The story of this twenty-year-old girl, went viral on social media last week when it was posted on the Facebook page of Miss Mexico (Miss Mexico). Esmaralda was born on April 12, 1997 in Valle de Guadalupe, Jalisco state, into a Catholic family.
She is currently a nun of the Poor Clare Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament in Cuernavaca in the state of Morelos, after leaving her profession as a nutritionist. “You don't really know what religious life is until you experience it,” Emerada told CNA. Now I can see from a different perspective what the world is and what it gives you.”
“I was so happy with all that I had, but that happiness cannot be compared with the happiness that God is now placing in my heart.” She said she met the Clares when she was 14 years old, when the idea of entering the religious life was "awakened" through "vocation camps."
Esmaralda also spoke of a very difficult month of vocational discernment, and in March 2017 she decided to obey the religious call on the day of the Annunciation. She said: “God very perfect timing. During [vocational discernment], he gave me a number of experiences such as being a beauty queen, among many others. That will forever leave a mark on me, and help me a lot.”
Through vocation discovery, “I realized that I had to make room and find out what God's plan was for my life. In times of vocational discernment, there are also fears and doubts, but the love that God shows each day helps me overcome any discouragement.”
I realized God was calling me to “serve him radically,” that is, to change “to my life and to embrace the cross of Christ more closely.” “Being away from family is difficult, but my family has always supported me. Although I could develop myself in a different environment, I think if God needed me I could bear fruit in a different way.”
Esmeralda also advised young people that, with any vocation, there are difficulties “but if you go ahead and take God's hand, you will always be able to move on.” “The religious life is full of sacrifices, but always comes with a happy reward,” she said. “The happiness the world offers is really tempting” but you “need to keep an eye on what will last.”
“If God calls you, then he will take care of everything. Fear not, all you need to do is accept Him, with peace, joy and confidence. I believe that fear takes away from the true happiness that only God can give us.” The Poor Clares of the Blessed Sacrament is a pontifical order founded by Blessed María Inés Teresa Arias in Cuernavaca, Mexico in 1945.
Missionary nuns in the order now work in clinics, youth groups, preschools and schools, college dormitories, spiritual centers, and more. The line is based in Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, the United States, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Russia, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Vietnam and India.
Theo CNA