We continue with young people who died young, uniting their suffering with the suffering of Christ- our theme for this Lent.
SERVANT
OF GOD SISTER CECILIA MARIA of the HOLY FACE was born in 1973 in San Martín de los Andes, Argentina as
one of ten siblings in a military family. Despite the challenges of frequent
relocations, she was deeply inspired by the faith she encountered through her
family and education. Her calling to the Carmelite order began to take shape
during her university years, when the writings of St. Teresa of Ávila awakened
in her a desire for intimacy with Christ.
A
nurse by profession and a violinist, she stood out for her joy and ever-present
smile. After
a winding journey of discernment, including time in two other Carmelite
communities, Cecilia María finally found her home in the Carmelite convent of
Santa Fe. There, she embraced the contemplative life with a warmth and humanity
that would become her hallmark.
In
her time living at the monastery, she played the violin and was known for her
sweetness. In late 2015, during the Advent season and the Jubilee Year of
Mercy, Sister Cecilia María received a devastating diagnosis: cancer of the
tongue, with metastasis to a lymph node. Despite the pain and grueling
treatments, she exuded a sense of peace that astonished those around her. During
this difficult time, she continued to pray and offer up her sufferings,
convinced that she was close to her encounter with God.
A
poignant image of her, lying in a hospital bed with a serene smile on her face,
went viral shortly before her death in June 2016. The photo encapsulated her
ability to radiate hope and beauty even in the face of profound suffering. In
one of her final letters to her family, she wrote, “I feel the pain growing,
but I am not alone. Together, we will follow the Lamb.”
Those
who knew Sister Cecilia María describe her as a beacon of joy and empathy. Her
smile, often visible even in her final days of suffering, became a symbol of
her profound spiritual peace. “She had the gift of connecting with people,”
recalls Sister Fabiana Guadalupe Retamal, a fellow Carmelite. “Even in her
hardest moments, her smile came from the depths of her heart. It wasn’t
forced—it was a reflection of her trust in God.”
In
the final weeks of her illness, her condition worsened, and she had to be
hospitalized. From her bed, she never stopped praying and offering up her
sufferings, with the certainty that her encounter with God was near.
She
wrote her last wish on a piece of paper: “I was thinking about how I would like
my funeral to be. First, some intense prayer, and then a great celebration for
everyone. Don't forget to pray, but don't forget to celebrate either!”
She
passed to the Lord in Buenos Aires in the early hours of June 23, 2016. Sister Cecilia Maria’s death, her life,
and her smile were a testimony to happiness. Our Lord assured us that the
world would know we are Christians by our love.
In
January 2025, the archbishop of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz in Argentina, Sergio
Fenoy, decreed the beginning of the cause for beatification and canonization.
In
2024, when signing the edict to
begin the process prior to the cause, the prelate highlighted the witness of
the nun’s “love and trust in Jesus Christ, even in the midst of the most
difficult trials,” assuring that “she has awakened in many hearts the desire
for a greater commitment to Christian life.”
We continue with young people who died young, uniting their suffering with the suffering of Christ- our theme for this Lent.
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