I was in love with life. I enjoyed living intensely,

fully.

I wanted to respond to each call I received, if it was consistent with what was most essential in my being.

I went deep into all fields of learning that life afforded me.

I opened myself to beauty, to love, to friendship.

I opened myself to beauty, to love, to friendship.

There was no urgent need that did not move me to act, There was no urgent need that did not move me to act,

there was no person I was indifferent to, there was no person I was indifferent to,

there was no pain of othersthat did not pain me,

there was no pain of othersthat did not pain me,

there was no invention that did not attract me.

I lived because I believed in a God who is alive, good, close to me,

I lived because I believed in a God who is alive, good, close to me,

because I believed that my eyes, my hands, my lips were God’s ways of being present to my brothers and sisters.

They were the response that God could give to the women and men of my time.

They were the response that God could give to the women and men of my time.

God was calmly and gently leading me, until I found myself involved and determined on a new project:

God was calmly and gently leading me, until I found myself involved and determined on a new project:

first it was coming first it was coming close to work, close to work, to a humane, dignified to a humane, dignified and Christian work,and Christian work,

then it was to getting into the boat with Jesus, the desire to conquer the world.

then it was to getting into the boat with Jesus, the desire to conquer the world.

I contemplated the world of work in upheaval, in crisis,

violent, without values.

I contemplated the world of work in upheaval, in crisis,

violent, without values.

I discovered the pain of poor women without a place in society.

I discovered the pain of poor women without a place in society.

It pained me to see that It pained me to see that everything, even God,everything, even God,was being taken away from was being taken away from the workers.the workers.

It was then that I made myself totally available to be an instrument in God’s hands.

It was then that I made myself totally available to be an instrument in God’s hands.

On the outside I observed On the outside I observed history, life, history, life,

women,

work.work.

Deep inside meNazareth lighted up: light, word, testimony, work and prayer, routine and beauty, flower and machine, progress and spirit, God and human person,

well-being, sisterhood and brotherhood. . .…

well-being, sisterhood and brotherhood. . .…

Everything was possible in the Taller de Nazaret.Everything was possible in the Taller de Nazaret.

I did not count the cost. The things of God are beyond calculation.

But no one can give herself or himself to life without giving up her or his life.

But no one can give herself or himself to life without giving up her or his life.

No one reaches the

resurrection

without

death.

No one reaches the

resurrection

without

death.

I suffered at the I suffered at the beginning of the beginning of the foundation: foundation: a suffering that was life-a suffering that was life-giving. giving.

I felt the pain from all the opposing forces, even from those who were good. And the pain before God.

It is It is difficult difficult to to understaunderstand how nd how two two projects projects of God of God could could come come into into collissioncollission. .

The soul shudders when you have to decide in favor of God against God.

The soul shudders when you have to decide in favor of God against God.

It is difficult to understand It is difficult to understand what it is to die to what is what it is to die to what is new, to what is life-giving, new, to what is life-giving, to what is desired by God. to what is desired by God.

It is hard to see things turn out differently

from what you have expected.

There is no human estimation. No external guides. There is no human estimation. No external guides.

You have given all. You have done everything. And God no longer needs you…

You have given all. You have done everything. And God no longer needs you…

It is God’s work. You yourself are God’s work. It is God’s work. You yourself are God’s work.

This new fidelity is difficult. It is harder to dispose oneself to die. This new mission is not easy to understand.

This new fidelity is difficult. It is harder to dispose oneself to die. This new mission is not easy to understand.

It is Nazareth.It is Nazareth.

Be faithful: to yourselves, to life, to history, to humanity, to the charism, to God.

May the problem of the world of work burn within you,

May Nazareth creatively illuminate your soul.

May Nazareth creatively illuminate your soul.

May you be daring so as not to conform yourselves to the usual thing.

May you be daring so as not to conform yourselves to the usual thing.

“Love Jesus much, because love is a good teacher for everything that is good.

“Love Jesus much, because love is a good teacher for everything that is good.

Be good,

Be good,

and may pride not find a place in your hearts”.

and may pride not find a place in your hearts”.

Text: María Jesús Aguirre, fsj Slides: Rosario Hernández, ssj

Text: María Jesús Aguirre, fsj Slides: Rosario Hernández, ssj