‘That is what we are here for,’ to walk through the fears of death

November is the month when we remember those who have “run their course” here on earth, who have “finished the race” in this world and who have passed on to their eternal home. On Nov. 1, we honor those who have fulfilled their journey and now rejoice in the infinite love of God. On Nov. 2, we commemorate those who have still some preparation to accomplish in order to share fully eternal life in heaven.

In addition, here in Carmel, we also celebrate our brothers and sisters in the Order who have preceded us beyond time. On Nov. 14, we honor all the saints of Carmel, and on Nov. 15, we commemorate the holy souls of Carmel still in purgatory.

In November of this year, we have a special celebration: Nov.14 is the month’s-mind of our Sister Mary Magdalen of the Cross, who died on Oct. 14, the 75th anniversary of our Foundation. In the October edition of The Spirit, you were able to read about Sister’s life, so here I will add some thoughts about her Carmelite vocation.

Bishop Manuel Cruz, together with several of her Sisters from the Monastery, were with Sister Mary Magdalen in the hospital when she died. Bishop Cruz later told us that, when one of the Nuns saw him and heard of Sister’s death, she said to him, “That is what we are here for.” Religious men and women are reminders in the Church that “here we have no lasting home”. When each nun makes her solemn profession of vows, she prostrates herself on a pall on the floor expressing the total gift of herself to God. As Jesus proclaimed to his Father on the cross, she, too, says in her heart, “Into your hands I commend my spirit.”

This is no mere ritual. Death has been vanquished and swallowed up by Jesus’ Resurrection, but its terrors remain. Josefina Magno, the doctor who introduced Hospice to the United States, wrote that dying people have three great fears: they fear pain and suffering, they fear losing control over their lives and their bodies, and they fear the loneliness that comes with death. These fears remain, even with our faith in Jesus’ power over death, and they rise up in our minds as we approach our last hour.

By our religious vows of poverty, obedience and chastity, we religious accept to walk through those fears already in our youth, before any shadow of dying falls upon us. Trusting in God’s grace to enable us to follow Jesus through the shadows and fears of death, with our vow of poverty, we accept discomfort and pain in whatever form God may allow to come upon us. With our vow of obedience, we surrender control over our life and our body, and we place our will in God’s will as expressed through our superiors. With our vow of chastity, we recognize that only God can fill the spaces of our heart, and we face the loneliness of living in him alone. By living our vows, we can face death before death comes to us.

Sr. Mary Magdalen trod this path in peace and joy. At the hospital, the doctors, nurses and technicians were amazed at her in her last hours. Though unable to speak, she repeatedly mouthed at them, “You are wonderful, all of you!” She was alert and aware until the end, joining voicelessly in the prayers and making sure that those who took care of her had enough to eat.

Afterwards, there was a continual line of visitors during the viewings at the monastery to say goodbye before her funeral. Several of the nurses who took care of her, and who were not Catholics, came to her funeral, and they said, “None of us have ever seen a death like that. It was the most beautiful death we have ever experienced.” Sister Mary Magdalen came to Carmel to walk through the fears of death, and, trusting in God’s loving support, she victoriously accomplished that journey.

Sister Gabriela of the Incarnation is a member of the Discalced Carmelites order in Flemington. Learn more at www.flemingtoncarmel.org.