Laity and the charism of Betharram

An Argentine, professor of physics and natural sciences, María Eugenia could have worked in one of our Betharramite colleges. But no, her link with the Congregation is different and her pathway quite unusual. What she tells us here, helps us appreciate how the attractiveness of the charism of St. Michael Garicoits give great strength when our life, our work and our words communicate with simplicity, authenticity and enthusiasm.

I got to know the Betharramite Fathers about nine years ago when they used to come to say Mass for us at Adrogue which was then my parish. When they prayed or shared the Word of God I always felt in total agreement with what they said or did and I would straighten up so as to listen to them more attentively. Then during the week I would go over what I had heard. After some time I decided to pay a visit to the Casa de Encuentro, at Villa Betharram, and to take part in some activities which they were proposing to the youth. I had just been through a sticky patch. I was trying to heal the wounds to my heart so as to start living again. What I was enjoying at the Casa de Encuentro was helping me to face the future with greater hope and to take my life in hand.

Looking back on it now I can make out the first steps made at the time. To start with I had to organise myself and begin making projects. Then I began to follow in the footsteps of a God who became Man for me and to go out to meet Him in his Word. Little by little He was taking tender care of me and directing my life. On this path I wasn’t left alone; but I was accompanied by the religious and laity who accepted me just as I was, and amongst other things helped me to discern, free myself, receive, take risks which were God’s presence in my life; they were faces and hearts through which God showed me His love and allowed me in return to love Him through Betharram.

Some of the religious were good enough to invite me to be part of the work they were doing for the youth. Despite my lack of experience and the little I could offer, I was incapable of saying “No” for I couldn’t keep for myself the treasure I was gradually discovering. Consequently, around the Casa de Encuentro a little community was coming into being and I was part of it. There were young married couples with their children, religious, single laity, and others seeking light. I believe that all this helped us and continues to do so – working with others, sharing the dreams, the hopes, the joys and sufferings of each one, knowing that we are companions on a journey. In the light of all these experiences I asked Fr Daniel Gonzalez scj if he would be good enough to accompany me personally; very generously he accepted to be witness of God’s work in my life.

I therefore got to know the Spiritual Exercises, in stages, over a number of years. How is one to pass on faithfully such a priceless gift, so deep, so human, so life changing, I don’t feel up to it. I can but thank the Lord to have given St Ignatius the ability to scan the heart of man and offer all members of the Church a path for self knowledge, a way of meeting the Lord and be open to others . I thank God especially for the openness of our Father St Michael Garicoits who was able to drink at this source and point to the path for all Betharramites who would follow him. Here is a charism which I feel is mine, a space where I can grow and develop in meeting Jesus, and which offers me the possibility of working for others, a community which loves me and lets itself be loved in return, contact with myself through means of the Spiritual Exercises to discover God’s mercy and his Project of Love for me; this personal accompaniment helped me to grow in confidence for others and in what I could do. All this is the necessary foundation for me to discover that my life has meaning in so far as I can feel loved and encouraged to love others.

In an extraordinary manner on my way towards a fuller life I discovered that I wished to consecrate my life as a lay person to God, as a Betharramite sharing the same charism as others in the daily life of a lay person. I wished my consecration to be like and yet different from that of the religious. I can’t say anything more about my vocation because I am discovering it as I live it. However I know that it fills my life and makes me happy. Lately, when someone asks me how I am I answer that I am happy! I can prove that I am happy because God has given me life, that He had revealed my vocation to me, that He teaches me His lessons through Betharram, that He helps me to realise that I am poor, that I need Him and others, that He lets me love Him in so many people, because He loves me through countless numbers of individuals and because He tells my heart that He wants me to live and be happy. All this fills me with hope because in the Incarnation Mary’s joy was followed by fullness. This is why I know that one day, through God’s grace and with the help of others, I too can produce fruits for the Kingdom and that will take place in the heart of Betharram.

María Eugenia Martearena