A Pharisee may have invited Jesus to dine with him in this Sunday’s gospel, but it was an anonymous woman who gained his attention and respect for having "shown great love” through her generous service. Cloistered nuns live out their lives of loving service to the Lord in relative anonymity, but Sister Teresita Barajuen of Buenafuente del Sistal monastery northeast of Madrid, who died Tuesday evening at age 105, has come to the world’s attention because of her 86 years of cloistered life, likely a world record.
Barajuen entered the Cistercian monastery at the age of 19 in 1927. She acknowledged in recent interviews that she had not intended to become a nun but entered the monastery because of family pressure. Nevertheless, the lifestyle agreed with her and the years and decades rolled by.

In 2011 Barajuen left the monastery for the first time in 40 years to meet retired Pope Benedict XVI during a papal visit to Madrid. As it turns out, she had entered the monastery on the same day he was born.

Homily hint: The body of Christ is supported and sustained by the prayerful witness of countless believers, including those who worship night and day behind monastic enclosures. Many monastic communities operate guest houses where people can renew their spirits in the holy atmosphere of contemplative prayer. A summer retreat can be the best vacation plan of all.

Source: An article by the Associated Press