BRAZIL, Maria Luíza de Figueiredo Gonzalez. My mother, Magda Maria Giordano de Figueiredo, was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on August 6, 1935. She was an apostle of the Pilgrim Blessed Mother and she died precisely on October 18, 2014. As her daughter, I would like to give in a few words a testimony to her life and explain how the Pilgrim Blessed Mother accompanied her at the hour of her death.
A special person
My mother, Magda, was a very special person. She married my father – Heraldo – and they had five children. She had a very kind character; friends and relatives were always surrounding her. She felt happy in this atmosphere filled with love and of joy. For this reason, the house was always full, and she always had a friendly word for everyone. Her phrases are marked in my memory, filled with messages about life.
The world crumbled over our heads when at the age of 62, mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She began to lose her memory little by little, then totally. Our sadness cannot be translated into words. Father tried to provide for each and every need that was within his power. This situation lasted seventeen years.
Before becoming ill, mother went to the Shrine of the Mother and Queen of Schoenstatt in the city of Sao Paulo. She was very devout; besides going to masses, she would go to the Shrine whenever she felt the need to pray.
During her illness, a neighbor would bring the picture of Our Lady of Schoenstatt once a month – the Pilgrim Blessed Mother – to visit our home. In the living room, there was also one of those wooden shrines with a picture of our Lady of Schoenstatt glued inside.
With Mary, in life and in death…
One day, mother’s condition deteriorated and calling an ambulance was necessary. We quickly prepared a small suitcase with clothes, documents, and personal objects. Looking around the house to see if something was lacking, I decided to take the wooden chapel with the Schoenstatt Pilgrim Mother. The ambulance arrived, and mother was admitted with shortness of breath. With the doors of the wooden chapel open, it was placed at the bedside. The doctors decided to give her palliative care only to make her comfortable. At night, one of my sisters, Maria Concepción, and I decided to stay with mother. We remained attentive all the time, and we could perceive the serenity on our beloved mother’s face. Her blood pressure decreased, and her hands became cold, at and 6:00 a.m. on October 18, 2014, she died. She was buried on the same day. One of my other sisters, Maria Adriana, asked that the little wooden chapel be placed close to my mother. After the ceremony, the family, which was gathered at the cemetery began to bid farewell. And at that moment, I remembered this day the centenary of the Mother and Queen of Schoenstatt was being commemorated allover the entire world – one hundred years of the Covenant of Love – that for our family will always be the Pilgrim Mother of Schoenstatt!!!
My beloved mother deserved this tribute!!!
May the Pilgrim MTA protect her!! Amen!!
Original: Portuguese – Translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, TX USA
