Today is the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila. She was a remarkable early leader of the Church. St. Teresa was born in Avila, Spain on March 28, 1515. Her parents were devoted Catholics and inspired her to be closer to the Lord in prayer and in her religious formation. As a young child, she was very prayerful and liked to be in silence with her profound contemplation of God. She lost her mother when she was in her teenage years and found comfort in the motherly care of the Blessed Mother Mary. In her autobiography she wrote these words; “I threw myself down in despair before an image of the Mother of God. With many tears, I implored the Holy Virgin to become my mother now.” This prayer, being uttered with the simplicity of a child, was heard. “From that hour on, I never prayed to the Virgin in vain.”
However, she grew up just like a normal girl with a natural charm to gain more friends as she grew older. At the age of 16, her father decided to send Teresa to a convent school to be educated. From there, she was encouraged to follow a spiritual life, and after some deliberation she resolved to become a nun of the Carmelite Order. She succumbed to many trials and illness. During those moments of intense physical pain, she began experiencing divine visions and an inner sense of peace.
Many admired her outer charm and inner serenity. One day, Teresa complained to God about why there had been injustices and sufferings in the world. God replied to her saying, “That is how I always treat my friends.” With good humor, St Teresa replied, “That must be why You have so few friends!” She went through her struggles and difficulties until, at the age of 43, she decided to start her group of religious women reformed under the influence of St. John of the Cross and recommitting to poverty and simplicity in life. Her spirituality impacted the church, especially on matters of prayer, rigid asceticism and self-denial.
In her experiencing of God’s Love, she says, “The surest way to determine whether one possesses the love of God is to see whether he or she loves his or her neighbor. But these two loves are never separated. Rest assured, the more you progress in love of neighbor the more your love of God will increase.” She wrote many spiritual books, and the Catholic Church proclaimed her one of the Doctors of the Church.
The gospel today is quite direct as Jesus says, “everyone who acknowledges me before others the son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.” We clearly know this but why is it so hard for us? I think, we must humbly acknowledge Jesus in our lives, like St. Teresa, for we are beloved children of God. Let us pray again these words of St. Teresa with confidence to obtain courage and peace of soul, that our God, in Christ Jesus, together with the Holy Spirit, is with us. As we struggle remember these words of St. Teresa; “Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.”
St. Teresa of Avila, pray for us.
Fr. Arlon, osa