And now, O my soul, it were well for you to look that danger in the face from which our Lord delivered you; and if you did not cease to offend Him out of love you should do so out of fear. He might have slain you a thousand times, and in a far more perilous state. I believe I exaggerate nothing if I say a thousand times again, though he may rebuke me who has commanded me to restrain myself in recounting my sins; and they are glossed over enough. I pray him, for the love of God, not to suppress one of my faults, because herein shines forth the magnificence of God, as well as His long-suffering towards souls. May He be blessed for evermore, and destroy me utterly, rather than let me cease to love Him any more! - Teresa of Jesus, Autobiography
One of my favorite Saints. ^^ I remember I went on a seven day silent retreat up in Palos Verdes, California. It was a retreat conducted by a Benedictine Monk, Fr. Gregory Elmer. The topic? The Interior Castle.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful time for me as I was just coming back to my faith as a Catholic. St. Teresa was a woman filled with such love for Jesus and for St. Joseph too. And to think she spent 20 years in the convent before she had her conversion experience. Fr. Gregory went into great detail about it and it is quite a moving story. Too long to share here.
"In all things go to St. Joseph!" St. Teresa de Avila
P.s. One thing Fr. Gregory did share with us...St. Teresa had a pet name for St. John of the Cross, her contemporary. She called him her, "Friar and a half" he was so short. ^^
She is a very special patron for me, as is John of the Cross.
ReplyDeleteYaya, some also believe she called him "a friar and a half" not for his physical stature, but for his spiritual stature... A compliment! Happy Feast of St. Teresea!!!
ReplyDeleteSo true but then again Fr. Gregory told us her spiritual director was a friend of St. John's and they were always together thus, "her friar and a half." ^^ I like yours better though. ^^
DeleteWait, St. Teresa thought Facebook was dangerous?
ReplyDeleteWhat?
Nan - not sure she did that but she certainly warned her nuns against vain priests.
ReplyDeleteSo don't friend your priest on facebook or follow him on twitter?
ReplyDeleteWhat?