The story of Mother Maria Pilar Adámez has shaken thousands of people. She was a member of the Congregation of the Oblate Sisters of Christ the Priest, who dedicate their lives to God, priests and the Church.
It was a hard Holy Week for these religious sisters. On Holy Thursday, six of them tested positive for the coronavirus. On Easter Sunday, they took Mother Pilar to the hospital. From that point on, she was in isolation at the hospital, and her sisters never saw her again.
MOTHER TERESA O.C.S.
Superior, Oblate Sisters of Christ the Priest
“When she was going to be checked in to the hospital, she told me, 'The only thing left to do is to give ourselves up to the will of God. Otherwise, you're lost. Whatever He wants is always the best.'”
SR. ASUNCIÓN O.C.S.
Oblate Sister of Christ the Priest
“As soon as we could, we took a phone to her, so we could stay in touch.”
MOTHER TERESA O.C.S.
Superior, Oblate Sisters of Christ the Priest
“On the phone screen, I saw 'Mother Maria Pilar.' I put her on loudspeaker and told the sisters, 'It's Mother Maria Pilar.' We started to cheer for her, to show her our affection. In that moment though, it was like she was saying goodbye, preparing for Heaven. She had just received the anointing of the sick, communion and absolution. She said, 'I'm going to Heaven. I'm going to Heaven. Whatever God wants.'”
As with all coronavirus patients, the physical pain was paired with the drama of living these difficult moments separated from her loved ones. Mother Maria Pilar faced this trial with a lot of faith, offering up her suffering for priests.
MOTHER TERESA O.C.S.
Superior, Oblate Sisters of Christ the Priest
“At the hospital, she would repeat, 'Pro eis, pro eis.' She couldn't speak because she was so tired and was struggling to breathe, so she just said, 'Pro eis,' for them, and 'Pro Ecclesia,' for the Church.”
Five hours before her death, Mother Pilar, who was alone in her hospital room, wrote a message to her congregation to say goodbye and sum up her life.
This is what she wrote: Jesus, I feel it is my final night. Thank you, my God, for uniting me so profoundly to the pure pain of your surrender to the Cross.
MOTHER TERESA O.C.S.
Superior, Oblate Sisters of Christ the Priest
“Then there was her final message: 'Jesus, I feel this is my final night. Thank you, my God, for uniting me so profoundly to your surrender to the Cross.'”
SR. ASUNCIÓN O.C.S
Oblate Sister of Christ the Priest
“At midnight, the hospital called, to tell us that Mother Maria Pilar was in very poor condition, and that it was very likely she wouldn't survive the night. From midnight to 3 a.m., we waited for them to call back to give the news. All we could say is, 'There's nothing I can do.' There's a huge sense of helplessness. I imagine it's the same for every family going through a similar situation. It's a tremendous feeling of helplessness and truly immense pain.”
Until a few years ago, Mother Maria Pilar was superior general of the congregation. She was now living at a monastery in Huelva, in southern Spain, for a little over a year, looking after other elderly religious sisters.
She was infected while caring for one of them. The coronavirus might have taken her life, but it also called attention to the strength with which she lived.
“A kiss!”
