On September 8, feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Diana Osuna made her first vows as a Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi in the chapel of the Legionaries of Christ in Rionegro, Colombia. This was after the unique journey of being previously married, widowed and then invited to discern consecrated life in Regnum Christi.
Diana, originally from Cali, Colombia, joined Regnum Christi in 2016 after participating in a Theology of the Body course. During that experience, she not only discovered her identity as a beloved daughter of God, but also felt a deep connection to the charism of Regnum Christi. Her heart resonated with the way lives and families were transformed through contemplation of the mystery of Christ.
The eldest of three sisters, she studied Industrial Engineering and is currently pursuing a degree in Religious Studies at Anahuac University.
She began her discernment process with the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi by spending eight months with the community of Medellin during 2022. After that she moved to Mexico to participate in the summer discernment course and subsequently entered the candidacy in the Monterrey Formation Center, where she has just completed the initial two-year period.
I say Yes, freely with all my heart, to the loving invitation of Jesus to belong completely to him.
A few days before her first vows, we spoke with her to learn more about her vocation and her life.
How did Jesus conquer your heart and how does he continue to make you fall in love with him?
I was educated at a Catholic college and university, but I only had a profound encounter with Jesus during an Emmaus retreat when I already was married with a well established career. That weekend became the beginning of an incredible adventure where Jesus has not ceased to captivate me and amaze me with his presence in so many different ways.
How did the Lord enter your life and change your plans?
In 2019 after facing a serious illness, my husband and special life partner for over ten years, passed away. And although this loss was a very painful experience, it strengthened my relationship with God and taught me that we can only truly live by placing ourselves in his hands with trust. So in the midst of the natural changes that came and being very active in Regnum Christi in Cali, I was surprised by an invitation from Jesus to consider consecration as a new state of life that made it possible to dedicate myself totally and exclusively to him to love him and bring him to others.
Going through that tragedy sustained in faith and surrounded by so many people who accompanied us unconditionally with their prayers and support, made me aware of the true values in life. When the time comes to leave this earth, it is not the temporary achievements and successes that matter, but the great treasure of the Kingdom which is God himself and his love shared with others.
What led you to think about becoming a Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi?
I began to feel within me a restlessness to go deeper, to seek more. I did not know exactly what it was, but it was united to a longing in my heart to be very close to Jesus in the Tabernacle, in the Eucharist and in a structured sacramental life.
It was an openness to listen to what that more was, so that God could have all my time and my heart to understand his will and his new plan. Thus I discovered that it was a loving invitation to belong exclusively to him in a relationship of spousal consecration, which also implied welcoming others, sharing with them what I was receiving and what was filling my heart.
How did you say “yes” to the Lord?
More than a “yes”, there have been many little “yeses” every day. After almost three years in the discernment phase, getting to know and experiencing aspects of the consecrated life through the various means provided for this stage, I felt that this mutual resonance and the desire to respond in total freedom to the invitation of Jesus, uniting in His Sacred Heart my little “yes” with the immense “yes” of His will, was consolidating.
What role does the Regnum Christi family play in your vocational experience?
I have recognized the gift of consecration as a love of gratuitousness that is received and given. It is the very real and living presence today of Jesus among us who makes all things new so that we can accompany one another towards eternity from our realities and states of life.
I was delighted to recognize the mystery of God moving in each person’s life. I have great gratitude for being able to live his mystery as part of a family and to continue to feel his merciful love through the affection of my consecrated sisters, the Legionary Fathers and all the members of the RC who strive to have the heart of an apostle.
What has helped you most in your vocation?
I have been helped by all the prayers offered by so many special and close people, and at the same time all the prayers that are made around the world for vocations, because my journey can only be possible as a fruit of prayer. I also give heartfelt thanks to my parents and the Consecrated Women who have accompanied me and motivated me with their guidance, experiences and dedication to discover God’s plan of love for me. I am particularly grateul for the willingness and generous welcome of the entire Society of Apostolic Life of the Consecrated Women for allowing the Holy Spirit to act in new and creative ways for our Church.
What would you say to a person who is discerning whether God is calling him or her to consecrated life?
I would tell them to go deeper, to give themselves the opportunity to confidently explore the process of discernment about God’s dream, about God’s plan of love for their soul. God only wants us to be fulfilled by discovering what he has written on our hearts – and this is possible in all vocations and states of life. All vocations are sacred and God speaks to us more and more clearly when we are ready to listen to him.
Translated from the original Spanish article: https://www.regnumchristi.co/primeros-votos-de-diana-osuna-como-consagrada-del-regnum-christi-elegir-la-mejor-parte-que-no-nos-sera-quitada/
