suspect in confessional stabbing

From CNN.

Priest forgives suspect in confessional stabbing

By Rich Phillips
CNN Senior Producer

VERO BEACH, Florida (CNN) — The Rev. Michael Massaro says he has a few aches and pains, but a good night’s sleep has done him some good as he recovers from being attacked Saturday with a knife in a confessional at his church.

 It was one of the most harrowing weekends in the 28 years he’s been a Roman Catholic priest, Massaro said. But it won’t stop him from hearing confessions.

"We’re at the mercy of the people we serve," Massaro told CNN. "We can’t live in fear. God has asked us to live in trust. If it’s going to happen again, it’s going to happen again, but that’s not going to prevent me from doing God’s work."

Massaro had just finished hearing confessions in his Florida church when he was stabbed twice in the back by a woman who later told police Massaro is the Antichrist.

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12 Comments

  1. PGJ says:

    such beautiful humility.

  2. I just this second got done reading that article. It was a very welcome change to see a front page article on a major news organization showing a truly heroic side of a priest. The man is an inspiration for all of us, and he most certainly deserves our prayers as he deals with any anxiety that may accompany such a horrific event. And the woman too is in great need of our prayers, as well. Most likely she is severely mentally ill, and hopefully she gets the help she needs.

  3. irishgirl says:

    Like a true shepherd, this priest!

  4. PS says:

    Beautiful. It’s things like these that make me wish I was called to the priesthood.

  5. Allan says:

    “Doctors used 14 staples to close the “T”-shaped wounds. …Police say she told them that the knife was in three different places, but it was never located.”

    A “T” shaped wound? Wonder what he was really stabbed with, given her belief he was the “antichrist”.

    The mind boggles….

  6. JeanS says:

    Pray for the mentally ill and for funding to help them.

  7. michigancatholic says:

    I hope this lady gets the medical care she needs and that it helps her. How sad for her.

  8. Daisy says:

    The media is all over this priest positively because he has done what they approve of but can you imagine the meltdown if he had expressed even the tiniest bit of human anger at this woman who injured him so badly. He had no choice but to say publicly that he forgave his attacker.

  9. ignatiangroupie says:

    if the wounds were “t” shaped, it was more likely an atheme not simply a knife and who knows what this woman was into.

  10. Gary Keith Chesterton says:

    We should all offer prayers for the intercession of Saint Dymphna for this poor woman. The pain of mental illness is no less real than the pain of a broken leg. Fr. Benedict Groeschel is right in comparing it to the Crown of Thorns.

  11. Maureen says:

    Oh, dear. Apparently, she also has an Internet life, or at least someone under her name posted at Ignatius Insight in the comment box. And in a tone which sounds about right.

    http://insightscoop.typepad.com/2004/2007/04/scott_hahn_it_i.html?cid=65555772#comment-65555772

    May God help her.

  12. Maureen says:

    Running the search engine on her name produces a fairly consistent couple of groups of posts, some of which are very angry and paranoid in tone and others which are fairly sweet albeit old-fashioned or florid in tone.

    For example:
    http://vultus.stblogs.org/2007/01/a_note_from_don_marco.html#comment-67813

    So yeah, I’d say she’s a real member of St. Blog’s, albeit on the periphery, poor lady.

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