Letter to Mother Ascensión Nicol

Dear Mother Ascensión, Rejoice, full of grace! Hail, full of joy. How are you? I hope you are well. I am doing well, thank God, with my studies and formation. I am writing this letter to tell you about something so mysterious and glorious that I have discovered at this moment. I am now in León to complete my spiritual retreat and continue my formation. From here in León, I have heard many things about you and your witness of the Gospel to the poor. I was told that you left your comfort zone in Huesca because you heard the cries and sufferings of the natives in Maldonado, with your example and sacrifice. Mother greeted you with the Magnificat of Mary: “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.”

Mother, I’d like to take a moment to tell you my story, if it’s okay, because I’m very happy to speak with you. This morning, walking around our house, I saw many wonderful things. I felt the presence of the spirit of my older sisters who were here before me. I have seen their sacrifices, their works, their commitment, their fidelity, and their love for the Lord in this place. This house, the plants, the trees, the chapel, and all the things within it are their living testimony. I love being here in León. From here, I want to thank our sisters who prepared this place for us. Please send them my regards and hugs.

Dear Mother, I have many desires and also fears. And the deepest desire of my heart is to be a good, upright missionary; a missionary totally united to Christ, to love and serve Him in the poor to the extreme, with all my life. Do you know what is happening now in our land? Many things… The number of people suffering from hunger increases every day. Also growing are the number of unemployed, injustices, unsupported immigrants, the poor, and the homeless. There is a lack of education for the most needy, and a lack of hospitals for those unable to support themselves.

Every day, on my journey, I hear the cries of the poor, and the loneliness of the elderly distracts me and robs me of the peace of my conscience at every moment. There are many violations of power and sexual abuse. Women have been victims of this violence in various parts of the world. I feel the sadness of the sick who have no one to care for them, and I also grieve for the crisis of priestly and religious vocations. Many countries suffer from war.

And our Mother Earth is also suffering deeply because of our insatiable hunger for power. At times, I have tried not to listen to these noises and cries. But when I close my ears, my conscience speaks to me forcefully: “These noises and cries are the voice of your brothers and sisters and of Mother Earth who are suffering.” I have a deep desire to be a good sister to lost young people, a humble and generous teacher to the poor, a patient servant to the elderly, and to be faithful to Christ in our congregation. What do you think, Mother? But I am also afraid… Afraid that the things of the world or the temptations of materialism will separate me from love and fidelity to Christ. All I desire in this world is His love and His company. I am afraid of not doing what He wants, and of being carried away by what the world offers me.

Dear Mother, I have spoken a lot… and now I want to listen to you and learn more about you. If you don’t mind, could you tell me something about how you endured the difficulties, sufferings, temptations, trials, and tribulations? What can I do to remain faithful to Christ until the end? What was your style of contemplation and prayer? Who was your source of spirituality?

Mother, I miss hearing your calm, patient, and kind voice. I would like to embrace you with the love of Christ and kiss you as your little sister. To close this letter, I want to ask you to please pray for my family: my parents, my siblings, for our congregation, especially for our sisters of the General Council, for all the sisters in all the provinces, for us who are in formation, so that we may persevere faithfully and joyfully on this journey.

I love you very much!

With cordial greetings,

Rosaria Aurea Ximenes

Your little sister

Congregational Juniorate of Aldaya