In June 2025, Sister Maria Arumí i Blancafort celebrates 75 years of consecrated life as a Carmelite of Charity Vedruna. It is a reason for celebration and joy, so today we share her testimony full of memories.
I remember that since I was a little girl I told my confessor that when I grew up I would like to dedicate my whole life to God, I suppose he meant consecrate myself, but he advised me not to, that I had to live and experience other ways of serving and loving him and that my family would help me.
When I was 9 years old I made my first communion in La Garriga, a town in the province of Barcelona. I remember that on the same day a child of the Millet family, who lived in L’Ametlla del Vallès, also made it.
When we went to live in Vic, my sisters and I went to El Escorial school. Later I was a boarder at the school in Gràcia, where my aunt Roser Blancafort was stationed.
When I finished my studies at the school in Gràcia, I returned to Vic. That was the time to ask my father to enter the novitiate, but he did not agree because I was too young.
During the waiting time I helped Sister M. Teresa Robusté, drawing teacher at El Escorial. I made friends and friends, as well as some suitors. I think that perhaps because of this and for fear that I might stray from the vocation to the consecrated life, my entrance into the novitiate was accelerated and I was proposed to enter on the day of the Sacred Heart, three weeks before the entrance of my group.
I have had different destinations, always related to teaching, the first was in Manlleu. I studied Romance Studies at the University of Murcia and Fine Arts in Barcelona. I finished my professional life at the University Ramon Llull, in Blanquerna, as a teacher of Language and Literature. I worked there for 29 years. I keep a pleasant memory.
Once retired, in 2000, I enrolled in the painting workshop of Professor Madiroles, a great teacher and friend. Covid was the one who put an end to this last stage, so beautiful for me.
Today, I give thanks for these 75 years of consecrated life as a Carmelite Vedruna. “God called those whom he wanted”. I am grateful for all that I have received, which has been a lot, and for all that I have been able to give. In this journey many people have accompanied me: my blood family, the Vedruna family and many other people, many. Everything was grace.
Sr. Maria Arumí i Blancafort, ccv
