Chapter 2: The Call 7. What age were you and how did you perceive the call to be a priest? In other words, why did you decide to be a priest? Marcial Maciel at the age when he felt called to become a priest. I felt God's call when I was fourteen. It was May. On May afternoons we used to pray the rosary at the parish, as an act of devotion to Mary. We also used make a beautiful floral offering. That day I was on my way home from praying the rosary at the parish when I met two nuns who were in Cotija, away from their communities for reasons of health and because of the religious persecution. They stopped to chat and asked me where I had been. I said, in Mexico City with the bishop of Veracruz, Rafael Guízar. Since the religious persecution was still going on in his diocese, he lived in the capital and ran a clandestine seminary there. "And why didn't you stay with him?" they asked. It was the first time anyone had ever mentioned to me the possibility of going to the seminary to be a priest. I asked them if I could be a priest. They said yes, if God had given me the gift of a vocation. After that brief conversation with the two sisters I was firmly convinced that God was calling me to serve him as a priest. Each vocation is particular and unique. Mine came unforeseen, without ever having thought of it or looked for it. In that seconds-long conversation with the nuns I had the moral certainty that God's will for me was the life of a priest. I really don't have any more details to give you. It was all very simple, but I must admit that I didn't harbor any doubt that my call was authentic. Later came many difficulties and setbacks, but I have never doubted my call. I consider this a very special grace from God, and I thank him for it every day. I remember that on that May afternoon in my fourteenth year I returned to the parish church I had just come from after praying the rosary. I was absolutely sure God wanted the priesthood for me. At the time I didn't know the particular circumstances in which it would happen, but I couldn't doubt that it was God's will for me. I know this is hard to explain, especially when you haven't had that kind of experience. I thanked God for this immense gift and asked him to help me be faithful to him on this path as long as I lived.