Vocation stories: Sr. Marie
Paul
Country
of origin:Ireland
With a humble and grateful
heart I attribute my wonder-full vocation to the love of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. My mother had lost two baby boys before I was born and she
told me that when I arrived she prayed to Our Lady saying “This is your
child, leave her with me and I will mind her for you”. From an early age
I visited the parish church after school everyday to pray at the shrine
of our Lady and since this was in the sanctuary, eventually I was
powerfully drawn to the Eucharistic Presence. From this time on
nothing
could ever satisfy me.
Sport was my greatest joy, in fact I received
5 silver medals for camogie and on the very day I was chosen to be
goalkeeper for the Dublin team, I was faced with the terrible dilemma to
choose between the joy of my life: sports, or enter a convent. If ever
there was a war between spirit and body, well, this was it. I was 21 at
the time. The next predicament was to find the religious Congregation
most suited to me.
I was
introduced to the Divine Master Sisters through
Sr. Muriel who was already a member
of
the Congregation. She explained about the value of Perpetual
Adoration for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Now since we
have only one shot at life, I thought this would make my life worth
while. The added plus was that I loved art and found that the sisters
used the medium of art to spread the Good News.The final key that really
made me decide on this Congregation was the family spirit, the meekness
and joy of the sisters, the community bond and the simplicity of their
lives.
Part of my
daily work, (which we call “apostolate’ because all our work is offered
for the glory of God and for all people) is prayer before Jesus in the
Blessed Sacrament. I believe in the power of prayer.My first attraction
was toward the cloistered life but I wanted to share my life with other
people so, on discovering the Divine Master Sisters’ way of life was
contemplative but not enclosed, that fitted me to a T. This was a great
relief too for my parents and family who were not exactly very excited
about my decision but I felt drawn by God to follow my own star. It
most definitely wasn’t easy, on the contrary. However, once surrounded
by young women who had made the same sacrifice I felt secure.
There are
6 billion people on earth and so few who offer their lives for our Lord
who cares for all. I believe that, by the grace of God I have chosen
well, rather, I have chosen the best. Regrets? Well yes, there are a
few. I regret putting off entering so long. When I was eighteen I almost
drowned in the sea, a year later I slipped while climbing the mountains
of Mourne, on each occasion I promised to give my life to God but it
took three more long years before I had the courage to do so. One of my
favourite Bible quotes is from Psalm 89.
“Lord give me wisdom of heart that I may know the shortness of
life”. And as Jesus Himself said: “With God all things are
possible” That’s my scéal. Thanks for listening!
Glossary of words you might come
across whilst reading the vocation testimonies
