LAKE JAMES

NORTH CAROLINA

Saint Teresa of Avila, Nun

Descended from an old Spanish family, Teresa entered a Carmelite monastery at the age of 18, but a mysterious illness forced her to leave and return to her family. On her recovery, she re-entered, but, as she later wrote, the convent life there was quite lax. At the age of 40, she began to receive visions, whether from God or the Devil, she did not know, and so struggled to reject them.

Convinced that the Carmelites of her day had lost the essential spirit of their Order, she set out to establish a reformed Carmelite Order which would keep to the original Rule and ethos. One distinctive feature was that the nuns and friars of the reformed monasteries would wear sandals or be unshod rather than wear shoes and so became known as “discalced.” In the face of strong opposition from other Carmelites and even ranking Church figures, she established 17 convents. In her work of founding new communities, she was strongly supported by Saint John of the Cross.

Saint Teresa was a gifted organizer, one who inspired many both through personal contact and her extensive writings. She was also a down-to-earth speaker and prone to say what she thought with deep conviction. When asked how she could possibly succeed in reforming the huge Carmelite Order, she responded “By herself, Teresa is nothing, but together, Teresa and God are an absolute majority!” Her humanness is also reflected in an outburst of frustration when, on an important journey, her wagon got mired in mud and it seemed that she would not get to her destination in time, she is reported to have said “God, if this is the way you treat your friends, no wonder you have so few of them!”

Her death, following two years of illness, was peaceful. When, as she was dying, the Blessed Sacrament was brought to her and she said “O my Lord! Now is the time that we may see each other.”

[ From various sources – A. T. K. Z.+]

A Collect for the Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila (October 15)

O God, by your Holy Spirit you moved Saint Teresa of Avila to manifest to your Church the way of perfection: Grant us, we pray, to be aided by her prayers, nourished by her excellent teaching, and enkindle within us a keen and unquenchable longing for true holiness’ through Jesus Christ, the joy of loving hearts, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.

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This page last modified on Friday, April 11, 2008 09:40 PM