Marcela was born in Puebla, Mexico, on 16 January 1967. From being a little girl she was accustomed to making herself useful. Given her father’s illness and her mother having to work it fell to her to look after her younger brothers and sisters. When her father made a recovery things became more “normal” and she was able to play, to help around the house, to go to school and study. She did so well that in the fourth year she won a scholarship. As she grew older she displayed her leadership qualities. For her secondary studies she attended the School of the FMA. There she found what she was looking for: to be able to meet and to get to know better the Loving God present everwhere and in everyone. In college she became fascinated by the life of Laura Vicuña. One day she brought her picture home from school and stuck it on the wall asking her mother never to take it down as she always wanted to be able to keep an eye on her friend Laura, who had been ready to offer her life for her mother’s “conversion”. The scholarship she had earned enabled her to start secondary school with the Sisters and at the same time to begin a correspondence course in journalism as it had been her dream to become a journalist. At school she showed her courage and honesty especially on one occasion when a teacher was not accepted and the class became unruly and so indisciplined as to attract the attention of the Headmistress. Calling them all together she asked for an explanation for the “rebellion”. Everyone blamed the teacher except Marcela who identified the faults and failures also of the students who were often disobedient on purpose. There was a deafening silence. In May 1981 there was the famous assassination attempt against John Paul II when he was seriously wounded. At school they decided to write him letters expressing their sympathy. Marcela’s was one of the best. Among other things she wrote: “If the Lord calls me to follow Him I am ready, like the flock that follows its shepherd.” And the Lord was not slow in calling her. Did she have some premonition? In 1982, when she was fifteen the reason was discovered for the severe stomach and head pains she often experienced: an acute form of leukemia.


Marcela was born in Puebla, Mexico, on 16 January 1967. From being a little girl she was accustomed to making herself useful. Given her father’s illness and her mother having to work it fell to her to look after her younger brothers and sisters. When her father made a recovery things became more “normal” and she was able to play, to help around the house, to go to school and study. She did so well that in the fourth year she won a scholarship. As she grew older she displayed her leadership qualities. For her secondary studies she attended the School of the FMA. There she found what she was looking for: to be able to meet and to get to know better the Loving God present everwhere and in everyone. In college she became fascinated by the life of Laura Vicuña. One day she brought her picture home from school and stuck it on the wall asking her mother never to take it down as she always wanted to be able to keep an eye on her friend Laura, who had been ready to offer her life for her mother’s “conversion”. The scholarship she had earned enabled her to start secondary school with the Sisters and at the same time to begin a correspondence course in journalism as it had been her dream to become a journalist. At school she showed her courage and honesty especially on one occasion when a teacher was not accepted and the class became unruly and so indisciplined as to attract the attention of the Headmistress. Calling them all together she asked for an explanation for the “rebellion”. Everyone blamed the teacher except Marcela who identified the faults and failures also of the students who were often disobedient on purpose. There was a deafening silence. In May 1981 there was the famous assassination attempt against John Paul II when he was seriously wounded. At school they decided to write him letters expressing their sympathy. Marcela’s was one of the best. Among other things she wrote: “If the Lord calls me to follow Him I am ready, like the flock that follows its shepherd.” And the Lord was not slow in calling her. Did she have some premonition? In 1982, when she was fifteen the reason was discovered for the severe stomach and head pains she often experienced: an acute form of leukemia.



YOUTH HOLINESS

by Pascual Chávez Villanueva


F


RUITS OF THE

PREVENTIVE SYSTEM


WILLY AND MARCELA


Willy De Koster and Marcela Crux Atempa Morales, from Mexico, are the fruits of the Preventive System that I want to introduce to readers in this month of November, as precious gifts that God has given to our family.


Willy is remarkable for his courage and cheerfulness which was surprising in a young boy who knew he was dying from the serious disease that had struck him down. He was sustained by his great love of God and by the generous support of his school friends. The story of his life is also significant for the role played by his parents who showed their deep faith when faced with the trial that came to carry away their son’s dreams and to bring disappointment in their place. Willy, who was born in 1974, came from Guadalajara, Mexico, and had been long awaited by Francesco and Lily his parents. When he was born they saw that God had given them a child with a fabulous smile that he never lost, even in the face of tragic circumstances. But they also became aware that their Willy seemed to have been born to suffer. In fact he was scarcely three when he was struck by leukemia. His struggle for survival then began: transfusions, chemotherapy, radiation treatment, lumbar injections, isolation. But at the same time the infant’s character began to show itself, with his incredible courage, considering his age. In that limpid soul which faced up to the illness like a mature adult, the mysterious and strengthening presence of God made itself felt. After three years chemotherapy, it seemed a miracle had happened and that the illness have been overcome. His parents had even decided to have a Mass said in thanksgiving. But the illness returned stronger than ever. There was only one further remedy possible, a bone marrow transplant which would be enormously expensive. The whole family got together, even selling their house in the hope of a miracle, while entrusting themselves to the will of God. Willy, who had already got over meningitis and double pneumonia was unable to overcome the leukemia. He died on the first of July 1984.

The good Lord had not given him health but He gave him to a high degree the ability to love Him in his sufferngs, to see that every moment was a gift, and the strength to face up to his painful illness without ever losing his smile even though he was close to death. Like a youthful Paul he was able to challenge death: “Who can separate me from the love of God, manifested in Christ Jesus? Not even death”. A Sister from the Salesian School that Willy went to remembers something he said that sums up salesian holiness very well: “I want to be happy all my life”. His secret and his strength were his friendship with Jesus, as the teachers and his school friends from the Anahuac Chapalita Salesian School in Guadalajara he attended attest.


1 Her calvary was just beginning. She had to shuttle between home and the hospital where she spent long periods before returning home again. In the hospital her chief medicine was the Eucharist, and “her” sisters saw to it that she never went without It. She joyfully offered up her sufferings and was always attentive to the doctors and nurses and readily played her flute for the other patients.

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2 This lasted almost a year. On 8 July 1983, after she had chosen the hymns for her funeral which would take place in the chapel of the College, she said good bye to everyone, her relatives, friends and the Sisters who were beside her bed. Jesus was inviting her to follow him as a lamb its shepherd.

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