On Wednesday I had the privilege of seeing the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church for the fourth time in my short 23 years of life. I’m truly left speechless when I ponder just how much the Lord has blessed me; few Catholics get to see the Pope once in a lifetime and I have already seen him 4 times at such a young age. I feel so blessed! What’s more, I can still look forward to seeing him a fifth time this summer at World Youth Day in Poland.
I must wonder and ask: Why me Lord? Why have you given me so much, why have you chosen me?
There’s no doubt the experiences the Lord has gifted me are not for myself. God has sent me and He has called me, not so that I may selfishly keep these blessings, but so that I may live them for my family, my friends, and all of the people I have known throughout my life. There hasn’t been a journey, pilgrimage or experience that I’ve lived only for myself. I’ve always brought along with me the petitions, intentions, and prayers that have been entrusted to me by many. My heart has always traveled full of love for I have always carried many souls along my way. And of all the people I have carried in my heart, there is one woman in particular I have carried in a most special way.
I saw the Pope for the first time in 2011 at the World Youth Day held in Madrid, Spain. I’m unable to describe the love and passion for the Faith that were cemented in my heart thanks to this encounter with Pope Benedict XVI. In that same year, a few months before my trip to Spain, my beloved grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. It all began like this, with a terrible diagnosis and a visit to see the Pope.
These last 5 years of struggling with my grandmother’s illness have been difficult. Watching a loved one suffer fills your soul with a pain that is unbearable. I would give anything to suffer in her place. Unfortunately, that’s not how life works. I can’t take my beloved grandmother’s suffering away. But I can carry her with me wherever I go in my thoughts and prayers. There has not been a single day since that dreadful first diagnosis that I have not thought of this woman who has filled my life with so much love and affection.
These last 5 years have also been full of adventures and blessings. I’ve visited 6 different countries. I’ve seen and done things I never imagined were possible. It would take me years to relate every adventure the Lord has taken me on over the last 5 years. Yet, of all the wonders I’ve had the privilege of living, the most beautiful experience has been seeing the Pope so many times. And on every occasion I have seen him, it’s my grandma that I carry first and foremost in my heart. With every shout of joy that I have greeted the Pope goes a cry of hope that belongs to my grandmother.
Perhaps some think it’s not so grand to see the Vicar of Christ in person. In reality, what can a few seconds of quickly gazing upon a simple human being mean? For those who question the peace and power the Holy Father possesses, I have no words to convince you otherwise; you’d simply have to see it with your own eyes. The euphoria that is lived while waiting for the Pope is indescribable. The ecstatic joy of the people, that feeling of being among family, the excitement of knowing we are united by a common Faith and of having a leader who we know truly loves each one of us, and the incredible love that is palpable in the midst of the crowds– these are things that words simply cannot adequately describe.
Of course, it’s also uncomfortable being among the great multitudes of people that a Papal visit inevitably attracts. Apart from the warm temperatures, all concepts of personal space are virtually nonexistent. Your feet get awfully sore from hours of standing without rest, your back aches, the sun burns, thirst is unquenchable, and the odors, we’ll say, aren’t the most pleasant. And yet, despite all of the inconveniences, the discomforts are lived out in joy and these small sacrifices are offered up and united to the great Sacrifice of Christ.
The usual hassles of a Papal visit weren’t missing this time around in the city of Juarez. And just like on every occasion I’ve seen the Vicar of Christ, one could feel the great love of the Catholic Church and the energy of peace, joy and tranquility that accompanies the Holy Father wherever he goes. However, this time around was different. My encounter with the Pope this time was unplanned and unexpected.
I didn’t travel to Juarez to see the Pope, instead I came to see the woman who fills my life with light. After five and a half years of courageously battling cancer, it would seem my grandmother is losing the fight. And yet, even if this be the case, she is the one that comes out winning! Despite the pain, suffering, affliction, and agony that accompany her on a daily basis, my grandma continues to be a woman who is strong, valiant, elegant, grateful, courteous, compassionate, caring, joyful, loving and much more. No other woman on this earth is like my grandmother Martha; she is indubitably unique. No other woman on this earth has inspired me like she has; she is my greatest source of hope. I need no other role models; in this life she will always be my greatest hero.
I know the Pope specifically chose to visit the city of Juarez for many reasons of great importance. His reasons are significant on a political, humanitarian, and spiritual level, to name a few. This visit was historical, monumental and strategic. Yet, I feel in my heart that Pope Francis also came for my grandmother. Call me crazy, but I’ve always said there are no such things as coincidences. The Holy Spirit is always at work and I believe He chose to bring the Holy Father to my fighter of a grandma.
Life is full of surprises and unexpected gifts. If we open up our hearts to the movements of the Holy Spirit and the grace of the Lord, Jesus will never disappoint us. Saint Pope John Paul II said that, “life with Christ is a wonderful adventure” and I cannot disagree. The greatest adventure I’ve lived as a Christian is being the first grandchild of Martha Graciela Dominguez Santos.