Venerable Teresita Gonzalez-Quevedo
Her secret was Mary - 2
Sister Mary Elizabeth
|
Venerable Teresita Gonzalez-Quevedo Her secret was Mary - 2 Sister Mary Elizabeth |
[Published in From the House Top - The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Still River, Massachusetts, USA, 2004, pp.1-20.] - Website:
www.saintbenedict.com.
A Vow of Chastity
-- The Catholic in action -- "We play for Championship!" -- The Decision
Last days with the Family -- The Postulant -- The Novice
The puzzle wouldn't have been that hard to solve had these young gentlemen known about an event that occurred on the feast of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception, December 8, when Teresita was fifteen. She had written on a holy card on that day, "Most Holy Mother, today I have solemnly promised to live holy and chaste forever. My only desire is to give You, Jesus and Mary, pure pleasure."
 |
to the young orphan boys. |
She also wrote that her only desire was to become holy in order to please God and her beautiful Mother Mary. "I will do whatever is necessary to become holy quickly", she had confided to her favorite aunt, Mother Anita, sister of Dr. Quevedo who lived in Puerto Rico. "Teresita did not mean quickly in the usual sense of the word. What she meant was that she wanted every fiber of her being to work intensely and incessantly on the one project of her life-her sanctity," related Mother Anita. Tere's "quickness" of character even permeated her spiritual life.
The Catholic in action
Teresita was involved in catechesis and was the sole instructor of a very poor boy whom she prepared for First Holy Communion. She painstakingly gave him most careful guidance, especially when she learned that he was from a very sad family situation; his mother was a spiritualist. Teresita never failed to pray and sacrifice for him, and to bring him toys and candy.
Her love for souls carried her interests to the Jesuit missions in Alaska, and by means of correspondence, she even adopted a little Alaskan girl, Maria Kluinalpk, as a goddaughter. Her friend used to say, "In Teresita's face there was the hope of conquering the world for Christ!" Teresita's world, however, was not a selfish world. She was truly a member of the Church Militant, and felt the growing needs of the Mystical Body of Christ.
But Teresita was still Teresita, happy, vivacious, one who always seemed to be in command of any given situation. Once she assisted a friend of hers in piercing her ears. Unfortunately, as soon as the procedure began, Teresita's friend lost consciousness. Undaunted, the daughter of a physician continued on, taking advantage of her friend's state, and soon the successful operation was completed. After all, weren't pierced ears worth the pain?
One must keep up with the fashions. But Teresita did know where to draw the line with styles. Once when she was with her tennis club on a boat trip near the French shore and was looking forward to experiencing a different culture and making new acquaintances, she was horrified and repulsed at the immoral dress of the sunbathers.
 |
the Novitiate of the Carmelites. [Design of Amelia Ippolito] |
Blessed Jacinta of Fatima told us in 1917, "The sins that bring most souls to Hell are the sins of the flesh... Do not give yourself to immodest clothes. Certain fashions are going to be introduced which will offend Our Lord very much. Those who serve God should not follow these fashions." Teresita felt very saddened for Our Lord and her Madrecita. Immodest dress was not her style.
"We Play For Championship!"
Teresita loved athletics. "Who is that blond who plays so hard?" onlookers would ask as they watched Teresita on the basketball court. She put her "all" into whatever she did, and sports were no different. Teresita was elected captain of the basketball team, and because it was customary for the newly elected to compose a cheer for the team, she sat at the piano and came up with a few rousing, lively phrases which were used before games.
Teresita organized and led her teammates to strive to achieve their best and to do so in order to honor their school and Our Lady. During the season, each member daily consecrated herself to La Madrecita, went to Mass, received Holy Communion, and said the Rosary. Before the game, they said the Memorare, and especially prayed for victory. "We play for championship!" Teresita told them. And win they did.
She also loved tennis, the only sport that claimed her as a tournament participant. Swimming and diving she did with ease and expertise, and she even attracted the attention of coaches who saw her as a potential medal winner, but she declined pursuing that field. Yes, she was intense in whatever she did, but her heart always seemed to be elsewhere.
The Decision
Senior year posed a challenge to her. She spoke of her determination to win a special award that was called the Badge of Honor. She felt fit would be a disgrace to graduate without having achieved this for Our Lady. When the distribution of awards was posted for the trimester, to her great joy, Teresita saw her name beside the coveted award. She strove to make everything in that senior year redound to her Madrecita's honor.
The feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, November 21, is very special to the Academy of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Mother Teresa had given the usual Sodality lecture, encouraging the girls to assist most devoutly at the upcoming procession in honor of Our Lady. The same talk was given every year to the girls. The same hymns were sung. The same externals that Teresita had followed for years on this feast day she again followed.
But something was not the same. After the festivities, observant Mother Teresa called her niece into her office, for she had seen Teresita's copious tears throughout the procession. They were not the typical senior's sentimental tears of "It's my last time doing this" tears. No. She knew her niece too well. It was here in Mother Teresa's office that Teresita voiced her determination to become a religious as a Carmelite Sister of Charity, and in fact before the close of the school year, in the month of February.
Her aunt objected to her being only seventeen, too young to embrace religious life, and told her to wait until she was twenty. But when she heard that Father Musquiz had already approved, and was convinced of her determination, Mother Teresa relented and silently embraced her niece and both went to the chapel to thank Our Lady for her great gift of vocation.
Her secret, she decided, would not be told to her family until the day after the Epiphany, on January 7, so that she would not disturb their Christmas. She had asked Mother Teresa not to tell her parents before she did and requested extra time to work on her embroidery for her mother before she entered.
The days flew by and she still held the secret deep in her heart. But one day after thoroughly enjoying recreation time, Teresita and a friend were in the rest room exchanging some chitchat as they prepared for class. Teresita told her that this would be her last semester at school because she was going to enter the novitiate. Her friend reacted instantly with tears telling her that she couldn't leave because she couldn't imagine life at school without her.
Teresita calmed her and asked for her prayers because she would soon have to tell her family and that it was going to be very difficult. Teresita stated that the only pain she would feel would be that of parting from them and having to give up her Sodality medal. Teresita took out her medal on its blue satin ribbon and put fit over her friend's head, telling her to keep her dearest possession for her.
She knew that God calls one to leave those whom one loves in order to find a Higher Love. Carmen, her sister, looks back on that time period, "She was completely faithful to her classmates and friends, yet despite this fact, she missed none of us, neither boys nor girls." But the hardest parting was yet to come.
Last Days With The Family
January 7 dawned. While Calixto was resting, Teresita sat beside him and gently broke the news to him. Though her father had sensed it for some time, it still was a shock. He pointed out her love of parties, dancing, sports, and the fact that religious life was a life of sacrifice. She countered every point gently but firmly and showed her characteristic determination.
Teresita then told him of her decision to enter in February. Her mother was called in and after hearing the news was greatly saddened. It was the first time that Tere had ever seen her mother cry. Calixto wrote to his brother, "At first, naturally, her mother suffered deeply; she was afraid that Teresita, at seventeen, may not realize the step she was taking. Now, however, we both are sure that our child is fulfilling God's will. Our faith moves us to give what God asks, just as Teresita's faith inspires her to respond to His call."
Her dear sister Carmen wept. Carmen reflects back today, "My life was enormously close to hers...she was a marvelous example due to her sensible love for Jesus and fervent love for Our Holy Mother... She radiated light, the love of God." Teresita felt immensely the pain of separation from her family, yet loved God through and above this pain. Everyone inwardly rejoiced that God had blessed their family with a vocation.
 |
The Order which Teresita entered was The Institute of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity and was founded by Saint Joaquina de Vedruna, canonized on April 12, 1959, by Pope John XXIII. In 1816, when Joaquina was thirty-theee years old, she received a vision of Our Lord, foretelling the imminent death of her husband and Our Lord's desire for her to found a new order called the Carmelite Sisters of Charity. The Institute's primary goal is the sanctification of its members by works such as orphanages, schools, and hospitals. Postulants are only received at certain times of the year. February 23 was the day on which Teresita chose to enter.
The Postulant
Teresita's friend expressed her surprise at the beautiful outfit she wore to Vespers, the evening before her entrance. Tere responded, "A religious vocation does not spell gloom, untidiness, or bad taste. Don't you think God loves beautiful things? Isn't Our Blessed Lady called the Lily among lilies? I have always liked to dress well but this will end when I enter the convent. I will leave the world on the novitiate doorstep because I want to become a saint. No half measures for me!"
Teresita prayed for snow on her entrance day, as her patroness, Saint Therese of Lisieux, as a sign of predilection. Sure enough, her prayers were also answered and the convent grounds were covered with a glistening white mantle, and added to the festivities of the day.
Postulancy is the initial period in religious life wherein the candidate "knocks" (from the Latin verb "postulare") on the door of the Order, seeking entrance. The new postulant, now addressed as Sister Maria Teresa, began her six-month preparatory period in which she was introduced to the customs and rules of the Institute.
The newcomers were given much assistance by a postulant directress, novice mistress, as well as two senior novices assigned as angels to each postulant. The two angels and postulant spend much time together at recreation. The angels assist the directress in smoothing the transition from the "world" to the postulancy, which can sometimes be difficult. Two fellow postulants had been classmates with her at the academy and knew that keeping silence did not come easily to Tere, nor did stopping recreation at the sound of the study bell.
When asked how she managed to overcome herself in that regard, Sister Maria Teresa quoted the words from their first spiritual lecture, "The religious is vain who does not guard his tongue." She explained that she was now guarding hers with five keys: M-A-R-I-A. Far from perfect, she accepted correction when her weaknesses were brought to her attention, such as being too spontaneous or too dramatic when she spoke.
She was also told that she moved too quickly, even during work, showing her impatience. "I entrust my progress to you, Mother Mary, do not let me give bad example by repeating these faults", she wrote in her diary. However, Sister Maria Teresa was determined to aim for perfection, and conquering these little things would lead her on to bigger things. That Teresita "stubbornness" was kicking in.
Six months flew by and the time for her novitiate arrived. On the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29, Mother Carmen received the five postulants in the chapter room where each, on her knees, had to ask for the Holy Habit. This simple tradition left each postulant wondering, for there was no response given. They were told that the answer would be given on the basis of the results of their first retreat. Father Muzquiz preached the Ignatian retreat, a very fruitful one for Sister Maria Teresa. She wrote in her diary:
"Conditions for making a good retreat:
1. Absolute silence... Recollection.
2. Abandonment to Mary.
3. Generous giving of self to the Divine Retreat Master."
"My dearest Mother, you know the desires I have to fulfill these points. Let Jesus ask of me whatever He wishes. I give Him my all. I am in the world only to love and serve His Heavenly Father. No longer do I desire anything for myself, either health or sickness, honor or dishonor, a long or a short life. Nothing, my dear Mother, but God alone."
 |
She also wrote about sin and sinners. "As Religious we must prevent them [sinners] from being condemned to Hell. With my prayers I hope to save many, but grant, my Lord, that no one be lost through my neglect."
During the retreat, Father spoke about the mysterious call to religious life and compared it to the star which guided the Wise Men to Bethlehem. How many saw it in the evening sky, but only three had the wisdom and courage to follow that star that led to love!
Teresita wrote in her diary, "How many souls are more deserving than I... Thank you, my beloved Jesus for the predilection you have shown the least of them." Father's words were certainly falling on fertile ground. On the eve before the retreat closed, in the presence of only Mother Carmen and Father Muzquiz, before the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel, Sister Maria Teresa made a vow not to commit a deliberate venial sin during the rest of her life. This young religious was serious about attaining perfection.
The Novice
September 8, 1948, was set as the Clothing Day for the novices. A large crowd of family, former teachers, classmates, and friends attended. Gifts of many flowers banked the altar, filling the chapel with fragrance and beauty. The ceremony began at 10:00 in the morning, the five postulants walked slowly and recollectedly down the aisle, led by Mother Superior and Mother Carmen, as a Sister intoned the Veni Sponsa Christi ("Come, spouse of Christ).
Father Muzquiz presided at the ceremony, which began with his asking, "Sister, what is it you desire?' - "In the name of God, we ask for the Holy Habit of Our Lady of Carmel. We wish to dedicate ourselves to the service of Our Most Holy Mother Mary, and to attain sanctification." Teresita was given her formal religious name, that of Sister Maria Teresa of Jesus. The ceremony ended and the postulants were clothed with their new habits, symbolic of being "clothed with the new man," an external reminder of the internal commitment of consecration to God alone.
The new novices were then welcomed by the senior novices into the novitiate, with Teresita's favorite hymn which translates from the beautiful Spanish: "I wish to keep pure the flower of love which I have placed at your feet, dearest Mother... I wish to live burning with desire to please you and to imitate you, O Mary!"
She felt great happiness and peace. She was now "of Jesus" and this was to be her life's goal. Yes, "of Jesus," all for Jesus, through Mary. She wrote in her diary that evening, "From this day forward you will be the absolute Mistress of my life... Hide me away in your Immaculate Heart... Only in your heart, dearest Mother, will I have the courage to live a life of faithful observance of the Rule and of perfect charity..."
Her diary tells us of her soaring thoughts and reflections. "To become a saint, the first step is confidence, then complete abandonment into the hands of the Virgin, so that God can do what He wishes... When we ask something of our mothers, they grant it to us with joy and satisfaction; how much more will this Mother, who loves us so much, do so! I cannot understand how there are people to whom the Madonna would be indifferent even if they do not live for her, because they complicate life so much. When I do things that I should not, I entrust even these to the Madonna, so that she will take care of them, as I am sure she will."
Her cousin once asked her if she was a saint. "No, I am not... but I will be." One must realize that this confidence did not come from a selfish, egotistical pride, but a trust and confidence in the sanctity of Our Lady.
The novitiate was a new step for her, requiring studying, reading, and writing, a field that had not been her favorite at the academy. But now she found supernatural joy in her classes. Since her entrance day, instead of her beautiful spacious bedroom, she now had a tiny room called a "cell," which consisted of a small bed, chair, closet, and crucifix. She now led a life of service and manual labor, adapted to various temperaments, and constantly strove to overcome herself. When she washed clothes, she chose the tub with the coldest water in the laundry room.
When various assignments were distributed, she wanted the most difficult, those that were opposed to her inclinations. She kept a continuous prayer life going, turning silence into a fruitful colloquy with her Madrecita. When the gray, dull moments of spiritual darkness came, she offered them to Our Lady and did not become discouraged.
"When we find ourselves full of misery, we should not hate ourselves, because this is self-esteem, but we must do whatever possible to get to know ourselves sincerely... And when we have nothing else to offer Jesus, let's tell the Madonna to offer Him the least that we are."
A Sister had confided to her that she was somewhat depressed because her spiritual efforts seemed worthless. Sister Maria Teresa suggested to the Sister to try her trick. She had devised the idea of two spiritual sacks; one was for all imperfections, the other sack for virtues. Take one imperfection at a time from the sack and work on it until it is conquered. With the help of La Madrecita, place the opposite virtue in the other sack, and soon one will see how fast that empty sack will become full. "Remember that the Blessed Virgin, who never fails us, is always on hand to help."
Madrid, Spain, 1930 -- The Hammer and Sickle strikes Spain -- Madrid life resumed -- Sodality and Slavery -- A Vow of Chastity -- The Catholic in Action -- "We play for Championship!" -- The Decision -- Last Days with the Family -- The Postulant -- The Novice -- Code of Amiability -- "If the Madonna wishes it" -- The Holy Year of Pius XII -- The Cross -- Extreme Unction and Final Vows -- On the Cross -- "For Him alone I lived!" -- The Glory
Previous Page (1) |
Next Page (3) |
|
Home Page |
St. Joseph Moscati's magazine:  |