Life and thoughts of
Mariam Baouardy 
‘the little nothing’

About the translator

Cristina Leontini

My long association with the Discalced Carmelite Nuns in Haifa, Israel, goes back to the late 80s, when I went to visit my mother who at the time was a postulant at Haifa and then at Bethlehem monastery. It was in Bethlehem that I first heard about Mariam Baouardy – to me she was just another nun who lived an exceptional life and experienced some strange phenomena, but I had no particular interest in hearing more about her life. Why had God taken my mother to Israel? Why was I in that monastery? I could have never guessed then how these seemingly strange events would take me on an enriching life journey.

After many years, it was my turn to live at the Carmelite monastery in Haifa where I volunteered for about 1 year. I helped Sister Maria Giuseppina organise and create digital copies of historical documents and precious memoires relating to Mariam Baouardy, that came from the archives of the Carmelite convent at Bethlehem. This time I had more interest; I was amazed to hear about the extraordinary life Mariam had lived, but I was also somewhat puzzled by it. 

Another ten years later, and to my surprise, Sister Maria Giuseppina asked me to translate into English a book on Mariam written by Father Francesco Zampini. This time Mariam entered my life: she made me reflect on my own spiritual journey, she challenged me, she taught me, she silently invited me to change.

Mariam must have set her sights on me back in late 80s. God just waited for the right time.