God has been so good to me! Since with and throughout my childhood, my parents’ deep faith, coupled with my parochial school education, deeply influenced and strengthened my faith values. In addition, my mother’s twin sisters had entered the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm and every few summers we traveled to visit them. It was in my late childhood that a curiosity about religious life began to grow.
As I grew older, my fantasy about becoming a nun “faded” but never really disappeared. Adolescence drew me into other areas and interests, but there would be times when I would still wonder what it would be like to be a nun. I felt it was just my need to help people and so I entered Nursing school after high school. My years as a nurse were extremely rewarding and fulfilling. But still a nagging, lingering question would arise deep within me that I have been called to be a nun.
On a backpack trip through Europe in the early 70’s, with three other nurses that I worked with, I discovered the answer to my dilemma. While touring Dachau museum, the concentration camp in Germany where millions of Jews were killed, I was moved by depictions of such atrocities. I made a visit to the Chapel that was on the grounds of the concentration camp. There was a Eucharistic Adoration going on at the time and two nuns were kneeling in adoration before the monstrance. I asked God forgiveness for all the cruelty that had occurred there and then asked God to forgive me for all the times I had been cruel to others as well.
On the train back to Munich, we were all silent, busy musing over the day’s events. It was then that I made the decision to enter the convent. A deep peace came over me and I knew this was what I was meant to do. (Years later I discovered that those nuns who were praying were Carmelites who prayed for reparation for all the killings that had occurred at Dachau.)
I have been a Carmelite Sister for over 34 years. I thank God for His abundant graces and blessings that have brought me this far. Also, I thank my Sisters for their example of prayer and perseverance as well. I was the oldest child in my family and mentored my 4 younger siblings. Now, I have been called to mentor others who join us as their Novice Director. What a wonderful gift this has been for me! To see the day to day graces in action in the life of one who totally gives herself over to Him!
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Sister M. Cyril Methodius