Sister Mary Grace

Every time I tell my vocation story, I tell it a little differently. I think that’s because the longer we live, the more we understand our own lives and God’s work in them. I came from a big family and was blessed to go to the Academy of the Holy Family for high school and then to Magdalen College. Who can count the blessings we receive from a solid Catholic education? My parents taught us well and the Academy and Magdalen helped to form me in Christian morality and in prayer. I think one of the best preparations for life has been daily Mass and daily rosary. At home we went to Mass every day and we never missed the family rosary. My mother would open the front door and ring a bell calling out, “Rosary time!” and we, along with all the neighborhood kids, would file in and kneel in the living room before the statue of Our Lady of Grace and a lit candle.

At the Academy I remember cutting out a paper chapel veil because I forgot to bring one and didn’t have a dime to rent one. At Magdalen I would stay too long in chapel praying and be late for dinner so I had to do the dishes.

It was at Magdalen that someone came one day with pictures of the Shroud of Turin and I think looking at those pictures was a turning point in my life. I’m sure I had seen them many times in my life before that day, but something happened when I looked at that picture of Jesus’ face that day. I started making a holy hour at 3pm every day and I read the book on the Passion by St. Alphonsis de Ligouri. It was a holy year and copies of that book had been made widely available. I think when anyone really stops to think about the Passion of Christ and His infinite love for us, and takes time to be with Him in prayer, amazing things can happen.

I thought I would get married and many young men asked me to marry them, but I was very picky. Eventually I did think no mere man could ever satisfy me — only the Man-God who was so in love with me.

I always had a strong devotion to the Mother of God and the Blessed Sacrament and I was very fortunate to have made many retreats and holy days of recollection all my life. I think the prayers of the Mother of God and of my own mother rescued me from many mishaps.

I also have to credit my guardian angel with protecting me climbing mountains, surfing with undercurrents, driving too fast, and getting lost! Jesus has always been very close to me and I hope everyone reading this will remember how close Jesus is and talk to Him all the time. He hears you and He loves you!