Flora Anselmo: A Woman of Faith

Esther Flora Ramato de Anselmo, Founder of the Vocations Circle, has departed to encounter the Father and the Blessed Mother

Flora Anselmo con la Hna. M. Elisa y el P. Guillermo Mario Cassone Flora Anselmo with Sr. Elisa and Fr. Guillermo Mario Cassone Flora Anselmo mit Schw. Elisa und P. Guillermo Mario Cassone
En Schoenstatt, en el centenario del Padre Kentenich 1985 In Schoenstatt,  at the centenary of Fr. Kentenich in 1985 Im Gedenkjahr zum Hundertsten Geburtstag Pater Kentenichs 1985 in Schönstatt Fotos: Anselmo © 2008

ARGENTINA, Vocations Circle. On February 19^th, Flora Anselm (92) departed for the house of the Father. One of her works that she has left behind, the Father Kentenich Vocations Circle was a ministry she had loved like a child. She founded the ministry with a group of 25 ladies exactly 25 years ago in Buenos Aires. When preparations were being made to celebrate the Jubilee in May, God surprised us by taking Flora to be close to Him.

Father Guillermo Mario Cassone, Adviser of the Vocations Circle, characterized her as "a woman of faith, who had a very fruitful life" with many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to whom she offered enormous, open affection. Surely, they are mourning her, and our sincere condolences are with each of them.

She was a woman of the Church, with an affective and effective commitment in her Parish, institutions and works. She was a loyal Schoenstatt daughter with a strong attachment to the Blessed Mother and the Father, and she had an untiring creativity.

In the long and interesting biography that one of her daughters wrote on her 90th birthday, there are many anecdotes that show her as a woman of an operative and tenacious faith that would be impossible to enumerate…

She will celebrate the Silver Anniversary of her beloved Father Kentenich Vocations Circle in heaven with the Founding Father and so many loved ones who share eternal happiness.

Vocations Circle

This Circle prays daily for Schoenstatt vocations and for vocations for the Church. It has about 1,000 members that gather on the first Thursday of every month in more than 20 centers to pray for this intention; others pray at home or by participating in the parish Mass. Flora not only founded the Circle, but she was also its soul throughout all these years as well. She was always concerned about everything that was happening in the Circle. She not only prayed and made others pray, but also collaborated in the formation of the seminarians and novices raising funds, accompanying each one of them, participating in the celebrations and spreading this project in every possible way as well.

"Thank you, Flora!!! We ask you now that you are with the Lord that you continue to intercede for vocations and also for the Circle. Help it to grow and pray that through many petitions, God will continue to call many young hearts to a total giving of self for the Kingdom of God."

"We are going to miss her greatly during the Sion celebration on Sunday," was one of the first reactions when the news of Flora Anselmos’ death spread through the Movement in Argentina on February 19^th. "I always saw her there. She was always so active, so full of life and projects…"

A proven practice of Father Kentenich was to introduce the sodalists in Schoenstatt to biographies (either fiction or non-fiction) of young saints; thus, providing them with real-life models and "living" inspirations. Since 1917, he introduced a new genre of articles in the MTA magazine, which are almost the only articles (except for news about the lack of funds or of asking for current addresses) written by him, called PORTRAIT. They are a source of inspiration throughout the present time. Even more, they are a demonstration of fruitful, holy lives transformed by Schoenstatt. The PORTRAITS are biographies of the deceased sodalists written in faith that Divine Providence acted in them. Father Kentenich commented in each article that there is a living message about what the elements of the Schoenstatt world mean.

We are grateful to Angélica Anselmo for sharing the portrait of her mother, Flora Anselmo:

All of her life was illuminated by a Great Faith

She was a loyal daughter at every moment of her life. In the joys as well as in sorrows, she always kept a smile, and she felt the loving closeness of God. Her life as a child and as a young woman was very hard. From her hardships, she carved a temperament of one who struggled, endeavored and pushed for her ideals and ideas. As a spouse she was an understanding companion; she accompanied her husband, Juan, in everything. She was happy in time of opulence and remained happy in scarce times. She was an incredible educator. She was an exemplary mother of four children to whom she dedicated time, love and offered them an education. She always gave them the password of faith in God; she instilled in her children strong work ethics, honesty and solidarity. Her home was like her heart. It was open, warm, happy and hopeful. As a grandmother, she was always happy with each one of her seven grandchildren who arrived in her family. It was a happiness that was translated into speaking, listening, accompanying, serving, and in giving joy, security, and confidence with maternal love. Her grandchildren gifted her with seven great-grandchildren with whom she continued the same acts of accompanying, showering them with happiness, and building confidence. She had several children and grandchildren of heart to whom she gave the same love as her own.

All her life was illuminated by a Great Faith. She believed in God and lived according to her conviction. She had a great attachment to the Blessed Mother. She felt loved, taken care of, and embraced by Mary.

She confided her worries and shared her joys with Mary. She talked to her about everything and knew that she was listened to and in Mary’s presence.

Founder of the Father Joseph Kentenich Vocations Circle

In the 1980’s, she joined the Schoenstatt Movement. Then in 1983, she founded the Father Joseph Kentenich Vocations Circle along with the Schoenstatt Fathers. Priests, religious, and lay persons joined the group. From that moment on, she hoisted the flag of the Vocations Circle at the national level and promised to pray for priestly and religious vocations. She supported the road of formation and the loyalty of the postulants on the road to priesthood.

Flora was born a leader. She was always thinking and was successful in carrying out all the projects she planned. In 1985, she brought forth the flag of the Vocations Circle before a large crowd at the Centennial Celebration of the Founding Father in Germany. It was an unforgettable experience to visit the origin of Schoenstatt. She personally accompanied each vocation with telephone calls, letters and personal greetings. She enjoyed each stage that the postulants or novices of the Sisters of Mary accomplished. She was a volunteer at the Casa Maria Reina from its inception to the day of her death.

She was also active in the Immaculate Conception Parish of Belgrano. She was the President and Treasurer in the Mothers’ League as well. During the last stage of her life, she was also the auditor. She was a Eucharistic Minister for ten years. In 2004, she founded the Saint Joseph Circle along with Father Ricardo Ochoa, acting with the same mission as the Father Kentenich Vocations Circle: to pray for priestly and religious vocations.

Flora was a woman that sealed each personal contact with friendship. She always had attachments. Each person who knew her remained bonded to her charisma and felt accepted, understood and accompanied for all times.

Her last days

This is how her life was during the last days: she struggled and was religious. She withstood the three weeks that she was hospitalized valiantly and with integrity. She placed herself in God’s hands. When she entered the hospital, she told the Blessed Mother, "Do not let go of my hand." She received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and the priestly blessing several times administered by the different priests, who were her friends and who had gone to visit her while she was hospitalized: Father Ricardo Ochoa, Father Guillermo Mario Cassone, Father Guillermo Carmona, and Father Edgardo Iriarte. She received the Papal Blessing and General Absolutions from Father Guillermo Mario Cassone who visited her before departing for Rome. She was also visited by Sister Elisa and by several Sisters of Mary, who offered her their love and gratitude.

Flora always maintained her joy and her faith until the last moment.

She departed to the Father on Tuesday, February 19^th, at 9:30 p.m. at the Mater Dei Hospital.

Now, she is enjoying the presence of God and of our Blessed Mother and of all her loved ones who were surely waiting for her.

During her wake, Father Javier Arteaga, Antonio Cosp and Adolfo Lozada prayed a touching responsorial and a Mystery of the Holy Rosary with those who were present. They expressed their personal and affective experiences with Flora and the work they jointly carried out in the Father Kentenich Vocations Circle. On the 20^th at 1:00 p.m., Fathers Edgardo Iriarte, Luis Maria Rodriguez Melgarejo and Adolfo Losada waited at the Immaculate Conception Church of Belgrano, at the foot of the stairs for this loyal and committed daughter. Upon entering the church the songs began just like Flora liked. During the Funeral Mass, a photograph of her smiling was positioned next to the coffin. Two of her grandsons read the readings and two other grandsons expressed their sorrow on the loss of their grandmother and all that she meant to them. They ended their talk with an affectionate and very touching farewell.

Her family and her fiends thank God for all the beautiful things that they have shared together and for the experiences of a united family.

Translation: Celina Garza, Harlingen, TX, USA/Melissa Schmid, Rochester, MN, USA