Charlotte, soon to be baptized, chooses path toward light

“I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” These are the words that thousands of catechumens around the world are preparing to hear on Easter night when they are baptized. Throughout Lent, Aleteia is sharing with you the stories of some of these men and women, who are happy to become children of God. Read all of the testimonies here.

At the age of 53, Charlotte will be baptized on Easter night, April 21, at the shrine of St. Rita in Vendeville (France), where she experienced a sudden conversion a year ago.

Like many catechumens, Charlotte, a graphic designer by profession, wasn’t raised in the Christian faith. But despite a difficult childhood, little Charlotte felt deep down from a very early age that there was something greater. “I always liked going to church. I prayed spontaneously, without really knowing how to pray,” she says. “I already felt like I had a connection.”

It was finally many years later, at the age of 52, that she had a moving encounter with God. A friend took her one day to a shrine in Vendeville, which houses a relic of St. Rita. “I sat down and was struck by an incredible revelation,” she testifies with intensity.

That was all it took to convince her to take the plunge. “I was introduced to Fr. Jean-Pierre, the rector of the shrine. I took his phone number and joined the Alpha group very quickly, in April 2024.” From then on, a wonderful story of friendship began with the six other catechumens in her group.

“We’re very close. We think of each other as brothers and sisters,” she says with a smile. “There’s a growing sense of communion within the group.” She speaks of each of them with affection, not forgetting her godfather and godmother, friends who give her great support.

Every day, Charlotte experiences what it’s like to be brothers and sisters in the Church, which amazes her and makes her faith grow. “The decisive call was very moving. There were 189 of us catechumens, and we really felt supported by the people who were there! We knelt in front of the altar, and we said to ourselves: this is it! Everything makes sense.”

In her daily life, her love for Jesus gives her strength to go forward and brings her peace. “I talk to him every day, and I work with images of Mary and Jesus in front of me. I’m learning to ask for forgiveness, to pray even for those who’ve hurt me. I’ve been through difficult things, but I want to honor [Jesus] and pass on what I’m learning, gently.”

With radiant confidence, Charlotte isn’t afraid to ask questions or to undertake a process that seems difficult for many, baptized or not. “I went to confession. It was very important to me. It was very spontaneous; I thought it was normal to recognize that we’ve sinned. I talked about it to people around me and some of the catechumens went after me because they saw that it made sense.”

Although she hasn’t been spared the trials of life, Charlotte continues her journey towards baptism with confidence, surrounded by her loved ones. “We always have a choice. I could’ve become violent, but I chose love, not hate. It's a continuation of what I was already putting in practice as a child: I’ve chosen only the path towards the light.”

She admits to a little apprehension for the future: “I'm going to miss the meetings with the catechumens, so I have to organize myself to be with others. I hope to find a support group after my baptism.” But this concern isn’t enough to shake Charlotte’s confidence. She has chosen her path, that of communion with Christ and the Church: “What I love is the love you receive, and the desire to become better.”