Robaird O’Cearbhaill
Hong Kong Correspondent
Five sisters, out of six, from the same family joined the same contemplative order in Spain in only two years. Surprisingly the Spanish nuns had not talked to each other about their vocations before entering the Iesu Communio community.
The news of the unusual nuns came through a video produced by their religious institute to share their lives, the Iesu Communio in the city of Burgos in the north.
In the video, two sisters, Nazareth and Amada de Jesus, spoke in depth about their personal dramas of receiving their vocations, and their surprise at all being called to religious service.”It was a great surprise for everyone when our Lord called us five sisters to the institute in a period of two years.”
Her sister Nazareth thought, “It can’t be. It can’t be that God is calling all of us, and to the same Institute, but He’s definitely calling me, so somebody’s got to be lying here, and it’s not me!”
Amada de Jesus had another view: “God has His plans, and knows the time and place for each person.”
She also explained that in childhood she had “a simple relationship” with God but accepting the call for a vocation was not simple and she at one time wanted to renounce it. It was because Amada de Jesus imagined her life as a normal woman.
“At a certain moment, I knew that He wanted me for Himself, and just thinking about it filled me with joy, but I also thought that the vocation was a renunciation of being a woman, wife, and mother. And I placed myself before Him and asked Him not to call me to renounce that.”
Her next step was meetings with Iesu Communio in her parish where women revealed going through “rescue and healing” experiences. The hurdle Amada de Jesus had to overcome was not to continue training as only a disability teacher.
“God was in those people with disabilities, getting the best out of me as a person. I would study in the morning and think about what would be good for this or that person. In the end, wholeness is self-giving. We are made to love and be loved, and He is the source of love.”
Her turning point in her vocation was when she discussed it with the mother superior of the institute. “I needed to know if this was really Him or if I had somehow invented it.” That was 13 years ago. Now Amada de Jesus declares how well that decision turned out for her. “Today, Amada de Jesus declares: “The gift of consecration is incomparable. Today I remain here for love of Him, and I feel that He loves me very much. I feel that I am deeply loved by Him.” (Photo: Iesu Communion / YouTube)
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