Maria was once a woman ensnared in the grasp of a convent, cloaked in a veil of austerity. For five years, she existed in a world of prayer and solitude, suppressing her desires and her own radiant beauty. One fateful morning, she caught her reflection in a polished pewter plate, and a realization washed over her. Beneath her habit was a woman yearning for more, her desires not sinful, but a celebration of divine creation.
With newfound resolve, Maria left the cloistered walls of the convent, stepping into a world vibrant with life. She embraced her allure, drawing men like moths to a flame. She indulged in her physical desires, savouring the intimacy she had denied herself for years.
During her journey, she found herself in the company of a devout man. As she disrobed before him, he cried out, “Shame! Shame! This nakedness is a sin in the eyes of God!” Maria met his shock with a gentle smile, “Who do you think made me?” she asked. “Satan or God? And who bestowed upon me beauty? It was not to tempt you, but to bring beauty, color, and gentleness into your life.”
Her words shattered his indoctrination, revealing a world where the divine didn’t solely reside in penance, but also in pleasure, not just in austerity, but in the generosity of love.
After living freely, Maria returned to the convent. This time, it wasn’t to repent, but to share the joy and fulfillment she had found beyond the convent walls. Several of her former sisters joined her, casting off their habits, and embracing a life unburdened by the convent’s restraints. These women, touched by Maria’s authenticity, blessed lonely and forgotten men with their beauty and warmth.
They bore children, bringing new life into the world. Some offered their love to those who could afford little, spreading their kindness far and wide. They tended to the needy, comforted the lonely, and lived lives of profound generosity and compassion.
When Maria’s time came to an end, she was greeted in heaven not with scorn, but with honor. She was ushered into the Inner Circle, recognized for her courage, compassion, and understanding of the divine design.
God spoke, “Beauty is meant to be cherished, not hidden. You gave of yourself freely, loved generously, lived boldly. You understood the true law of nature: that what seems to be cruelty is not so, it is truly the highest form of love. Cruelty exists only as a contrast to love.”
As Maria took her place in the Inner Circle, a warm smile graced her lips. She had lived a life that was true to herself, a life that embraced the joys of love and the beauty of giving. She realized her place in this celestial realm was not despite her choices, but because of them. She was not a fallen woman, but a woman who had risen by liberating herself and others