A Sampling of St. Teresa of Avila's Spiritual Wisdom



Today we remember St. Teresa of Avila, a 16th century Carmelite nun, mystic, reformer and spiritual teacher par excellence. She and St. Catherine of Siena were the first two women named as Doctors of the Catholic Church.

 
One way of honoring this great saint this day would to be spend a few minutes reading and meditating on the great wisdom she has offered the Church and its members. The following gems, which are among the 1200 quotations included in my book, Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct, should provide much nourishment for fruitful meditation and reflection.
 
 

I am consoled to hear the clock strike, for at the passing away of that hour of life it seems to me I am drawing a little closer to the vision of God.
 

The Lord knows what he is doing better than [the soul] knows what it is desiring.
 

The person who knows God better does God’s work more easily.  
 

Love increases in the measure the soul discovers how much this great God and Lord deserves to be loved. 
 

The smallest thing when done for the love of God is priceless.  
 

Doing our own will is usually what harms us. 
 

Since He doesn’t force our will, He takes what we give Him; but He doesn’t give Himself completely until we give ourselves completely.
 

Look at these wounds my daughter; your pains will never be as great as Mine.
 

Consider seriously how quickly people change, and how little trust is to be had in them; and hold fast to God, Who does not change.
 

He always gives us more than we ask Him for.


His Majesty knows best what is suitable for us; it is not for us to advise Him what to give us for He can rightly reply that we know not what we ask.
 

The devil does a great deal to incapacitate us when he sees a little fear.
 

To suppose that He would admit to His close friendship pleasure-loving people who want to be free from all trials is ridiculous. 
 

Want more then this “baker’s dozen” sampling? Consider reading  Story of a Soul, The Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection.

 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Monday Musings - What If?

  My all time favorite one sentence sermon by Father Francis Hudson, S.C.J.   : What if God loved you, only as much as you loved Him? Now th...

PRAYER TO BE PRESERVED FROM SUDDEN DEATH

MOST AMIABLE JESUS "I humbly implore Thee by Thy ignominious Scourging, The Crowning with Thorns, Thy Holy Cross, and by all Thy Goodness, not to permit me to pass out of this world without having received Thy most holy Sacraments." -Prayer of St. Vincent Ferrer

PRAYER OF ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA

"Eternal Father, all things are possible for You. Although You created us without our assistance, You will not save us unless we help. Therefore, I pray You re-create their wills so that they wish for what they do not wish for: I ask this of Your infinite mercy. You have created us out of nothing. Now that we exist have mercy on us. Re-make the vessel which You created in Your own image and likeness. Bring them back to Your grace through the grace and blood of You Son, the beloved Jesus Christ."

The Fatima Chaplet of Adoration and Reparation