First a prayer by St. Teresa:
God Alone is Enough
Let nothing upset you,
let nothing startle you.
All things pass;
God does not change.
Patience wins
all it seeks.
Whoever has God
lacks nothing:
God alone is enough.
St. Teresa of Avila
St Teresa of Avila, 1515-1582. Doctor of Prayer, Feast Oct 15th.
Teresa's insights into prayer are unparalleled. It is not that she will tell us anything startling new. Understand that it is Christ alone who makes all things new and profound. Jesus through his Spirit is so startling because he is thoroughly ineffable, thrilling, and unutterable. When Teresa writes, we somehow begin to immediately feel comfortable and identify with her. It is through her spirit that and her communication and tone, and her conversational quality of prayer, that she describes, that draws us to her and God. God uses her to impart and inspire because she is a most holy and intriguing person and identifies with us and draws us to God intimately through God's holy and sacred Spirit. Teresa is contagiously inspirational.
She was extraordinarily humble, greatly detached, and showed tremendous charity. That is the mark of a genuine mystic. Some mystics experience visions, levitations and raptures as Teresa but these aren't needed or necessary for transforming union with God. Teresa assures us that sincere prayer has to be imparted from God. You can't really describe or teach it. It teaches you when you live godly. Teresa's writings and example laid the foundation for many thousands of houses of prayer around the world.
The virgin of Carmel writings inform us today that it is within ourselves that we will discover the meaning of Jesus' words. "My house will be called a house of prayer". She is for the entire world to know, appreciate, and savor that the kingdom and Christ the King dwells within each creature in their interior 'mansion'. The entire world and all religions have an immeasurable gain when they explore this indefatigable reformer, nun, and consecrated virgin, St Teresa of Avila. She reaffirms that it is within the Kingdom of God that the majestic King dwells awaiting your glance and attention. He jealously awaits us daily in prayer. It is truly there that Christ craves our adoration, praise, honor and thanksgiving when we give him our whole body and soul and when we truly thirst for our blessed Redeemer as he does for us. Unquestionably, he has paid for each of us with his precious blood and demonstrated this in too many ways to count or determine.
Teresa assures us that the abundant blessings, gifts, and favors that God gives, especially in prayer, the mass, sacraments and works of charity will astonish and astound us. Give it time and God will capture you and make you his own exclusively in accordance to your generosity. Don't expect signs and wonders. Aim only to be kind, compassionate, patient, and gentle as Jesus showed. Enjoy God's presence, silence and his good pleasure.
Teresa's mind had a thousand and one thoughts that pestered her. Aren't we the same? Aren't we always worrying about something and preoccupied with many anxieties at times? Isn't it nearly impossible for us to quiet our minds? Due to demands and deadlines, all of us need to daily unwind and relax and be rejuvenated.
Today, many people unwind, for the most part, by recreation, meeting with loved ones, family, friends, food and drink, travel, vacation, exercising, having sex (married couples), hobbies, TV, music and a host of things. These can all be holy and sacred. However, for Teresa's recommendation, unwinding is definitely to include prayer and actually be a prayer in themselves. One can unwind not only exteriorly but by going interiorly into one's thoughts through reading or reflecting. Our mystical friend always had a book at hand when she began prayer time because she was easily distracted. Sound familiar?
What Teresa does for us when we practice prayer in any form, vocal or silent, group or individual, public or private, will encourage us to pester God than allow us to be pestered by anything else that is not related about God. In fact, the gospel tells us that it was the widow who pestered the judge, in the parable taught by Jesus that finally gave her what she asked for despite originally denying her, or putting her off. God is that same judge toward us and 'pestering prayer' has precedent.
The most interesting aspect of this woman of prayer is how it wasn't until she was around forty that she first began to be drawn to prayer in a powerful manner. Although Teresa was always faithful and engaged in prayer, during her earlier years as a nun, however, at times, she was often waiting for the prayer period to end, but this changed later.(The Rule and Spirit of Carmel sets aside specific times for prayer, generally one hour periods two times a day.) As she matured in prayer and live more generously she began to listen in prayer and surrender to her vocation wholeheartedly. Prayer became her passion. Prayer for her was not a compelling event at first neither is it for 99% of us.
This is probably true for many. The more we live God's will, the more the will of God takes on a new aura and we are more energized despite the headaches, pains and challenges.
Only when she begin to live out her prayer life through generous sacrifices and obedience to her vows did she understand and sense the grandeur and magnificence that prayer offered her.
God drew Teresa so marvelously to the Godhead that she began to experience ecstasies and raptures even in public. Her conversation with Jesus Christ became so alive to her that his presence became almost real.
She experienced what the church has always taught regarding Jesus' presence. He is actually present Body, Soul, Blood and Divinity on our altars and holy tables through the consecrated bread and wine. And he remains in all Catholic Churches around the world where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the tabernacles. He is also present in a special manner in the soul and body of every creature on the face of the earth. He is present in God's word and many other manners. God is ubiquitous and his sacred humanity stays with us in an ineffable manner.
The saint's writings and your prayer will furthermore inspire you to spend more time and reflection on this divine person who dwells with us on earth as he is in heaven. St Teresa's mystical writings lived out will steep you in unforgettable contemplation of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Sincere prayer is unitive and Trinitarian and encourages and impels you to show and have love for God and all of God's creatures. God jealously loves us and wants us to jealously love others. Jesus said it first. Give to God what is God's and to Caesar what is Caesar's.
information from Doctors of the Catholic Church.com
Ecstasy of St. Teresa
If you click on the link above you can view a beautiful marble sculpture by the Italian artist Bernini. When I was in Rome last summer, I was able to view this sculpture. It's even more beautiful in person.
I hope by reading this post you were able to learn something new about one of our patron saints of WYD.
