Revelation (14:13)
I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the LORD from now on.” “Yes,” said the Spirit, “let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them.”

Book of Wisdom (3:1-6, 9)
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
And their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love;
Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.

John 14:1-3
1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Today we gather in this beautiful chapel inside this “dwelling place” to celebrate the life and Resurrection of Catherine Salta / Sister Marina Salta. When Sister received her Religious Name it was tradition then to receive a title as well. Hers was Sister Marina of the Holy Spirit. How providential that was when so many years later she would be called home to God on May 11th, in the early hours of the Feast of Pentecost- The Holy Spirit.

Marina chose the Gospel and scripture passages we just heard.

So, too, are these words from the artist, Elvis Presley that Marina asked be sung aloud –

Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can’t help falling in love with you
Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can’t help falling in love with you

Last Wednesday afternoon Marina was putting her final touches on her funeral plans when she shared these lines with Sr. Jeanette and me. It was so wonderful to hear ourselves sing out those words at her bedside and to see Marina’s eyes glean as she used every effort to give special meaning to the lyrics. She said that these lyrics were words expressing - God’s love to her; Her love to God and Her love to those in her life.

Marina spent these last 5 months preparing for her Resurrection moment. She was upset at first because she felt she had so much more to do and to give and she really did not want to give up. However, as reality set in about her cardiac condition, she made the effort to prepare for “ her Father’s house”. She stated that she, “could not wait to meet all those who had died in her family and all the Dominican Saints”. She said this while looking upward, “It will be so glorious. I can’t wait”. Marina, we can all picture you having that moment you were waiting for.

Throughout the past 5 months, Marina wrote many reflections in a notebook. She requested that I deliver some of these with you today. She begins: “this Eulogy tells about my true self and my gratitude for all God has done for me”.

Marina had many “dwelling places” starting with her family life in the New Jersey and Throggs Neck in the Bronx with her parents, sisters Louise, Agnes and Lucille and brothers Francis, Joe and twin brother Jim. Together they grew together in their faith and love for each other- in the house on Beach and then Harper Avenues, where she rode her bicycle with Jimmy or posed for pictures in the driveway. In addition, there were “dwelling places” where they spent vacations at the shore in both Connecticut and New Jersey. And more recently in Ocean City, MD. Jim recalled some of these memories in a letter he wrote to her this past March. This letter was very special to her and she shared it with me as if it were printed on precious parchment paper.

I know she enjoyed your memories last evening too, Joe, as you so beautifully shared about Marina “the chosen one”. Thank you.

In her teenage years, the family faced difficult times in their “dwelling place”. Her Dad had died when the twins were 15 y.o. and the boys had to take jobs afterschool to help make ends meet. But Marina recalled that all 7 children were happy and well cared for. She said that her mother never wavered and this example of strength and trust in God gave her a foundation she built on the rest of her life.

One of Marina’s memories as a child was when she accompanied her Mother to church for Novena adoration. She writes, “I found out not only too much later that I was no model to the other siblings” because she found her attention wandering so often. Her mother would “simply look ahead at the altar, setting example” It didn’t take Marina long “to pick up the message” to be quiet and pray.

Marina recalled that as a teenager she was no angelic model. “I always said to my twin, if you were not so good, I would not look so bad”. She stated that she sought God with all her heart to change her ways. When she decided to enter Religious Life, even her mother said, “I prayed that you would change, but I never expected a miracle.” The Holy Spirit was present in her life starting then.

As we may have read on the memory table outside the chapel or in her obituary, Marina had many assignments. All of them, as a true Dominican, centered on bringing the Word of God to others – be it the children she taught in school, the adult students she studied with at the College of New Rochelle or with the people she joined in the Legion of Mary prayer group in Hawthorne, NJ.

But, it was her 25 years in the classroom that were most fulfilling to her. She writes, “Children made my teaching a great joy and above all I learned from them. They are absolutely clever! Give them just an idea, sit back and see for yourself. You will be amazed.”

She loved school both as a teacher and a student, and continued to study up to the age of 66 when she completed a certificate program in Pastoral Ministry.

For those who impressed her in life, she continues, “There’s lots of hope in this world. Check out the lives of St Thomas Aquinas, the Cure of Oz and others. They may not be great artists but God blessed their minds with a wisdom every artist is gifted with”.

As we know, Marina was a great artist herself. Since the 1990,’s she used her studies in Gerontology and Memory Loss. She initiated simple art projects made from recycled materials collected around this building or saved for her by the Sisters. Her gifted re-creations were evident not only, in the art room or the Infirmary, but on her bulletin boards in the hallways and elevators, created for each season or holiday. As you pass through the hallways today, take notice. These are her creations that Sister Anna and Regis have placed up there for us to see.

She extended this artistic talent to the boys at San Miguel Academy here in Newburgh. In the 2007 term, she created the “Battle of Ticonderoga”- a complete battlefield; then she and the boys created a spectacular “Space Station” with all forms of spaceships. This year, just before she became very ill in January, she put together a project about the movie “The March of the Penguins” that was just incredible. Photos were taken of the project so that she could see the end result. In addition, in her true form of being prepared in advance, she has left instructions and materials for the San Miguel boys to create an Aquarium this spring. Sister Lois will be sure that this will take place.

When Marina entered the Newburgh Dominicans on September 8, 1948, she was pleased to learn that two sisters who were in her band, she had met in a summer job at the Metropolitan Insurance company while attending Our Lady of Victory Business School in Mt. Vernon or at an office for the Propagation of the Faith. These sisters were Margaret Charles Kociolek and Thomas Aquinas Sloyan.

In her writings, Marina reflected on three lessons she learned in her near 60 years of Religious life:
• First, “What it meant to be a real religious, there are all kinds you know”.
• Secondly, “The difference in religious leaders - those who are truly holy; others who reveal negative characteristics we could really live without”.
• And she concludes, “But in the end it all comes together – realizing that life is really what you make it. Jesus is indeed the Master Teacher”.

As shared last evening, Marina will most be remembered by all her acts of kindness. How fitting it is that the readings for the Mass of the Day today address this:

“Indeed someone might say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. ….See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (James 2)

Most recently, Marina planned for and visualized this day, this Mass of Resurrection as she carefully wrote notes for the Eulogy.

Listen to her words to us, “All of these (memories) brought great joy to my soul. I wish I could have done more, but unfortunately, God knew when enough is enough. Just hold on to that wounded hand. When you reach the FULL STOP then you had better be ready for whatever follows. It could be the toughest road you will ever travel”.

She continues, “Having been so very active, this (illness) was tough for me to experience. Just think - no more driving, no more shopping, no more everything. Jesus is whispering loud and clear, Here, I am giving you time to get ready to meet the Lord-of-Lords. What a great gift. Is there anything more wonderful? I’ll never regret the suffering, sleepless nights, or the shortness of breath”.

With regard to the picture on the Mass booklet that Sister Marina sketched herself, she writes: “I was greatly edified by the priestly example evident in the shepherding of sheep”. This is why I love this picture of the Good Shepherd.

To her beloved family, Marina writes:
“To my brothers I say, I honestly felt part of being a triplet (rather than a twin, we were so close). My brothers took great care of my needs. I was rarely without want. Thank you.”

“My twin affirms the fact that our lives have been an enjoyable support to one another.” Joe looked after his little sister and brother like a father when Dad died. And he has done the same for all his children. No one in the family can deny it.”

To all of us she writes:
“And so I say farewell to all of my wonderful family and friends. I thank all the priests I ever worked with. All the friends and volunteers. And to (all the workers in the Infirmary), thank you for helping to light my way into eternity”.

I would like to close with a few pertinent lines of scripture Marina chose for today. Visualize Marina for a moment as I read them:

"In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you” (JOHN 14:2)

As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. (WISDOM)

They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
And their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. (WISDOM)

Blessed are the dead who die in the LORD from now on.” “Yes,” said the Spirit, “let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them.” (REVELATIONS)

Diane Trotta, OP
May 16, 2008