The conversion of Manisha, born on the Feast of Our Lady
Mumbai (AsiaNews) -
"It is as if God came looking for me, in every moment of my life,
encouraging me and comforting by His Word." This is the story of Manisha
Ansurkar, 25, who during the Easter Vigil will be baptized and become
Christian, after following the journey of the catechumenate for two years. Born
into a Hindu family on September 8, 1987, the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady,
her life has been marked by death and serious illness since she was small, at five
years of age she lost her mother, followed seven years later by her sister ,
Meenashi, which died at the age of 16 due to illness.
Following the death of her sister, her father remarried and plunged deeper into
the Hindu culture and traditions. Manisha describes her family as "not
very religious, although constant in the practice the daily rituals." It's
the same for her: "I did not follow any rules as such and hardly went to a
temple or had prayer time." At 18 she suffered a fresh blow: her father became
very ill, and she and her loved ones faced great economic difficulties. " I
attended the Novena of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at St. Michael's Church,
Mahim - she recalls- pleading with Our Lady to save my father's life."
Her prayers were heard: her father gradually improved, until he was cured. Life
returned to normal. "After all that well though - she admits - I again
stopped praying and was busy with my own routine and daily life. I forgot how
God had heard my prayers and given me what I wanted and stopped interacting
with Jesus".
The turning point came some time later: " Then after a few years, Jesus
came searching for me, he brought the most wonderful person into my life , my future
husband Remeth Lobo, who professed the Catholic Faith." The two were
married in 2011, with the blessing of Manisha's father and stepmother. Remeth
brought her closer to Catholicism: "while was unsure about following Jesus,
I did have faith in Jesus; It is at this
point of time that I started knowing about Jesus and I wondered how anyone
could give up his life for us sinners. How can God sacrifice his Son for people who hardly listen to him or obey him? I
think He has some plans for me and so I joined the catechumenate program. "
"Having to honor many gods - Manisha says - has always confused me, it was
something that left me exhausted, dissatisfied and restless. Believing in one
God instead has made me stronger and healed my spirit."
"The promise of the resurrection from the dead - she continues - has found
a special place in my heart, because it meets one of my greatest desires: to be
reunited in heaven with my mother and my sister. Even my name, Manisha, means
'wish'. All this gives me hope and peace. " Without knowing it, she notes,
"I have been a witness of God's love since I was born. The Lord has chosen
me to be born on the day of the Nativity of Our Lady, to protect me under her
motherly mantle. This is the Wisdom and Love of God for me. "
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