Maria Shriver Finally Reveals How Church Was Key In Healing from Arnold Schwarzenegger Divorce

• Maria Shriver was happily married to Arnold Schwarzenegger for 25 years till he had a child with household staff.

• Twelve years after separation and two years after finalizing a divorce, Maria breaks the silence on how she has been healing with the church’s help.

• Her namesake granddaughter became her “gift,” and now she enjoys life as a grandma.

Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger were well-known for the beautiful romance they shared, which resulted in their beautiful children. However, they shocked millions when they announced their divorce.

More shocking than the divorce was the reason the couple decided to call it quits on their marriage. Now, many years later, they have become a close family despite the divorce and cherish their grandchildren.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver and family arrive at the “The Longest Yard” Los Angeles Premiere | Source: Getty Images

In 2011, after 25 years of marriage, Shriver and Schwarzenegger revealed they would be divorcing. The couple said they came to a decision as a team and would continue to focus on their four children.

They mentioned they believed the matter was private and would appreciate their fans’ respect. They did not say why they had decided to break the family up after over two decades together.

However, reports soon revealed that Shriver had decided to end the marriage after discovering that Schwarzenegger had fathered the child of one of the couple’s longtime staff members. The household staff member had worked for the family for 20 years.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver attend Inner-City Games on August 16, 2000 at the Hollenbeck Youth Center in Los Angles, California | Source: Getty Images

Initially, Schwarzenegger did not accept that he was the child’s father; however, once he took responsibility for the boy and confirmed it was indeed his biological son, Mildred Baena, the boy’s mother, who left the Schwarzenegger property.

Schwarzenegger admitted that he told his wife about the incident that had happened over a decade before when he stepped down from office as California governor then admitted:

“I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses, and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused.”

He went on to apologize to his ex-wife and his family. Still, he asked that the public respect his family’s privacy because while he deserved to be criticized, his family did not need any attention on them. He mentioned he knew the “tremendous pain” he had caused his wife.

At the time, Shriver did not comment on the incident. After announcing their divorce, Schwarzenneger talked about the affair once again, saying he felt stupid for doing it because of the pain and suffering he had caused his family.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife Maria Shriver talk during an NBA game on April 18, 1995 at the Forum in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

While the couple announced their split in 2011 and have not been back together since their divorce was only finalized in 2021, in the years leading up to their divorce, they effectively co-parented their children and remained close friends.

In 2023, Shriver Shared How Church Helped Her After a Painful Divorce

Two years after the divorce was finalized, Shriver finally spoke about how she managed to deal with the painful process, from finding out about the affair to becoming legally divorced. When the divorce was finalized, she said: “I think I started feeling like I had freedom.”

Maria Shriver during an interview on January 8, 2014 on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” | Source: Getty Images

She mentioned that when his marriage ended, she felt like she needed to find out the truth about the situation, and she went to a convent to do so. The reverend mother there caused her to become emotional with something she said.

Shriver said the reverend mother told her she thought Shriver went there for them to give her permission to become herself. She admitted: “I was sobbing,” but she didn’t know who she was and made it her mission to find out.

After she left the convent, Shriver permitted herself to be weak, vulnerable, and feel everything she needed to. She mentioned she wanted to learn as much as possible from the painful experience.

After Shriver began learning about her role in life after that devastatingly painful time in her life, she shared:

“I did everything that was available that I could find to heal myself.”

Once Shriver had healed herself and learned all she could from finding out about the affair, separation, and eventual divorce, she said: “I will never abandon myself again.”

New Life as a Grandma in Her Late 60s

Now that she has overcome the divorce and built a wonderful new life for herself, Shriver has also become a grandmother. In 2020, Shriver said:

“I thank God for every day that I’m alive to see [a grandchild].”

She also talked about the “gift” her granddaughter’s parents had given her when they named the little one. Her granddaughter’s second name is Maria, which has made Shriver feel “very blessed.”

She now spends much of her time with her granddaughter, visiting her at home and going on outings with her. Those who have seen Shriver with her granddaughter have said that she glows when she is with the little girl.

Lyla Maria has brought a new and happier chapter into the lives of her parents and grandparents. Shriver dotes on her namesake and is proud to have Lyla by her side whenever possible.

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