In this exciting episode of the  Rebeldes Podcast , hosted by Father Ignacio Amorós and Don Pablo López, two living testaments of faith that defy worldly norms come together:  Carlota Valenzuela  and her husband  , Santi Roldán . The opening line of the conversation sums it all up: “The best vocations are at this table.” Carlota, the young woman from Granada who left a life of professional success to walk over 6,000 km alone to Jerusalem, and Santi, the Argentinian engineer who left his comfort zone to seek his vocation in Spain, share how God transforms existential emptiness into a concrete calling: first to radical freedom and then to marriage as the true great adventure.

Carlota’s Calling – From Worldly Success to the Path of God

Carlota grew up in Granada, studied there, and encountered Jesus towards the end of her degree. This encounter inspired her to travel to Calcutta to live her faith among the poor, inspired by Mother Teresa. She returned transformed, but acknowledged that “this is something you forget if you don’t keep the fire burning.” She returned to Calcutta several times, worked at the Spanish embassy in Morocco (where she struggled to maintain her faith in a demanding diplomatic environment), and later in banking in Madrid.

There he experienced a profound emptiness: “When you don’t put your talents to use, you live in a state of deep  frustration . ” He had a salary, an apartment in the Salamanca district, and an excellent boss, but inside he felt a lack. He cried out to God with complete honesty: “What do you want from me? What did you dream of when you created me?” The answer came like a lightning bolt in prayer: “Make a pilgrimage on foot to Jerusalem.”

She felt growing peace and joy, clear signs of Ignatian discernment: the call wasn’t her own; it brought inner peace (not just nerves), profound joy, and persevered over time. Despite the risks, she embarked on it with a certain “holy recklessness”: “If I had weighed the pros and cons, I wouldn’t have set out.” During the 11 months of her pilgrimage, she shared information on social media seeking accommodation and, unexpectedly, generated a chain of prayer that accompanied her. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, she discovered that the true adventure wasn’t the physical journey, but the freedom God had given her: letting go of haste, noise, and productivity.

Santi’s Story – Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Santi, an Argentinian, left a large company in Buenos Aires after a profound shock: the suicide of a 13-year-old boy, which reminded him of the loss of his own brother. He felt he was wasting his life and moved to Madrid to work at the university, discovering his passion for education. Like Carlota, he experienced emptiness in material success and chose to “go out to sea.”

He met Carlota through a video where she answered, “As extreme as I can be, because Jesus loved me to the extreme.” He thought, “I want a woman like that in my life.” He prayed to the Holy Spirit, and after a conversation, they began talking. Their courtship was intense and fast-paced, but profound.

Dating in chastity – Clarity, freedom and true love

For both of them,  chastity  was the cornerstone. They didn’t come from perfect lives in this respect, but they lived it seriously from the beginning. Carlota explains: “I’ve felt so loved without Santi even touching me.” Chastity brought clarity to discuss important issues, freedom to discern (even to break up if necessary), and prevented the relationship from being reduced to sex.

Santi adds that marital fidelity is cultivated during courtship: “If I can’t wait now, how will I know how to wait when we can’t in marriage?” The Church does not repress sex; on the contrary, it values ​​it as a blessing from God, with both unitive and procreative dimensions. Chastity is about integrating and ordering one’s affective-sexual inclinations toward one’s vocation, not denying them.

Practical advice they give:

• Communicate the decision to live chastely to those around you in order to have support.
• Avoid occasions of sin (do not expose yourself unnecessarily).
• Make plans typical of a relationship: go for walks, chat, explore hidden corners of the city.
• Being brutally honest when it costs.
• Remember that courtship is for discerning and caring for the other person, not for “enjoying” as the world sells it.

Marriage as a great pilgrimage

They met in November 2024 and married shortly after. Carlota says, “The real adventure wasn’t the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the real adventure is marriage.” Santi emphasizes the unconditional nature and grace of the sacrament: each day is a reset, they discover new ways to be happy, and the possibility of creating life fills them with wonder.

They practice daily marital prayer (Lauds, readings, Mass when possible). Carlota jokes, “It’s easier to be holy in marriage because your partner sees your inconsistencies all the time.” Marital and fraternal correction help them grow.

Advice for engaged and married couples

• To couples who are afraid : Trust each other completely. Difficult things are easier to handle together. Marriage is the greatest investment you can make in life.
• Knowing if love is true : Does he/she seek your good? Is he/she willing to sacrifice himself/herself for you?
• Respect and patience : Love the other person as they are, in their own time. Do not force virtues or use emotional blackmail.
• Healthy emotional independence : The other person is not your savior; only Jesus fills your heart.
• Jealousy : It can indicate something that needs fixing, but it’s important to discern whether it stems from one’s own insecurity.
• Arguments over trivial matters : Identify the “subject of the argument,” praise it, change the subject, and return when your heart is at peace. Be suspicious of yourself.
• Freedom in commitment : Choosing one person and working with that person eliminates the slavery of indecision and the endless offers of networks.

Rebellious vocations for the 21st century

Carlota and Santi show that following Jesus requires stepping outside your comfort zone, but brings peace, joy, and true freedom. Carlota’s pilgrimage broke her chains; their marriage became their path to Heaven. As the episode says: the true adventure isn’t the physical journey, but placing your whole life in God’s hands and surrendering yourself to the other in the sacrament.

This testimony is a cry of hope for young people who feel empty in worldly success, for engaged couples seeking to live love radically, and for married couples who want to renew their “yes” every day. God doesn’t ask for perfect plans, but for an honest heart that asks, “What do you want from me?”

If you feel that calling, take the first step. Come and see. The greatest rebellion today is living the faith without conforming to what the world offers. The best vocations, as Father Pablo says, may be closer than you think… even at your own table.

May God bless you and make you happy in the vocation He dreamed for you.