Always My Answer : “ Yes, Lord ”

As a young high school boarder in St. Agnes Academy in Legaspi, I was always awakened very early in the morning by the singing of the Sisters in the chapel opposite our dormitory. They were praying and it was heavenly music to my ears. My desire to be able to sing like them made me think of becoming one of them. At that time the Sisters were all class advisers and my relationship with them made my desire to be a Benedictine Sister grow through my high school days. My love for music made me take seriously my piano lessons under the kind and patient, Sr. Xaveria, OSB who led me to continue music as my profession in St. Scholastica’s College, Manila (SSC). My college days brought me closer to the Benedictine Sisters and again watching and listening to their singing in choir confirmed my decision to be a Missionary Benedictine Sister, to say my “yes” to the Lord.

Because of family attachments, I could not enter right away after my graduation in 1954. I taught piano in St. Agnes for almost 3 years. In 1955, Mother Stefana, Prioress in Manila, passed away and there was a change of Prioress. Mother Godfrieda became the new Prioress and looking at my medical records, she saw that my mother had epilepsy. One day to my dismay, I received a letter from her telling me that I could not be admitted to the congregation. It broke my heart, but I accepted it as the will of God. I prayed very hard and I was hoping against hope that one day I would be a Missionary Benedictine Sister.

Two years passed and by God’s providence, I got hold of a magazine, where there was an article on EPILEPSY written by a doctor-professor of Yale University, USA.  His article affirmed that epilepsy is not a hereditary disease. So I decided to write the author a letter telling him of my predicament. I was not exactly expecting a response, so he surprised me when one day I received a letter from him encouraging me to pursue my vocation. The most surprising thing was that he wrote Mother Godfrieda assuring her that Epilepsy is not a hereditary disease. I shouted and jumped for joy and my next thought was: “Will Mother Godfrieda now change her mind?” She did.

In January 1957 a telegram came from the Priory asking me to go immediately to SSC. After the medical exam, I was told that I could then enter on May 7, 1957. But another challenge was facing me: How can I escape from home? Through determination and courage, I finally entered with 9 other candidates on the day of entrance even without the permission of my parents. Even from my aunt with whom I grew up and who took good care of me. It was a hard decision but God took hold of me.

Now after 53 years of a happy life as a Missionary Benedictine Sister, I can only look back with gratitude for a life replete with manifold blessings. “From the fullness of his love I receive grace upon grace” that makes me the person I am today. My life of 80 years was always a
“Yes” to God’s will. The 20 and more years abroad were times of challenges and difficulties but also enrichment and growth as a missionary. With the words of our St. Lorenzo Ruiz, I can also say that “If I have a thousand lives to live, I would still offer it to the ONE who called me, Jesus, my Lord and my God.” My answer will always be: “Yes, Lord, here I am.” As I now enter the twilight years, may my response to his last call again be “Yes, Lord I come ….”