“Blessed are the meek and humble of heart,
because theirs is the Kingdom of God.”
Sister María Cortés Pardo ss.cc.
Santiago, 29th November, 2007.
Maria was born in Carmen (Chillán) on the 23rd November, 1942, the daughter of José Cortés and Ursulina Pardo. She belonged to a large and profoundly Christian family. Feeling the call to religious life, she entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts on the 1st April, 1965, making her first profession in 1967 and her final profession in 1976.
She trained to be a religion teacher in the Catholic University. She loved her profession, and was constantly challenged to find suitable ways of teaching the faith to the children and young people. Her personal charism of teaching the faith, her closeness to the simple people, meant that she lived and proclaimed the Lord in various ways within the Congregation in Chile; in parishes, education centers, Foundation, to mention a few, los Álamos, Yungay, Talcahuano, San Javier, Viña del Mar (Sta. Inés), El Carmen, Santiago and this year 2007 Villa Alegre when her illness obliged her to return to Santiago in July. Maria, supported by her fidelity to the Eucharist and Adoration, was a tireless missionary and a simple woman in both community life and in her pastoral work. One of her favorite prayers was the Rosary, which she prayed all the time, in the street, in the chapels with groups; on the bus and recently in her bed.
In her last years, her love for the poor was expressed particularly with the elderly, whom she considered poor among the poor. With the help of lay people, she was able to create a Home for the Elderly in Carmen, to which they gave the name “San Francisco de Asís”. And in her final years when she was burdened with illness, she was part of the clubs for the Elderly in the Damien of Molokai parish (Santiago).
She lived her commitment to the ss.cc. charism accompanying and encouraging the Secular Branch communities in Santiago, when her strength would allow it.
And taking up the words of the homily during her funeral Mass, we want to end this circular saying: “… today we give thanks to God for the life of Maria as a sister of the SS.CC., in whose life we have seen reflected the desire to be faithful to its Mission and Charism. No without struggles and falls, but always ready to go further in and throw the nets”. She loved to embody in her life the Charism given by God to our Founders, that is to say: the following of Jesus, focused on his Heart; the deep sharing of evangelical poverty; the audacious insertion in the humanity of her time; the simple service of the poorest; the passion for the Church, the people of God; the closeness to Mary, companion on the way; the celebration of the Eucharist and her reparatory adoration; the giving without reserve into the hands of God and his Providence.
Give thanks for the faithful spouse, Jesus Christ; where, in the midst of misunderstandings and possible meanness, she always knew how to the way back home: to the merciful Father’s arms.”
We trust that in the Immaculate Heart of Mary she has found the gentleness of a Mother; that She will present her to her Son, and in His Sacred Heart, can find eternal peace and joy without end.
May our thankfulness and intercession for our sister Maria, strengthen us as a Congregation, together with so many Brothers and Sisters who have gone to the Father’s House
Maria Beatriz Montaner ss.cc.
and sisters of the Province of Chile
11/29/2007