Vocation Testimony

I stood at the foot of the Cross to know His plan for me. I am from Alleppey of the Parish of St. Peter, Vattayal. I was then a girl of eighteen and full of life who never thought of Religious life. I had only one plan in my mind, get a job, help my family to bring it up to the financial stage from which it had come down and furthered my studies. Something positive in me was that I never missed the daily Mass, and going to the cemetery to pray for the souls who had died in my Parish. I used to spend some time looking at the big Crucifix that was in our Parish Church and share everything that was in my heart spontaneously. I said my daily Rosary and had loved Mary because she is the Mother of Jesus. Other than that I had not been engaged in any religious act as such.

It was at that time that I came to know from one of my friends, a boy that someone desired for me. This thought had never come to my mind, and it was against my plan. And so one day I went to the Church – the Church is very close to my house and we could go at any time – and stood at the feet of Jesus and asked His plan for me. At this time also two of the Carmelite Fathers had made an influence in my life; one a senior Priest and another a young newly ordained. This young Priest had a love towards me as though I were his own sister. Also, I had developed a natural love for St. Francis of Assisi as my elder brother and St. Therese of Lisieux as my elder sister. Since both of them had more importance to the aspect of the love of neighbour and creatures.

So as I stood there at the foot of Jesus I do not know whether it really happened or my imagination, I heard a voice from the Cross, “ Come and Follow Me “ and his hands were stretched towards me. My mother was calm with my decision but to tell my father was something very hard since I was his first child and was very much attached to each other. Still, with tears falling down he consented to my wish. I had nothing more to think and within five days I was in the convent. I joined a Congregation dedicated in the medical field because I liked to serve the sick. I did my studies there but I had to come away from there before completing the formation. I came to Tiruvalla on the same day I left the Congregation, there at the door of the Cloistered Carmel at Tiruvalla Jesus was waiting for me. After entering and going through the writings of our Holy Mother St. Teresa I realize that her mind in reforming the Carmel was to pray mainly for Priest and Theologians who could defend the Church. This love for Priest was there in me from my childhood.

I love Carmelite Order because of its family atmosphere as male and female branch make one Order and it has a Father and Mother at their head as Holy Parents. I find everything I need in Carmel. I enjoy the solitude and silence of Carmel and liturgy of the hours. God has taken special care for me and He has chosen me to be special by sending his rays of love.

- Sr. Elizabeth OCD