Monthly Newspaper • DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

DANBURY—On September 28, Courtney Ramsdell became a consecrated virgin, listening to Jesus’ voice and becoming one of the world’s lights. She has overcome a difficult journey to get there and is overjoyed that she will be completing God’s will.

Bishop Caggiano celebrated the Mass in which Ramsdell officially became a consecrated virgin. During his homily, he shared the words of St. Augustine, who likened the Church to a garden, as well as the different “plants” that made it beautiful: the green ivy that grows intertwined represents the Christian married couple, the red roses represent the martyrs who shed their blood for Christ, and the white lilies that represented the women who consecrate their lives to Christ and become his spouse.

“My dear friends, the garden here in the Church of Bridgeport is becoming more beautiful today because we have a white lily being born in our midst,” said Bishop Caggiano.

Ramsdell discerned that the Lord was calling her, and she followed his voice. As many have done before her and will do so after her, she will have a mission, as the bishop has told her, to become a light in the midst of the church.

“All those who are consecrated virgins, you are apostles in the world … you are not afraid of the darkness,” Bishop Caggiano said, “Go as a messenger of glad tidings, for in the joy that you’ll regain in the conviction and perseverance and courage of your heart and the clarity of your mind, you’ll be a messenger.”

Bishop Caggiano told Ramsdell, “Be a woman of courage to not simply speak the word of faith, as important as that is, but to live it.”

As a consecrated virgin, Ramsdell plans to continue doing what she always does: volunteering at nursing homes, lectoring at Mass, and praying for priests once every liturgical season.

“To be a consecrated virgin is to love Jesus fully,” Ramsdell said of her new role in the Church.

Ramsdell was born with a malignant brain tumor and was blue in the face as she underwent surgery. Preparing for the worst, her mother started to plan a funeral. But her grandmother told her mother that she would not die. And right she was, as God spoke through her grandmother so that Ramsdell’s mother would understand.

Ramsdell later met her guardian angel, whom she calls “Emily,” after the song “Emily” by Michael W. Smith, from the verse “Oh, you’re an angel waiting for wings, Emily.” When she prays to her guardian angel, Ramsdell is always provided with an answer. When her parents were having trouble, she prayed and asked Emily if her parents were going to get a divorce; ultimately, the answer was yes.

Photos by Amy Mortensen

After the divorce, her mother met a man named Paul. He helped raise Ramsdell’s self-esteem and encouraged her that she was capable of anything. She was later sent to Massachusetts to find a job and a place to live. Ramsdell said, “It is a blessing from God” as she learns the essentials, such as budgeting, cooking, and cleaning. There, she became a Certified Nursing Assistant.

On the day of Ramsdell’s Confirmation, she felt God calling her the moment the bishop placed the oil on her head. She spoke with many priests and nuns to accomplish all God wanted from her. Wanting to stay in Danbury, she was recommended to the Franciscan Third Order, a religious order of members who do not live in a religious community but can still wear a religious habit and do good works of an order. She joined the Third Order at Sacred Heart in Danbury. The weekend before joining the order, she went on a retreat with her parish. There, she heard the word saying that this is the way.

“During Adoration, I felt God say, ‘This is what I want you to do. This is his plan.’ Every time I encounter him, in Adoration and the Eucharist, a spark or fire goes off in my soul, and I burst into tears,” says Ramsdell.

Ramsdell went through every stage in the order, starting as an observer, inquirer, candidate and secular. As a candidate, she felt called to become a nun. She spoke with a nun and was proclaimed to have a Franciscan spirit. Although her physical limitations would hinder her ability to keep up, it was agreed that she needed to take her time. Ultimately, the idea of becoming a consecrated virgin came up.

The last step was to run it by Bishop Frank J. Caggiano. She was told that it might take a while for the bishop to make a decision, but it took only 15 minutes for him to tell her, “You’re going to be a great consecrated virgin.”

“I had his heart,” said Ramsdell. She was then put with a spiritual director and began her preparations.

“I will be the Lord’s only for the rest of my life. I am so excited. I have been in love for a long time,” says Ramsdell as she awaited the day of her consecration. “The verse John 3:16 is exactly how I feel, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.’”

By Citlalli Santiago