On Sunday, December 21, for the first time a widow’s consecration (consecrated to God) will take place at the St. Peter and St. Paul’s Cathedral of Tallinn, which is the fullness of the grace of the sacrament of marriage, where the Church consecrates a widow’s life to God, recognising her calling to live in chastity, prayer and service. It takes place during the Holy Mass in the cathedral and will be celebrated by Bishop Philippe Jourdan.
Here a short conversation with Tereza Meskinaga, who lives in Paide and works as a family doctor.
How did you come to this?
I was born into a Polish family but raised in Estonia. For that reason I have repeatedly visited Polish churches and prayed before the Virgin Mary in Czestochowas.
Together with my husband we took part in retreats in Poland that deeply affected our family’s prayer life. After my husband’s death I decided to give my life to God.
I thank Him every day that He looked to me and in His mercy allowed me to find in Poland an organization of consecrated widows.
This autumn I was able to participate in a retreat in Czestochowas, whose guiding theme was “Faithfulness on the pilgrimage — go and do not look aside”, based on Scripture and the teaching of the Church and taking into account the particular nature of the vocation of consecrated widows.
What does this consecration mean in spiritual terms?
In general, the consecration of a widow is a testimony that death is not the end but a path of God’s love. A widow’s longing to be reunited with her husband can be compared to the Church’s expectation for the second coming of Christ.
For me this means a new beginning: to live daily in Christ, to serve the Church and to carry the love of my marriage forward in spiritual consecration. Consciously I say yes — I want to pray for the Church, live in chastity and for the glory of the Lord
What kind of prayer life accompanies this?
Daily prayer and adoration are the center of my life. I pray for the Church and for my neighbors, and the Liturgy of the Hours and daily reading of Sacred Scripture hold a special place in my spirituality.
Who is your patron in prayer or patron saint?
My special patron is the Blessed Virgin Mary, from whom I learn trust and faithfulness to God.
I am grateful that I was able to pray with a living rosary group for the beatification of Bishop Eduard Profittlich. Now I turn to his intercession in my prayers and continue praying the rosary for his canonization.
How long have you been a Catholic and what do you do daily?
I have been a Catholic since birth – it is simply part of my life and values. Daily I work as a family doctor, which keeps me constantly among people and brings great joy. In addition, I am a mother and grandmother, so my days are quite busy and full of various roles.
Many thanks and many blessings to Tereza from the whole Catholic Church family.