To this day, Cleotilde* still wears her wedding ring.

Perhaps it’s a symbol of her faith in God.

“I arrived at Casa de Misericordia approximately four years ago,” Cleotilde begins her tragic story of domestic abuse. “I was recently married at that time (and without kids). I got married in Guadalajara.” And that’s where and when the nightmare began. The courtship was as standard as a hot summer day in south Texas. There were no signs of violence from the man she fell in love with, from whose memory hope springs eternal.

“It began on the first night of our marriage on our honeymoon. It started from that moment,” recalled Cleotilde. “It was a surprising and shocking night for me. I never understood why he did it. Even though he physically assaulted me, you can say that he damaged me more emotionally. To this day, my husband is a person who cannot accept his errors. Even though he caused me so much emotional pain, he has never acknowledged his mistakes.”

Seeking help, Cleotilde spoke with her pastor who advised that if the marriage had not been consummated, she could seek an annulment through the Marriage Tribunal office in the diocese. She decided, however, to give the marriage, and him, another opportunity—hoping that it was a one-time incident. Displaying mercy, she forgave what most could not, or would not, forgive. “A little later, my husband moved to Laredo because he’s a [U.S.] citizen and called me at home in Guadalajara asking me to return to him,” explained Cleotilde.

Unfortunately, nothing changed for Cleotilde when she arrived in the United States. Her husband’s jealousy and insecurity only inflicted more emotional and psychological damage on Cleotilde. Nothing had changed.

“The sad thing is that I married for love,” confessed Cleotilde. “I didn’t marry him to become a [U.S.] citizen. He never showed any signs of violence before we got married. The man who attacked me was not the man I fell in love with.”

But who was there to turn to for help? She knew hardly anyone in Laredo, let alone of organizations dedicated to helping abused women and children. A little less than a month had passed since moving to the border town when the abuse reached a point where Cleotilde sought help from law enforcement officials.

“They saw the marks [on my neck and arms] and I asked what I could do,” said Cleotilde. “They explained to me that they had to arrest my husband because he had tried to choke me. It was then that they brought me to Casa de Misericordia.”

Sister Rosemary Welsh and the entire staff at Casa de Misericordia opened their arms and their doors to Cleotilde, giving a welcome she never imagined and one she couldn’t find in her own home. “They treated me very well. They listened, they supported and they counseled me,” she recalled. “Above all, they never passed judgment on me. I had the freedom to make my own decisions.”

Casa de Misericordia offers a comprehensive plan for victims of domestic abuse. Part of the routine includes a physical examination by a medical doctor. “After the checkup, I discovered that I was pregnant,” said Cleotilde. “Sister was very happy for me and congratulated me. Although some people might say that my pregnancy was a mistake, I saw him as a miracle from God.”

* Cleotilde is a pseudonym.