The eventful life of Sister Loretta is very much inspiring. On the day of her betrothal, when the priest asked her if she was willing to marry her fiancé, she replied: “I do not consent. l wish to lead cloistered life of a nun.”
From her childhood itself, Sr Mary Loretta wanted to be a nun. When she conveyed her desire, her family denied permission and nipped this wish in the bud itself. They insisted that she should get married and lead a family life. Even though she was not interested, the parents and brothers of Kunjeli (her pet name) fixed her marriage. It was the early 1940s, a time when girls had very little freedom of choice in these matters.
The members of the family came to the church for the betrothal ceremony. The prayers of the ceremony at the church began. It was time to ask for consent.
The priest asked the young man: “Do you agree to marry the girl Eli?”
”Yes,” he replied.
The next question was to Eli. “Do you agree to marry this man?”
“Father, I do not agree. I would love to lead a cloistered life.” Her reply was like a bolt from the blue.
That unexpected answer shocked everyone. Her father and brothers faced moments of burning in the fire of shame. The church service ended with that answer. The family walked back in embarrassment and shame. Only one person was happy and that was Kunjeli.
But the opposition from her family did not diminish. It increased. They were not ready to allow her to join a convent. It should be noted that all these incidents happened in the 1940s when women were not permitted to express their desires publicly. They had to live according to the will of the family elders.
Somehow, Loretta was able to enter the convent. She joined the SABS (Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament) congregation at Changanacherry in Kerala. She left home prompted by her ardent desire. It was not for anything else but to become a ‘bride of Christ’. She wanted only to live a life of spiritual union with Jesus.
This nun led a holy life on this earth in silence for many years. She never led a life of fame or spectacular achievements. She did nothing extraordinary. She never preached with sparkling elegance or ingenuity and never sang sweet hymns. She never had higher degrees. Nor traveled great distances. But she prayed for long in front of the Holy Sacrament. And faithfully did the little things assigned to her by her religious community. She lived until the last moment of her ordinary monastic life in an extraordinary, unusual manner of devotion and prayer.
She had only one desire in her life: that she must be pious. This nun, who lived on this earth till the age of 98, would say to those who asked her to pray for them: “Child, I shall pray that you may become a saint.”
She lived on this earth for nearly a century constantly reminding others, through deeds and words and example, to be virtuous.
A Bosom Companion of Holy Communion
Sister Loretta did not even drink water before Holy Communion. All the older nuns were like that, but she was even more particular and careful. Even when she was ill Sister Loretta never relaxed these strict rules of self-discipline.
She had a routine of spending at least half an hour in front of the Holy Sacrament after receiving the Holy Eucharist, in gratitude to Jesus. She never forgot to make the sign of the cross in order to bless those who came before her. This was her visible expression of always keeping God in her heart and mind.
The sister diligently maintained an unbounded devotion to the Holy Eucharist. She spent her leisure time in chapel worshipping the Lord. Most of the time, she could be seen sitting in front of the Holy Communion. With utmost dedication, she always carried the Holy Eucharist close to her heart.
In the last years, due to her frail health, she came to worship before the Holy Sacrament with the help of an attendant. There was no interruption to the regular prayers. When her eyesight was blurred due to old age and she could not read the prayers, Sister Loretta said in sorrow and misery, ”I cannot say all the prayers.” But this saintly person could always recite all the prayers that were safely kept in her memory. Old age, visual impairment, and ill health were not barriers to her spiritual life. Her spirituality was very simple but difficult to follow. She thanked God even for small things and was always in God’s presence.
Yesterday, she was called to eternity at the age of 98. She made her life fruitful and blessed with simple, seemingly trivial things. She rests in peace at the chapel in the Adoration Convent at Vazhappally, near Changanassery, in Kerala. May the Lord elevate her into the communion of saints to reveal His will and acts through the mediation of this holy life.
Sunisha V.F.