Here is a true story about a Franciscan nun who is also a pharmacist. Sister Retty is a member of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation and she is a trained pharmacist. She renders her service as a pharmacist at the Marian Centre Hospital at Pala in Kerala, India. She was somehow attracted to making hand-made rosaries and distributing them free of cost. She does it out of her love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and for spreading the devotion to the Blessed Mother.
“Giving a rosary to someone as a gift is never to be seen as a meaningless act. When you gift a rosary to someone, it becomes a blessing in the life of that person,” says Sr. Retty. She makes the rosaries in a prayerful mood along with her responsibilities as a religious sister and a professional pharmacist. She has already made and distributed over ten thousand rosaries and she has had times of God experience in her life.
She used to watch other nuns in the convent making rosaries and she became interested in it and started learning it. Later, people started to approach her to get their broken rosaries repaired. She would never say ‘no’ to them even amid her busy schedule. People started to gift her rosary beads, and that was how she managed to make more than ten thousand rosaries. She believes that the Blessed Mother has specially helped her.
It is not a Business!
Sister Retty never took up rosary making as a business. Many suggested her make rosaries and put them on sale. But she was never interested in such a business. She used to say, “It’s great for someone coming from the mission area to get a rosary as a gift. I would like to gift someone with handmade rosaries on the occasion of feast days, or a jubilees. It will increase their joy and I will be happier.”
“Most of the time I make the rosary when I am at work in the pharmacy. Usually, the doctors come to the outpatient section between 10 to 11 a.m. Until then, usually, the staff working in the pharmacy waste their time just talking and talking. Hence, I started inviting them to join and help with making rosaries, and even praying the rosary. Most of them were happy to join. Those moments of prayer slowly turned out to be moments of God’s blessing. Gradually they also started making rosary with great interest. So many rosaries were made by the staff at the pharmacy. Among the staff there were also non-Christians and also joined to pray very devoutly for their intentions,” says the Sr. Retty
Often we waste a lot of our time. For reading a book we will need more concentration and attention. However, making a rosary does not require that much attention. This nun desires never to waste her time. She utilizes every moment available, for making rosaries.
“While engaged in making rosaries, I can feel the special protection of Mother Mary. I feel that she is protecting me especially so that I do not fall into any temptation. I believe that it is through the special protection of the Blessed Mother that I can continue without setting a bad example for others. I consider this as a special blessing from Mother Mary for making rosaries” – the sister revealed.
Since 2008, Sister Retty has been working at the Marian Center Hospital, in Pala, Kottayam. When she was in a mission station for two years, she continued to make rosaries. It must be said that during the last twenty-five years, there has not been a time when rosary beads have not been in her hands. She never refused any request for making rosaries. She carries on her prayer for enabling her to make many more rosaries, to recite more rosaries and thus spread the God experience. If we approach Sr. Retty FCC with a request for a handmade rosary, certainly we will get it, but she will say, “It is just a gift, but not for sale!”
Sunisha V. F.