St. Teresa of Avila - Oct. 15

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Teresa of Avila, known especially for her writings on Prayer and the Spiritual Life. St. Teresa entered the Carmelite Order, at age 20 and later began a reform of the order which had grown lax in their pursuit of holiness.

Together with St. John of the Cross they worked to reform the convents of Carmelite Nuns as well as the monasteries of priests and brothers of the Carmelite Order. The writings of both St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross continue to be read today, but sad to say the readership is far smaller than in the past.

It seems to me, there is a trend among many Catholics toward popular and I would say more superficial reading in current literature. Knowledge of the true depth of the Catholic Faith is very low in comparison to what I can remember from my experiences both in learning and in teaching in Catholic schools.

May God continue to cleanse the temple of each of our hearts and the whole of His Church, even as we suffer through the current crisis of clergy abuse, and confusion. May we do our part in listening to His Revealation in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church – as St. Teresa of Avila and all the saints in their own time have done.

Like our Mother Mary, may we ponder all Jesus said and did, and learn as Mary did from Jesus, to do the Truth we hear!

Come Holy Spirit, fill us as you filled Mary and all the Saints with the Truth Who is Jesus!

 

[Aulef]

Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross are great mysticals. Their writings, according to the priests were I attend Mass at, are deep, beautiful and difficult to read.

Today I’m going to Mass and ask for St. Teresa’s help in order to understand a book written by her that I intend to purchase: The Interior Castle

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Aulef,

Thanks for your reply. It was wonderful to read that you are intending to purchase “The Interior Castle” written by St. Teresa of Avila. It is my favorite of all her books. It the one in which she explains more since she wrote it after leaning more from the Lord. In my copy of her collected works (published by ICS , 1980) the Introduction written by the translator Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D, includes these words:

Now 62 years old, Teresa had for 5 years been aware of the depth of spiritual life she describes as the ultimate stage of the mystical journey. She had come, then, to an experiential grasp of so much more than what she had written prieviousl in her “Life”. In evidence of this she admits: "And although in other things, I’ve written the Lord has given me some understanding, I know there were certain things I had not understood as I have come to understand them now, especially certain more difficult things."

Read prayerfully and slowly, and take your time, asking the Holy Spirit to help you learn what God intends you to learn. He calls all of us to holiness and He promised us in His Gospel, if we ask, we receive; if we seek we will find; and if we knock the door will be opened (cf Mt. 7: 7-11). May God give us His Grace to keep believing and trusting in His Love for us.

Thanks again for your reply and your desire to learn more of God through the intercession of St. Teresa of Avila; and please also remember to pray for the Church to grow into the holiness to which we are ALL called, through Mary, given to us by Jesus as our Mother and Model.

NB There are many versions available for purchase with varying prices and commentaries added. There is also an online version HERE