Sr. Eusebia Palomino, Catechist in love with God

Spain. On 9 February 2022 the liturgical memorial is celebrated of Blessed Eusebia Palomino Yenes, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians who lived in Spain (1899-1935), beatified in Rome by John Paul II on 25 April 2004, Sr. Mercedes Muñoz Sánchez, FMA of the Community of Mary Help of Christians of Cádiz, of the Province of Mary Help of Christians (SPA) highlights her qualities as a Catechist:

It was suor Carmen Moreno, a woman of heroic charity, also beatified in 2001 by John Paul II, who was able to discover from the first moment of her arrival as Animator in Valverde, the hidden pearl that was Sister Eusebia, entrusted to her by the Lord.

Sr. Eusebia carried out the humblest functions of the house, all related to service: kitchen, door keeper, garden, and infirmary. As far as the apostolate is concerned, she was entrusted with the care of the youngest girls and the poorest and simplest people in the festive oratory. However, she was admirable in catechesis and many little girls approached her, drawn by curiosity towards a person who, although of little education, could give such a deep explanation of supernatural things.

It was in the school of Valverde that she spread her perfume of holiness and her Salesian spirit, transmitting to everyone an example of simplicity, humility, joy, and service. Although, on the basis of the testimonies collected, she already carried out this mission when she was a child and then in Salamanca.

The little ones were soon attracted by the stories of missionary events, lives of saints, episodes of Marian devotion, or anecdotes about Don Bosco, which she remembered thanks to a good memory and knew how to make attractive with passion and simple faith. Sr. Eusebia took advantage of every moment and place, especially in the chapel, to teach the Christian virtues to the girls of the School and, in a special way, that true wisdom lies in peace and union with God. She spoke of the Holy Scriptures, with which she was in love, and communicated this wherever she went. She also stressed to the students the importance of frequent confession and communion.

Sr. Eusebia’s teaching in her catechesis, in a simple way and within the reach of those girls, was that of Don Bosco: flight from sin, love of the Eucharist and the conditions for receiving it, and love for the Virgin Mary.

Everything about Sr. Eusebia reflected the love of God and the strong desire to make Him loved. She never missed an opportunity to approach the girls and older persons from all walks of life and to transmit the message of the Gospel.

It was an opportunity that she did not waste even when she wrote, as her Letters testify; in them there is a great variety of catechetical themes. One can take for example Letter no. 43 that she wrote to her mother which, although undated, is certainly from the summer of 1923. Sr. Eusebia expresses herself in a very clear language, revealing the zeal she had to communicate to everyone her love for God and the request not to oppose Him.

Her favorite topics were: the love of Jesus for all people whom He saved with His Passion, the Holy wounds of Jesus, true Marian devotion, and devotion to the Heart of Jesus. Other themes of the catechesis were charity, chastity, humility, obedience, mortification, and penance. She did not forget the social theme, which is reflected in letter no. 50 addressed to Mrs. Dolores Fleming de Zarza, referring to the workers of her factories and agricultural lands. Furthermore, she often emphasized the themes of the family and Christian education in the family environment.

This is precisely the soul of Sr. Eusebia’s apostolate during her short life: being a catechist for girls, young people, mothers of families, seminarians, and priests. It is said in the beatification process that, “There is probably no parish priest in all of Spain who did not receive a letter from Sr. Eusebia on Marian slavery”.