St Teresa of Avila - in Catholic Tradition

  • Thread starter Thread starter TrueLight
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
TrueLight said:
Do you have any quotes that have made a difference in your life?
Click to expand...
She’s my patron saint. 😃 My sponsor chose her for me. Unusual, I know, but I’ve been enamored of St Teresa of Avila ever since. She had a sense of humor, and a kind of pragmatic outlook, which really appeals to me. Here’s a website with an excellent brief biography, a story, and a few quotes.

saints.sqpn.com/saint-teresa-of-avila-by-father-hugh-kelly-sj/

St. Teresa of Avila was dumped off her mule into a mud puddle on one of her many journeys around Spain. She cried out, as many would, “Why me, Lord?” And heard a reply, “Teresa, this is how I treat my friends.” In response, Teresa quipped, "Then, Lord, it is no wonder you have so few!

“Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.”

“I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him.”

“God gave us faculties for our use; each of them will receive its proper reward. Then do not let us try to charm them to sleep, but permit them to do their work until divinely called to something higher.”

“Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee; All thing pass; God never changes. Patience attains All that it strives for. He who has God Finds he lacks nothing:God alone suffices.”
 
asia53 said:
She’s my patron saint. 😃 My sponsor chose her for me. Unusual, I know, but I’ve been enamored of St Teresa of Avila ever since. She had a sense of humor, and a kind of pragmatic outlook, which really appeals to me. Here’s a website with an excellent brief biography, a story, and a few quotes.

saints.sqpn.com/saint-teresa-of-avila-by-father-hugh-kelly-sj/

St. Teresa of Avila was dumped off her mule into a mud puddle on one of her many journeys around Spain. She cried out, as many would, “Why me, Lord?” And heard a reply, “Teresa, this is how I treat my friends.” In response, Teresa quipped, "Then, Lord, it is no wonder you have so few!

“Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.”

“I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him.”

“God gave us faculties for our use; each of them will receive its proper reward. Then do not let us try to charm them to sleep, but permit them to do their work until divinely called to something higher.”

“Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee; All thing pass; God never changes. Patience attains All that it strives for. He who has God Finds he lacks nothing:God alone suffices.”
Click to expand...
Your enthusiasm about St Teresa is contagious. Thanks!
 
ByzCath said:
Here’s my suggestion. The Collected Works of St Teresa of Avila.

It is a three volume set and contains what has been suggested.

I would start with volume one and read through it.

I hope to get to this with my spiritual director soon but right now we are going through Story of a Soul (Therese of Lisieux) as I love the Little Way and she (St Therese) suffered from a horrible illness but still persevered in religious life (something which I am trying to do).
Click to expand...
Br. David,

I just received The Collected Works of St Teresa, Volume one, which contains “The Book of her life.”

It’s wonderful!

Thanks for the recommendation. 👍
 
I think you have the right volume to begin learning about St. Teresa. Had you not received it, I would have recommended you start there before anywhere else. Her early life was extremely interesting to me, for I always love to read how people grew into such giant saints, right from the get-go. What were their inspirations, their struggles, the means God used to call them, etc.? It always fascinates me to glimpse the person behind the title “saint.”
 
"When He touches me I clutch the sky’s sheets,

the way other lovers do

the earth’s weave of clay.

Any real ecstasy is a sign

you are moving in the right direction,

don’t let any prude tell you otherwise.

St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
 
WHEN THE HOLY THAWS

A woman’s body, like the earth, has seasons;
when the mountain stream flows,
when the holy
thaws,

when I am most fragile and in need,
it was then, it seemed,
God came
closest.

God, like a medic on a field, is tending our souls.
Our horns get locked with desires, but don’t hold yourself
too accountable; for all desires are
really innocent. That is what
the compassion in His
eyes tell me.

**Why this great war between the countries — the countries –
inside of us?

What are all these insane borders we protect?
What are all these different names for the same Church of Love
we kneel in together? For it is true, together we live; and only
at that shrine where all are welcome will God sing
loud enough to be heard**.

Our horns got locked with the earth and sky in some odd
marriage ritual; so what, don’t worry. We should be proud of
ourselves for everything we helped create in this
magic world.

And God is always there, if you feel wounded. He kneels
over this earth like
a divine medic,

and His love thaws
the holy in us.

~ St. Teresa of Avila ~
 
They are like shy, young school kids -
time and space
before the woman and the man who are
intimate with God.
The realised soul can play with this universe
the way a child can a ball…

A chalice - the Grail - my body became, for it held the Christ
and he drank
from me.

Sanctified are our limbs,
for every heart has touched God,
though most with closed eyes.

A holy relic is each creature,
and beauty may worry
about its comeliness waning.

We fear dying 'til we know the truth of ourselves.

The seams on my body
are torn;

I have stepped from that region of me
that did not love
all the time.

There is a divine world of light
with many suns in the sky.

I slept with my Lord
one night,

now all that is luminous
I know we
conceived.

St Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582)
 
Not Yet Tickled

How did those priests ever get so serious
and preach all that gloom?

I don’t think God
tickled them
yet.

Beloved–hurry.

St Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582)
 
“…As my capacity for prayer developed, I found that in prayer my ordinary mental faculties fell asleep, and my senses grew dim. Then a new feeling, a new sensation, began to rise up through my body to my neck. I was powerless to control this experience: I could not hasten it nor prevent it. I was like a man on the point of dying the death he desires: in his final agony there is overwhelming joy. I was dying to the world, and discovering spiritual delights which I could not have imagined. I did not know what to do, whether to laugh or cry, whether to speak or be silent. It was a glorious confusion, a heavenly madness. I began to experience true ecstasy, which I believe to be the highest form of prayer… I was overwhelmed with joy and sweetness. My body was still present, but was cold and lifeless, no longer animated by the soul. Yet the soul itself was totally and completely alive. There was no way I could resist what was happening. I had no choice but to submit myself to God. My soul was truly Christ’s bride, and this was the ecstasy of the nuptial bed…I wanted to clasp him to my bosom, to embrace him and kiss him with my lips. But I was in such rapture that I could not move. I asked him why he was granting me this wonderful favour. And as I asked the question, I knew the answer. He was pandering to the weakness of my nature…Fondle me with your divine hands, cover me with divine kisses, that I may give to you the fullness of my love… Clasp me to your bosom, hold me tightly to your body, that I may always be faithful and loyal in my love for you…Any real ecstasy is a sign you are moving in the right direction, don’t let any prude tell you otherwise…”
  • St Teresa of Avila
 
“All must be friends, all must love one another, all must be held dear and all must help one another to create a joyful atmosphere.” (St Teresa, Way of Perfection)

“It is love alone that gives worth to all things” - St Teresa of Avila
 
TrueLight said:
Is that what is meant by ecstasy? Orgasmic? :o
Click to expand...
I can’t answer this for sure, but I have heard this anaolgy used before.

I have had what I can only describe as a mystical experience,
and in some ways I guess you could say that the feelings I felt on a spritual level
could be described as the same intense physical/emotional feelings of that ultimate act of love between a husband & wife.
Maybe that is why many of the mystics refer to God as “Lover”.

Anyway, when I saw this thread pop up again, I wanted to share how I met St. Teresa.

On the first Corpus Christ Sunday after I recommitted to my faith, our Deacon preached the homily.
He started by reading this poem.
As he preached about how when we recieve communion, this is what happens to us,
and how when we are “dismissed” from Mass, this is our charge- to go an be Christ for others.
It was so moving, I wept in my pew. Especially when the choir sang a beautiful song, based on this prayer for the communion meditation.
It was a very moving experience, and one that heled to reinforce the reality fo the "Real Presence for me.
I now pray this prayer everytime I receive the Eucharist.
Christ Has No Body
Click to expand...
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Click to expand...
 
Oneofthewomen said:
I can’t answer this for sure, but I have heard this anaolgy used before.

I have had what I can only describe as a mystical experience,
and in some ways I guess you could say that the feelings I felt on a spritual level
could be described as the same intense physical/emotional feelings of that ultimate act of love between a husband & wife.
Maybe that is why many of the mystics refer to God as “Lover”.

Anyway, when I saw this thread pop up again, I wanted to share how I met St. Teresa.

On the first Corpus Christ Sunday after I recommitted to my faith, our Deacon preached the homily.
He started by reading this poem.
As he preached about how when we recieve communion, this is what happens to us,
and how when we are “dismissed” from Mass, this is our charge- to go an be Christ for others.
It was so moving, I wept in my pew. Especially when the choir sang a beautiful song, based on this prayer for the communion meditation.
It was a very moving experience, and one that heled to reinforce the reality fo the "Real Presence for me.
I now pray this prayer everytime I receive the Eucharist.
Click to expand...
Thanks for sharing. What a beautiful experience.

There have been times I have felt the same sensation as one might feel when going down a rollercoaster. A sort of weightlessness. And there have times I have gotten chills.

It’s really quite surprising when it happens. :signofcross:
 
asia53 said:
I’m not sure about that.

Here’s a link to an article, where she says ecstasy was “detachable death”. The article gives some insight about how she felt about her trances.

themystica.com/mystica/articles/t/teresa_of_avila_st.html
Click to expand...
Thanks for the article!

From the article,
During such prayers she frequently went into a trance, and at times entered upon mystical flights in which she would feel as if her soul were lifted out of her body.
Click to expand...
Hmm. I think this is what I felt, but frankly I don’t want to even go into mysticism yet. I have so much to learn!
 
I did my doctorate and Teresian and Franciscan detachment. I read tons of writings by Teresa about testimonies about her. There is much that has been added to her life story by 20th century Catholics who believed that sainthood had to be over the top penances, shocking miracles, and a lot of pious nonsense.

The truth is that Teresa did practice the discipline in her early years and later she would repudiate it. She spoke very forcefully against it in later years, admitting that she had once given in to the temptation to punishing the body but had realized that in doing so, she was only hurting the only tool that God had given her to serve him.

No one should begin the study of Teresa of Avila or any other of the Spiritual Master with their writings. Their writings without the historical background and context can be very dangerous. If you have never read the story of St. Teresa of Avila, put aside her writings and become familiar with the woman and her time. After that, you can go to her writings. In their historical context, they make sense. Remember, Teresa did not know Latin. She only spoke Spanish. She was not a well educated woman. She wrote in the Spanish of her province. The translation of her writings is very difficult. I have never seen a precise English translation. They either lose the poetry in her writing or they lose the essence in order to preserve the poetic measure and metre.

A wonderful book to start with is Teresa of Avila: An Extraordinary Life by Shirley du Boulay. Boulay gives a very compelling biographical sketch of the woman as she was, without embelleshing her with all kinds of silliness and without making fun of her as do some modern writers.

Whatever you do, never try to apply Teresa’s ascetical practices and spirituality without the guidance of a well educated spiritual director, one who knows Teresa. Most priests do not know her. She is not required reading in theology. They know what they have read in Butler’s Book of the Saints or in the breviary. Carmelite Spirituality is very complex, not to be attempted on your own. It’s not like Franciscan spirituality which is the spirituality for the common Catholic.

Once you understand Teresa as a woman, then you’re ready to sink your teeth into her writings. Even then, get some good commentaries. The spirituality of Carmel is absolutely beautiful and can lead to great holiness for those who know what they’re doing or to frustration for those who go at it unguided. Why do you think there are such few Carmelites? It’s a very unique spirituality for a very select group of men and women.

If you’re curious about Teresa, stick to a biography. If you’re really interested in her theology, then you must take a scholarly approach. You will need to understand human behavior, history, Carmelite history, theology of prayer, the hermitical life, Christian psychology and the stages of spiritual development. I would suggest The Fire Within by Thomas Dubey and Spiritual Passages: The Psychology of Spiritual Development “for those who seek” by Benedict J. Groeschel. These will help you understand Teresa’s writings as she meant them to be understood.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
JReducation said:
I did my doctorate and Teresian and Franciscan detachment. I read tons of writings by Teresa about testimonies about her. There is much that has been added to her life story by 20th century Catholics who believed that sainthood had to be over the top penances, shocking miracles, and a lot of pious nonsense.

The truth is that Teresa did practice the discipline in her early years and later she would repudiate it. She spoke very forcefully against it in later years, admitting that she had once given in to the temptation to punishing the body but had realized that in doing so, she was only hurting the only tool that God had given her to serve him.

No one should begin the study of Teresa of Avila or any other of the Spiritual Master with their writings. Their writings without the historical background and context can be very dangerous. If you have never read the story of St. Teresa of Avila, put aside her writings and become familiar with the woman and her time. After that, you can go to her writings. In their historical context, they make sense. Remember, Teresa did not know Latin. She only spoke Spanish. She was not a well educated woman. She wrote in the Spanish of her province. The translation of her writings is very difficult. I have never seen a precise English translation. They either lose the poetry in her writing or they lose the essence in order to preserve the poetic measure and metre.

A wonderful book to start with is Teresa of Avila: An Extraordinary Life by Shirley du Boulay. Boulay gives a very compelling biographical sketch of the woman as she was, without embelleshing her with all kinds of silliness and without making fun of her as do some modern writers.

Whatever you do, never try to apply Teresa’s ascetical practices and spirituality without the guidance of a well educated spiritual director, one who knows Teresa. Most priests do not know her. She is not required reading in theology. They know what they have read in Butler’s Book of the Saints or in the breviary. Carmelite Spirituality is very complex, not to be attempted on your own. It’s not like Franciscan spirituality which is the spirituality for the common Catholic.

Once you understand Teresa as a woman, then you’re ready to sink your teeth into her writings. Even then, get some good commentaries. The spirituality of Carmel is absolutely beautiful and can lead to great holiness for those who know what they’re doing or to frustration for those who go at it unguided. Why do you think there are such few Carmelites? It’s a very unique spirituality for a very select group of men and women.

If you’re curious about Teresa, stick to a biography. If you’re really interested in her theology, then you must take a scholarly approach. You will need to understand human behavior, history, Carmelite history, theology of prayer, the hermitical life, Christian psychology and the stages of spiritual development. I would suggest The Fire Within by Thomas Dubey and Spiritual Passages: The Psychology of Spiritual Development “for those who seek” by Benedict J. Groeschel. These will help you understand Teresa’s writings as she meant them to be understood.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
Click to expand...
Thank you for all of this. I am very interested in learning more about Carmelite spirituality and will check out the books you recommend. I have read parts of “The Fire Within”. That’s where I first learned about St Teresa. I have to say this: the reason I’ve never completed it is that I never get very far without it drawing me so into prayer that I have to put it down and pray.

Heading out to buy those books…thanks again. If you have any further recommendations, please post them.
 
Incomplete said:
Thank you for all of this. I am very interested in learning more about Carmelite spirituality and will check out the books you recommend. I have read parts of “The Fire Within”. That’s where I first learned about St Teresa. I have to say this: the reason I’ve never completed it is that I never get very far without it drawing me so into prayer that I have to put it down and pray.

Heading out to buy those books…thanks again. If you have any further recommendations, please post them.
Click to expand...
I forgot to mention that Teresa also wrote an autobiography. It’s very beautiful. I’m biased. I have never found an English translation that does it justice. I’ve read it in Spanish, Italian, French and English. English is the worse. I think it’s because her humor does not come through. You can’t translate jokes. You can only subsitute them with similar ones. In her autobiography she has very funny punchlines. If you know how to read Spanish, it’s worth reading her autobiography in Spanish. Her dialogues with God are great.

There are times when she’s furious with him and tells him off in no uncertain terms. There are other times when she makes fun of herself and even of people around her. It’s these dialogues that she has with God that impresses one with the power of her faith. You must have faith that God loves you and that God is not waiting to strike you dead to tease him, scold him, laugh with him and even complain to him about the silly people around you.

If Teresa were on CAF, most people would not like her. Her favorite line was, “What are you thinking?” She did not like excesses in anything. She scolded her nuns for being too feminine.

There are two moments in her life where she made me laugh until I had an accident.

First: She had been praying for a Carmelite Friar to join her work of reforming Carmel. Finally, when a young friar named Brother John of the Cross shows up at her convent, Teresa looks at him and said, “I askd God to send me a priest and he sent me half a friar.” John of the Cross was visibly hurt, because he was very short, about 5 ft, shorter than her. She looked at him and said, “Stop pouting, a man your height only looks shorter when he pouts.” John did not know what to make of her.

Second: She was about to leave for Seville to found a new house when the news came that the Inquisition had a copy of her autobiography and that they were not happy. They were going to come looking for her. She stopped and thought for a moment and said, “I’m really very busy. If they want to talk to me, they’ll have to go to Seville.”

She had no tolerance for those who criticized the clergy. At one time, there was a priest who has living with a prositute. Her nuns were scandalized. Teresa sent her nuns to find out if it was true. They came back with confirmation. They thought that Teresa was going to shun him. She turned around and made him her confessor. After months of this, he came over to her side of the confessional and confessed to her. She looked at him and said, “Father, you’re being ridiculous. Get up.” He was on his knees. He died a saintly death a few months later. She never said anything to him about his way of life, but when she heard her nuns talking about him, she slammed them with a week of penances for discussing the sins of another instead of attending to their own souls.

She was an incredible human being.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
JReducation said:
I forgot to mention that Teresa also wrote an autobiography. It’s very beautiful. I’m biased. I have never found an English translation that does it justice. I’ve read it in Spanish, Italian, French and English. English is the worse. I think it’s because her humor does not come through. You can’t translate jokes. You can only subsitute them with similar ones. In her autobiography she has very funny punchlines. If you know how to read Spanish, it’s worth reading her autobiography in Spanish. Her dialogues with God are great.

There are times when she’s furious with him and tells him off in no uncertain terms. There are other times when she makes fun of herself and even of people around her. It’s these dialogues that she has with God that impresses one with the power of her faith. You must have faith that God loves you and that God is not waiting to strike you dead to tease him, scold him, laugh with him and even complain to him about the silly people around you.

If Teresa were on CAF, most people would not like her. Her favorite line was, “What are you thinking?” She did not like excesses in anything. She scolded her nuns for being too feminine.

There are two moments in her life where she made me laugh until I had an accident.

First: She had been praying for a Carmelite Friar to join her work of reforming Carmel. Finally, when a young friar named Brother John of the Cross shows up at her convent, Teresa looks at him and said, “I askd God to send me a priest and he sent me half a friar.” John of the Cross was visibly hurt, because he was very short, about 5 ft, shorter than her. She looked at him and said, “Stop pouting, a man your height only looks shorter when he pouts.” John did not know what to make of her.

Second: She was about to leave for Seville to found a new house when the news came that the Inquisition had a copy of her autobiography and that they were not happy. They were going to come looking for her. She stopped and thought for a moment and said, “I’m really very busy. If they want to talk to me, they’ll have to go to Seville.”

She had no tolerance for those who criticized the clergy. At one time, there was a priest who has living with a prositute. Her nuns were scandalized. Teresa sent her nuns to find out if it was true. They came back with confirmation. They thought that Teresa was going to shun him. She turned around and made him her confessor. After months of this, he came over to her side of the confessional and confessed to her. She looked at him and said, “Father, you’re being ridiculous. Get up.” He was on his knees. He died a saintly death a few months later. She never said anything to him about his way of life, but when she heard her nuns talking about him, she slammed them with a week of penances for discussing the sins of another instead of attending to their own souls.

She was an incredible human being.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
Click to expand...
I love all of this. You make me wish I could read Spanish. Thank you.
 
JReducation said:
Whatever you do, never try to apply Teresa’s ascetical practices and spirituality without the guidance of a well educated spiritual director, one who knows Teresa.
Br. JR, OSF 🙂
Click to expand...
And wouldn’t it be nice if such actually existed for the majority of Catholic lay persons who long to do just that but find no one to direct them nor any resources known by their own Pastor?

Wouldn’t it be lovely if you did find such a person, if you could afford to pay what they charge?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top