English
Deutsch
Sister M. Benedicta
My Name is Sister M. Benedicta Nakaie Miyuki. My family members are Buddhists, especially my grandfather, who earnestly helped to care for the believers in a Jodo-shinshu-temple to which he belonged.
My way to the religious life: When I was in my 5th year of elementary school, the World War Second began, which gave me a terrible shock. I thought that it is a serious problem for Japan. Even though I was a child I thought I must do something. I wanted to become an army nurse, and to work in the war area. I am short, so I couldn’t go to the Japanese Red Cross Society which required a certain height for nurses. At that time, I lived in Fukuoka, where there was the Kyushu University Nursing School. I wanted to enter this Nursing school, so I studied hard in order to pass the entrance Examination. Fortunately, I passed the exam, but soon after that the war ended. After I graduated from the Nursing school, I worked for two years at the University Hospital. Then I was introduced to work at the newly established University Hospital in Tottori, where I stayed for 5 years. At this time I met Father Mesner, S.J.. People called him a Saint. I was baptized by him. As my baptismal Name, I asked to have Anne, in honor of a woman who cared the leprosy patients.
I was longing for the religious life, so I returned to Fukuoka and started to work again in Kyushu University Hospital. In Fukuoka there are many religious communities, since one of my friends was Franciscan, I looked for a community of Franciscan Sisters. I found “Hospital Sisters of St. Francis” in a calendar book.
I wanted to visit the convent in Himeji, so one evening after my work I took a night train from Fukuoka, and at 4:00 a.m. the next morning I arrived in Himeji station. I took a taxi to get to St. Mary’s Hospital. Driving a country road, I found shabby wooden building. In front of the entrance, there was a statue of Our Lady of Fatima. No one was there and I could open the door, and I found the chapel-like room. Sisters went into the room, so I followed them. After morning prayer and the Mass, an older Sister, who appeared to be the superior, asked me whether I had a letter of introduction. I was surprised to hear this unexpected question, soon I returned to Fukuoka. I was a member of the Third Order Lay Franciscans, so I asked Father Nagel to write an introduction letter. With this letter I again visited Himeji, then I was invited to work at St. Mary’s hospital.
Soon I wrote a letter of resignation at Fukuoka and explained my plan to start to work at St. Mary’s Hospital.
When I told my mother that I was going to the convent, she cried for a long time, but in her later years she told others “my daughter has chosen a happy life”.
I made my first vows in 1959 and have been completely happy. Last year I celebrated my 60-year Diamond Jubilee. I fully realize this is God’s grace.
