Sister Carlotta Maria Fontes
"Our backyard is an abundant source of God's gift of healing plants to us," said Sister Carlotta Maria Fontes, who received her Master Herbalist certificate from the Global College of Natural Medicine in Santa Cruz, CA, in May 2007.
"It amazes and excites me that I can walk out the door or up the hill and recognize plants that help cure us," she continued. "And if I don't recognize them, I know how to identify them."
Sister Carlotta studied herbs and their effects on the human body during an intensive, one-year correspondence course. She learned how to identify and grow herbs, prepare them for use, and make teas, tinctures and tonics. In addition she studied Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, plust she had to do five case studies on volunteers.
"That part of the class was interesting. People told me what was bothering them and I had to make recommendations based on my course work. I cannot diagnose or prescribe, but if someone comes to me with a specific ailment, I can make suggestions about which herbs to use for relief," said Sister Carlotta.
Sister Carlotta has always wanted to help people in a holistic way, addressing the body, mind and spirit. She did not know much about herbs until she came to the Monastery in 2002.
"The Sisters use essential oils in healing ways, and I found that very exciting," recalled Fontes. "After I entered the Monastery I started working in the herb garden with Sister Theresa Dvorak. I was hooked. I knew then that I wanted to become a Master Herbalist."
The herb garden is being created into a place for soul healing and meditation into which Sister Carlotta hopes to incorporate aromatherapy and color therapy components. She grows and gathers culinary herbs for the kitchen, creates teas for the Sisters and guests, and uses herbs in the soaps, lip balms and salves she makes to sell in the Monastery's Book & Gift Shop. Sister Carlotta Maria also teaches classes on making natural products as well as classes on holistic living through LCSC Extension and at Spirit Center.
For Sister Carlotta Maria, the journey began when she experienced a strong calling to the religious life while traveling in Europe in 2000. She was praying in a chapel in Medjugorje, when a group of nuns entered the sanctuary. "I watched them pray and felt an overwhelming sense of wanting to belong to something like that," she said.
She spent time in personal reflection, talked with friends and family and made several visits to the Monastery of St. Gertrude while she discerned her calling.
For Sister Carlotta Maria, quietly promoting a holistic life-style and demonstrating the Benedictine principles of simplicity and connection to the earth comprise her witness.