Integration 3 The Last Chapter Since Maria loved books throughout her life, I think it is only fitting that these last remarks should complete her story as a fairytale would draw to its close, with every piece accounted for and arranged in a larger message of encouraging goodness in its listeners. For that is what her life was, an encouragement to all of us. An encouragement to hope, to love, to believe, and most importantly, to live intentionally and exactly as we ought. What other purpose do we have in life except to play the part of a hero well, and to inspire others to accomplish their own heroic destinies along the way? Blaise Pascal once said that “All the unhappiness of men…arises from one simple fact: that they cannot sit quietly in their chamber” (Why we need to slow down our lives | (ted.com) by Pico Iyer -- Moreau FYE Week 1). I often wondered where Maria found time for everything and everyone she did, but when I realized the priority she gave to prayer in her life, it’s no wonder that the silence she gave to God enabled her to bring that quiet, stable strength to all other aspects of her life. If there is anything I will remember about Maria, it was the fact that her presence was just as, or often even more, powerful than anything she said explicitly. I remember the moment I received news that my mother had passed, and she came over to my house and just sat with me in the living room and listened and nodded as I cried and talked about what I was going through. So many of us have similar experiences, for Maria was always putting her family and friends first, and this was only possible because of her hidden life of faith. One of the comments about a Domer Dozen honoree, Katarina Goitz, encapsulates her influence on all of us gathered together to honor her life today. It was said about her that “Her grace was like a burning flame. She passed it along to everyone she met, and her kindness and gentleness inspired those she touched to spread it further.” (2021 - Domer Dozen (nd.edu), Katarina Goitz ’16 ’18 – Moreau FYE Week 2). Despite all of this, many don’t know about the struggles she encountered, especially in her early life. The trials her family went through, especially as she went through her teenage years, stayed with her for the rest of her life. More than anything, she wanted to heal the people she loved so much, and I believe most of her difficulties stemmed from places where she felt unable to help the suffering. However, instead of giving into despair, she used this experience to fuel the purpose of her life and work, and allowed it to make her open to any unexpected circumstances God sent her way. One idea that really inspired her was that “There is no point where you can say, “The issue of my calling is settled.” Vocations lead to vocations! It may raise other questions, and there’s no point where you can say that, “I do not have any more questions.” The only time your vocation is settled is when you are settled (six feet under that is!).” ("Three Key Questions" (adapted from Fr. Michael Himes): SP22-FYS-10102-20 Moreau First Year Experience (nd.edu) -- Moreau FYE Week 3). For Maria, it didn’t make sense to see the whole road at the same time. She firmly believed that God wanted her to live day to day without worrying about the future, and she strove to live that out in every aspect of her journey. Indeed, her life took many twists and turns, but she always seemed content to give up her plans and change course in order to follow wherever He led. Although she loved planning ahead and organizing anything that could be rearranged or improved upon, she rejected the https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://domerdozen.nd.edu/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40380/files/467832?module_item_id=143473 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40380/files/467832?module_item_id=143473 competitive, worldly atmosphere of her career (Navigating Your Career Journey - Moreau First Year Experience Course | Undergraduate Career Services | University of Notre Dame – Moreau FYE Week 4) and chose to center her life around giving back to others in service and love. A picture of Maria’s life would be incomplete without all the people who journeyed with her along the way. She always sought others advice when making decisions, anything from what she should serve for dinner to whether she should open another hospital to expand her ministry. She appreciated that every person brought a unique perspective and came into her life for a reason, and so valued and sought out others opinions at every opportunity (Moreau FYE_Week Five_Discernment Conversation Activity_SP22 - Google Docs – Moreau FYE Week 5). This practice also assisted her in her constant desire for self-improvement. She strove to orient her life to giving to others, and she would often reflect on that we must “focus on what we can do for others or what we can do already instead of what we cannot do or what we do not have yet” (Why Does God Allow Suffering? - Grotto Network -- Moreau FYE Week 6). She didn’t want to waste any of the time she was given, so she could leave this life having done her part and fulfilled her purpose, and she tried to strengthen her good qualities and improve her bad ones. I truly believe that Maria achieved this goal in her life, so much so that she is a great inspiration for all of us. To use the words of Fr. Greg Boyle, by the end of her life, Maria was no longer saddled by the burden of…persistent judgements…ceaseless withholding…constant exclusion”, she found herself “in a new, expansive location, in a place of endless acceptance and infinite love…into God’s own “jurisdiction.”” (_Tattoos on the Heart_ - Chapter 8_ Jurisdiction (1).pdf by Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ -- Moreau FYE Week 7). We thank God for the gift of Maria today and for a life that became a source of many blessings for all of us. May we never forget the impact of a life well-lived on the stories of our own lives, as Maria’s life was for each of us. https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/edit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/edit https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/?utm_source=moreau&utm_medium=class&utm_campaign=spring_2022 https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/?utm_source=moreau&utm_medium=class&utm_campaign=spring_2022 file:///C:/Users/marie/Downloads/_Tattoos%20on%20the%20Heart_%20-%20Chapter%208_%20Jurisdiction%20(1).pdf