Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

“How could I, a poor sinner, who have so often offended You, dare to approach You, O Lord, if I beheld You in all your majesty? Under the appearance of bread, however, it is easy to approach You, for if a king disguises himself, it seems as if we do not have to talk to him with so much circumspection and ceremony. If you were not hidden, O Lord, who would dare to approach You with such coldness, so unworthily, and with so many imperfections? (St. Teresa of Avila from The Way of Perfection )

A Blessed and Happy New Year! Why not begin the new year with a question? Did you know that we pose the biggest obstacle to our own spiritual development and advancement?

Today we remember St. Teresa of Avila , a 16 th 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 ...