Clara Ansaldo arrived in Lisbon at World Youth Day 2023 in the midst of a process of discernment that he had already been undergoing for several years. Through gatherings, celebrations, and moments of prayer, he had experiences that helped him confirm fundamental aspects of his vocational journey and his belonging to Regnum Christi. Today he shares how that World Youth Day strengthened his trust in God and allowed him to delve deeper into the questions he carried in his heart.
What concerns or questions did you have before participating in World Youth Day in Lisbon?
I had already been in a process of discernment for a couple of years, feeling very supported and with some clarity about what Jesus was showing me. Even so, before and during World Youth Day, I went through a period of great doubt about what God wanted for my life. I had a deep desire to know His plan, but I felt little clarity about the steps I should take; I didn’t know if He was indeed calling me to consecrated life or if His call was simply to follow Him in the reality I was living at that moment. From there, many other questions arose: Was I taking the necessary steps? Was I on the right path? Should I continue with my degree? What was the next step, and when should I take it?
During World Youth Day, was there a moment when you felt something stirring more clearly within you?
I think there were several moments during World Youth Day that, little by little, helped me clear up many of those doubts. One of them was the moment with Pope Francis. I remember that, as I listened to him speak, I felt a deep certainty that my first calling was—and always would be—to follow Jesus and to love as He does, in whatever state of life I might find myself. Although this may not have cleared up every doubt I was carrying with me, it did give me great peace to know what my true purpose was. I also felt a powerful call to not be afraid and to trust, knowing that everything would be in His hands.
What was your experience with Regnum Christi like in that context, and what caught your attention the most?
The Regnum Christi gathering was my favorite part of World Youth Day. It was definitely another moment of great clarity, of feeling like I was part of a family amidst so many strangers, and of reaffirming, once again, my belonging to Regnum Christi. I remember enjoying the music, seeing old friends again, and everything I experienced that day. It was a day filled with joy.
For me, it was a very powerful experience because, even though I had come with all these doubts about my vocation, I experienced great clarity when I discovered that, whether I were consecrated or not, Jesus was calling me to Regnum Christi. And it surprised me a lot because I’ve been in Regnum Christi almost my entire life. It was like hearing Jesus confirm something that, in reality, I had never questioned. It gave me so much peace to know that, no matter what happened and no matter what I decided regarding my vocation, Jesus was calling me to remain in this family.
How did World Youth Day contribute to the journey of discernment you were already on?
My discernment, in fact, had already begun before World Youth Day. In fact, when I went to Lisbon, I was living with the community of consecrated women in Santiago, Chile. But after World Youth Day, I felt that I was able to delve deeper into my discernment. I began to ask myself more questions without fear, and little by little, as I found answers, Jesus began to show me the way very clearly.
What does “giving yourself a chance” to discern mean to you, beyond simply reaching a specific decision?
It is an act of pure trust in God, of learning to place oneself in His hands—something that represents a very valuable life lesson, regardless of what one ultimately decides. I always think of it as being like receiving a gift and not opening it. When we receive a package, the first thing we do is open it to see what’s inside and then decide whether we want it or not, whether we like it or not. But opening that gift does not necessarily imply a call to consecrated life.
And the best part of all this is that the gift we’re sometimes afraid to open always ends up being the best thing for us. Ultimately, it’s hard to give ourselves the chance to discern, but in the end, that’s what it’s all about: receiving a gift and learning to trust God. And there’s nothing better than that.
On this journey of discernment alongside the consecrated women of Regnum Christi, what have you discovered about yourself and what you are seeking in life?
I have learned so much about myself. This whole discernment process has been a journey of deep self-discovery and of getting to know Jesus more intimately, so that I can also come to know myself through His eyes. I believe the most important thing I have discovered about myself is that I am infinitely and unconditionally loved by God. And it is this love that shows me what I am seeking in life: to respond to Him and to learn to love as He does.
Thinking about the young people who will participate in the upcoming World Youth Day in Korea, what would you say to those who might be feeling a similar sense of unease but aren't sure whether to take the next step?
Let them go with confidence and without fear. Jesus is the one most eager to show us the way, and although He sometimes surprises us with the ways He does so, He always knows better than we do what we need. It is worth placing all our trust in Him.
I would also tell them not to look for an immediate answer, but rather for peace. Jesus doesn’t ask us to have a complete roadmap for our lives; He simply asks us to take the next step with Him, knowing that His plan is to lead us to heaven.
Clara is currently in Chile and will soon travel to Mexico to begin the preparatory course with the Consecrated Sisters.
