She died of cancer at the age of 10, but she left an extraordinary legacy in her desire to serve God.
The star of this extraordinary story is the little girl Teresita Castillo, who has been officially declared a missionary by the Archdiocese of Madrid.
Teresita has brain cancer. The little girl left this world to enter the eternal arms of her heavenly Father on Sunday, March 7, 2021 while offering her sufferings to God in her hospital bed.
Her story is reminiscent of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus – a young Carmelite nun – who never left the convent but was proclaimed patroness of the mission lands. In short, under any circumstances, nothing is more missionary than offering one's own sacrifices to God for the salvation of souls.
The official recognition of Teresita as a missionary begins with a priest's visit to the La Paz hospital in Madrid. Father Angel Camino Lamela – vicar of the Archdiocese of Madrid – went there on February 11, 2021 to celebrate Mass and visit the sick.
One of the patients he visited was Teresita, who was scheduled to have surgery to remove the tumor the next day. Father Angel shared this entire experience in a public letter and it was also mentioned in an article on the website of the Archdiocese of Madrid.
“I want to be a missionary”
In a conversation with the priest, Teresita confided: “Did you know? I love Jesus so much!”
Later, Teresita's mother said to her: "Tell Father Angel who you want to be!" Teresita affirmed: “I want to be a missionary!”
Surprised and moved, Father Angel recounted his reaction:
“To my surprise, I didn't know how to calm myself down, because her response made me feel so emotional, and I said to her: 'Teresita, right now dad. proclaimed you a missionary of the Church and I will return this afternoon to give you the confirmation letter and the mission crucifix.”
Officially a missionary
Father Angel administered the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and gave Communion to Teresita. Then he went to buy a nice piece of paper and returned to his office to draw and print a simple document that recognized Teresita as a missionary.
That afternoon, Father Angel returned to the hospital with a crucifix along with a signed and sealed document for Teresita. Teresita's mother couldn't believe what was happening.
Teresita asked to hang the cross by the bed, she said: “Put the cross on the bed so I can see clearly. Tomorrow, I will take this Cross into the operating room. You are already a missionary!”
Teresita's departure
However, God wanted Teresita to go to heaven so that she could intercede with God for a mission from there. She died on March 7, 2021 and was buried the next day.
Born in Russia, Teresita is the adopted daughter of a Spanish couple and she has lived in Spain since the age of 3. From early childhood, Teresita displayed a strong spiritual life. She attends Mass every day at the School of the Daughters of Mary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Madrid.
Cardinal Archbishop Carlos Osoro phoned the girl's family shortly afterwards to offer their condolences and blessing. Teresita's testimony of faith quickly resonated with missionaries in Spain.
Father Ángel Camino invited the faithful to pray for Teresita and entrust themselves to her: “I am sure that she will especially protect this entire diocese – where she was proclaimed a missionary. .”
Source: KatolikMedia