By Christopher Dacanay
Editor-in-Chief
The Franciscan University campus community gathered at Christ the King Chapel for a Eucharistic holy hour celebrating the life of recently deceased student Cassandra “Cassie” Martinez on March 23 at 8 p.m.
Presided over by the Rev. Rufino Corona, TOR, the holy hour saw tremendous attendance, with students having to kneel and pray outside the doors of the chapel due to space limitations.
Corona called Cassie Martinez’s passing a “tragic loss” during his address before the holy hour.
“I just ask that you may continue to keep all who (mourn) or are in shock from this loss in your prayer,” Corona said.
Cassie Martinez, sophomore, passed away during spring break, just after 6 p.m. on March 10, likely as a result of one or more different conditions, according to her mother, Kristen Martinez.
The holy hour began with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Filling the chapel was praise and worship music, which, Corona said, was “something (Cassie Martinez) loved.”
God’s relentless love was the subject of many of the meditative songs. One line from United Pursuit’s song “Beautiful” said, “And your peace comes over me, and finally I rest.”
Following the music was a sung Divine Mercy Chaplet led by Cassie Martinez’s household sisters from Daughters of Divine Mercy (DDM) household. DDM has a special devotion to the Divine Mercy image revealed to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Most Blessed Sacrament, one of the household’s patrons.
The DDM sisters led the chaplet with angelic harmonies, joined for the responses by the chorus of praying attendees.
Afterward was Benediction and the singing of “Be Thou My Vision.”
A reception with refreshments and music in the J.C. Williams Center atrium followed at 9 p.m. At the reception, there was an opportunity for attendees to write sympathy cards for the Martinez family.
Several individuals who were close to Cassie Martinez spoke in remembrance of her during the reception.
First to speak was senior Katie Saint Jean, Cassie Martinez’s “big,” or mentor in DDM. Saint Jean said that Cassie was “full of childlike joy, authenticity, fearlessness and strength.”
“Having had time to reflect on Cassie’s life and legacy in this world,” Saint Jean said,” I consistently had one saint (on my mind). One of (DDM’s) patron saints is St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and Cassie truly was a modern-day St. Thérèse.”
Saint Jean compared St. Thérèse’s persistence in joining a convent to Cassie Martinez’s desire to join DDM. Also like St. Thérèse, Saint Jean said, Cassie Martinez never complained about her physical ailments, instead offering them up to God.
Saint Jean said Cassie Martinez’s household name was “Fideli Virtute Quieta,” which means “Quiet with Faithful Courage.”
“(Cassie Martinez’s) fearlessness to be herself and to love the Lord without limits and to use her gifts to help others rather than herself is what made this name so fitting for who she was,” Saint Jean said. “She was a gift to DDM and to so many other people.”
Next was alumna Lydia Forsthoefel, another member of DDM. Forsthoefel said the word “pure” perfectly describes Cassie Martinez.
“Throughout Cassie’s time in household, I had the honor to witness the pureness of her heart,” Forsthoefel said. “Cassie was pure in her faith, pure in her suffering (and) pure in her love.
“I remember one conversation I had with Cassie that left me in awe of her heart. We were talking about household and how excited she was to join, and I asked her why she was so excited, and she responded, ‘I can’t wait to love even more.’”
Forsthoefel said she is sure Cassie Martinez is seeing now the face of God the Father, and Forsthoefel thanked her for the love she showed her household.
Senior Graciela Uriegas, one of DDM’s coordinators, spoke next. Uriegas called Cassie Martinez a “wonderful soul,” who never complained about her medical issues but lived a “joyful life of service.”
Uriegas read from Cassie Martinez’s favorite passage from the diary of St. Faustina, passage 1040, which says “Amid terrible torments, I fix my eyes on You, my God, and though a storm is gathering over my head, I know that the sun is not extinguished.”
“We (DDM) are truly so blessed to have another saint in household,” Uriegas said.
The last member of DDM to speak was senior Maria Schmiesing, the other coordinator of DDM. Schmiesing said she will remember Cassie Martinez’s joy the most.
“It was such a childlike and passionate joy (that Cassie Martinez had),” Schmiesing said. “She had the most contagious, beautiful laugh — every time I think of it it makes me smile.”
Schmiesing closed by thanking the campus community for the love and support it has shown following Cassie Martinez’s passing.
Finally, junior Nick Winter spoke on behalf of senior Matthew Valerio, Cassie Martinez’s boyfriend, who was not able to attend the event. Winter read a document written by Valerio regarding his and Cassie Martinez’s relationship, which Valerio called “perfect.”
Valerio, through Winter, recalled how he first met Cassie Martinez at the Fall 2022 Household Olympics. Valerio had become aware that she would be there, and he used his roommate’s participation as an excuse to go and see her.
“One (of the girls on the page) caught my eye,” Valerio said, “and because she was from Texas, it felt right asking her out on a date.
The two were eventually able to connect over Instagram. After that, Valerio went to meet her at the Olympics.
The two’s first date was, as Valerio called it, the “typical Franny date,” consisting of Bennigan’s, a trip to the Portiuncula Chapel, and piano playing by Cassie Martinez at Sts. Louis and Elizabeth Hall. After four dates, Valerio said, the two became official.
Valerio said that he admired how strong-willed Cassie Martinez was. He said that she always pushed through the many difficulties in her life.
Valerio encouraged others to live in the present moment, not getting caught up in the past or future, but using experiences to improve themselves.
He closed by saying that Cassie Martinez is “in the ever-loving grace of Christ” and quoting Luke 23:42-43, saying, “And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”
Separate from the holy hour and reception, Valerio reflected on Cassie Martinez’s life.
“No words can describe the love and joy Cassie brought out to everyone, every single day,” Valerio said. “She was caring, sweet, loving, but most of all, she was courageous in her life.
“Her difficulties on Earth held her back, but that never stopped her from always appreciating the life that she had and the life that she wanted to create.”
Valerio said that Cassie Martinez will always be praying for those on Earth and that he will always love her “from the bottom of (his) heart.”
Also separate from the holy hour, Cassie Martinez’s family reflected on her life. Kristen Martinez, her husband Ricardo Martinez and their son, Robbie Martinez, a junior, shared some of their most treasured memories of Cassie Martinez.
Kristen Martinez said that many memories regard Cassie Martinez’s creative side. She created cards, games, gifts and songs, leaving a piece of her heart in each one.
“She not only had a gift of uniqueness and creativity, but her gifts had such an amazing quality — they left you feeling loved long after she gave them to you,” Kristen Martinez said. “Every time you picked up a creation of hers or re-listened to one of her songs, it was like seeing and hearing it for the first time. … It was a most unique quality and a special gift that God gave to her.
“She loved to play the piano and took advantage of any opportunity to sing or play music. People were drawn to her piano playing, and it made them happy. Even if it was supposed to be a time of quiet, they welcomed it.”
Even from an early age, Cassie Martinez possessed great compassion and tenderness. An example of this was when she, then a nearly six-month-old baby, was in the intensive care unit after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
“A nurse picked her up to hold her,” Kristen Martinez said. “The nurse was worried about her and she started to cry. Cassie took her little hand and touched the nurse’s face, where the tears were. The nurse was visibly touched and said that she’d never had a baby do that before.”
As she got older, Cassie Martinez’s compassion only strengthened. She would be present with babies and toddlers during oncologist appointments. If they had to get a shot, she would remain with them and blow bubbles to distract them.
Cassie Martinez had a love for people who have disabilities or special needs, Kristen Martinez said. Furthermore, she said, Cassie Martinez was never one to speak ill of another. Rather, she “truly met a person where they were, without judgment.”
“Cassie truly affirmed others and encouraged them to grow in their own gifts and talents,” Kristen Martinez said. “She embraced their individuality. It didn’t threaten her for another to be different from her; it actually encouraged her. She wanted others to grow and valued them as different from herself.
“She truly loved in this way like Jesus does: selflessly and wholly without any self-interest.”
Some of her passions were children and animals. She would babysit children, creating and reading them stories or playing games with them.
“She loved all animals except spiders,” Kristen Martinez said. “She really hated those! She even wanted to save bee colonies and loved them, even though she had been stung once and was concerned about being stung again.
“Cassie loved hugs and snuggling and just made a person feel loved. She got over offenses quickly and her smile lit up the room. Her laughter made a person feel all warm inside.”
The widely-attended holy hour was representative of the many on campus who were touched by Cassie Martinez and who will continue to pray for her. Those who knew her will certainly never forget the incredible and loving influence she had on their lives.
“We are grateful that God blessed us with Cassie and the great privilege of raising and loving her,” Kristen Martinez said. “She was His treasure loaned to us, to share His creativity and joy-filled love with us and the world.”
