St. Teresa's spirituality a cure for modern ills, Pope says [CWN]
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cyberwolf001
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Not to sound rude. But I never got her spirituality. When I read about it, it tends to be boiled down to “Do not complain no matter how badly your treated.”
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catharina
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From the linked article:
"The most important lesson of St. Teresa, the Pope said, is her understanding of “prayer as an intimate friendship with Christ leading to an ever greater union of love with the Blessed Trinity.” That message, he remarked, could provide an important antidote to the problems of “our current society, often lacking in spiritual values.”
“Time spent in prayer is not lost,” the Pope reminded his audience. “It is a time in which we open the way to life, learning to love God and his Church ardently, and to show real charity toward our neighbors.”"
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cyberwolf001
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Um yes I read the article. Contrary to popular belief liberals do read stuff before commenting. Did you have a point.
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catharina
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Of course I have a point. Thanks for asking.
What I quoted seems way beyond what you seem to state regarding her life:
i.e.,
“Time spent in prayer is not lost,” … “It is a time in which we open the way to life, learning to love God and his Church ardently, and to show real charity toward our neighbors.”"
Your statement that:
"… it tends to be boiled down to “Do not complain no matter how badly your treated.”
That is very different from what I quoted. (IMO, not even close.)
Opinion, ya’ know?
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cyberwolf001
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I’ve stated the summery I most often here. I still do not see what is so unique, most of her writings I’ve read seem overly sentimental and often strike me as the words of a spoiled child who when mistreated was to scared to come forward. (Every talk of her I’ve gotten from her devotees centers on her mistreatment in the Cloister.)
Maybe I just do not get this Saint.
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Contra_Mundum_1
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Perhaps if you did you would not be a pagan.Maybe I just do not get this Saint.
Just a thought.
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Marsha_Adams
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I think you may be confusing, St. Therese of Lisieux also known as the little flower with St. Teresa of Avila.I’ve stated the summery I most often here. I still do not see what is so unique, most of her writings I’ve read seem overly sentimental and often strike me as the words of a spoiled child who when mistreated was to scared to come forward. (Every talk of her I’ve gotten from her devotees centers on her mistreatment in the Cloister.)
Maybe I just do not get this Saint.
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3DOCTORS
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Here’s a link to a brief bio of Teresa - she was contemplative, but a founder and reformer, so also active.
visnews-en.blogspot.com/2011/02/teresa-of-avila-contemplative-and.html
Both Teresa and Therese are Doctors of the Church.
Therese, who lived more recently in France, did write of her “Little Way” which to us in the “me first” mindset of our times may feel off-putting. But if we learn to make those small sacrifices and offer up those little irritations of daily life for the love of God, just think how freeing it would be. To be able to be peaceful amid the chaos and annoyances that “get on our last nerve.” Like the Sister that drove Therese crazy clicking her rosary beads, until Therese learned to offer it up and then it didn’t bother her. I know I could go for that kind of peace! It’ll take me a lifetime; Therese only lived to age 24 so her spiritual journey was on fast-forward
Teresa lived in Spain about 400 years earlier and was more mystical. She had a fiery side too - there is a famous quotation that when she fell off her mount into the mud, she said to God, “If this is how You treat your friends, it’s no wonder you don’t have very many of them!” And yet she became a Saint. I find that encouraging too!
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cyberwolf001
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Ahhh I always get those two mixed up! You are right.
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3DOCTORS
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LOL! I think I did too when I chose Teresa for my Confirmation name because we didn’t really have like a picture book of the Saints, we were told what they were patrons of. I was told that Teresa was the patron of writers, and that sounded OK to me - and proved prophetic, since I like to write and majored in Creative Writing!
Then later on, I discovered Catherine of Siena, and my name’s a variant of Catherine, then when I finally got it straight about Teresa and Therese, I couldn’t pick. Then I found out about the three being the Women Doctors of the Church, so I say I get “two Teresas for the price of one” since I didn’t know!
Hence my username and signature! :extrahappy:
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kitkatty
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I am glad to hear the Pope recommending her. A real effort in prayer life is very much needed today and St.Therese stresses this. Even though my spirituality is Eastern I have found I could relate to her spirituality and enjoy her writings.
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colmcille1
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Hi all.
There is a very interesting book which was published last year, I think. It’s called ‘The Four Teresas’ and it is an examination of Teresa of Avila, Theresa of Lisieux, Mother Teresa and Edith Stein (who was conferred with the name Teresia Benedicta). I’m sorry I can’t recall the author’s name but she is an American theologian.
God Bless,
Colmcille.
There is a very interesting book which was published last year, I think. It’s called ‘The Four Teresas’ and it is an examination of Teresa of Avila, Theresa of Lisieux, Mother Teresa and Edith Stein (who was conferred with the name Teresia Benedicta). I’m sorry I can’t recall the author’s name but she is an American theologian.
God Bless,
Colmcille.
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Graubo3
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colmcille1
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Thanks Graubo!The Four Teresas by Gina Loehr. $11.19 from the land with tall women
Peace, Graubo
All four women are giants in my book!
God Bless,
Colmcille.
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