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Thoughts from St. Teresa of Jesus

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:00:24 +0000

Ave Maria Meditations

October 15th : St. Teresa of Jesus

(Teresa of Avila, Carmelite reformer)

Some favorite sayings and quotes:

“Christ has no body now, but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth, but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which
Christ looks compassion into the world.
Yours are the feet
with which Christ walks to do good.
Yours are the hands
with which Christ blesses the world.”
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Let nothing trouble you,
let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing;
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who possesses God lacks nothing:
God alone suffices.

“It is love alone that gives worth to all things.”

“To have courage for whatever comes in life – everything lies in that.”

“What a great favor God does to those He places in the company of good people!”

“Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.”

“God has been very good to me, for I never dwell upon anything wrong which a person has done, so as to remember it afterwards. If I do remember it, I always see some other virtue in that person.”

“To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience.”

“We shall never learn to know ourselves except by endeavoring to know God; for, beholding His greatness, we realize our own littleness; His purity shows us our foulness; and by meditating upon His humility we find how very far we are from being humble.”

“There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.”

“The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.”

“Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds. “

“The most potent and acceptable prayer is the prayer that leaves the best effects. I don’t mean it must immediately fill the soul with desire . . . The best effects [are] those that are followed up by actions—–when the soul not only desires the honor of God, but really strives for it. “

“I would never want any prayer that would not make the virtues grow within me.”

“Vocal prayer . . . must be accompanied by reflection. A prayer in which a person is not aware of Whom he is speaking to, what he is asking, who it is who is asking and of Whom, I don’t call prayer—–however much the lips may move.”

“Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.”

“You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him.”

‘One must not think that a person who is suffering is not praying. He is offering up his sufferings to God, and many a time he is praying much more truly than one who goes away by himself and meditates his head off, and, if he has squeezed out a few tears, thinks that is prayer. “

“Suffering is a great favor. Remember that everything soon comes to an end . . . and take courage. Think of how our gain is eternal.”

“Pain is never permanent.”

“Truth suffers, but never dies.”

“I am afraid that if we begin to put our trust in human help, some of our Divine help will fail us.”

“Our greatest gain is to lose the wealth that is of such brief duration and, by comparison with eternal things, of such little worth; yet we get upset about it and our gain turns to loss.”

“We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can – namely, surrender our will and fulfill God’s will in us.”

“Remember that you have only one soul; that you have only one death to die; that you have only one life, which is short and has to be lived by you alone; and there is only one Glory, which is eternal. If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing. “

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St. Teresa’s Advent Prayer

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:00:44 +0000

One Minute Meditation

Let us pray with St. Teresa of Avila:

“O my God, Word of the Father, Word made flesh for love of us, You assumed a mortal body in order to suffer and be immolated for us. I wish to prepare for Your coming with the burning desires of the prophets and the just who in the Old Testament sighed after You, the one Saviour and Redeemer. ‘O Lord, send Him whom You are going to send… As you have promised, come and deliver us!’

I want to keep Advent in my soul, that is, a continual longing and waiting for this great Mystery wherein You, O Word became flesh to show me the abyss of your redeeming sanctifying mercy….Come, O Lord, come! I, too wish to run to You with love, but alas! My love is so limited, weak, and imperfect! Make it strong and generous; enable me to overcome myself, so that I can give myself entirely to You… What a consolation it will be, O Lord, at the moment of death to think that we shall be judged by Him whom we have loved above all things! Then we can enter Your presence with confidence, despite the weight of our offenses!”

(The Way, 40)

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A Prayer from St. Teresa of Avila

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:00:12 +0000

Ave Maria Meditations

Lord, Thou knowest better than I myself that I am growing older and will someday be old.
Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs.

Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy.

With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all;
but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.
Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips on my aches and pains; they are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet, for a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people; and give, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.
Amen.

– – – prayer by St. Teresa of Avila

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Oct 15 – Homily – Fr George: Practical Guide to Prayer

apostolate — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:52:11 +0000

Homily #121015 ( 09min) Play– On this memorial of St. Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, Fr. George explains how Our Lord raised up this great doctor of spiritual theology to show us the way of perfection and how to pray.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Teresa of Jesus – Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Monday in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
1st: gal 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1
Resp: psa 113:1-2, 3-4, 5, 6-7
Gsp: luk 11:29-32

Audio (MP3) +++

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Video – Variety #221: Feast day celebrations of St. Teresa of Avila

Fra Cyprian — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 20:55:07 +0000

Variety #221 – Feast day celebrations of St. Teresa of Avila ( 15 min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Feast day celebrations of St. Teresa of Avila, filmed on location in Spain.

Audio (MP3)

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In the Hands of God

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 17:00:42 +0000

Ave Maria Meditations

In the Hands of God:

I am Yours and born of You, What do You want of me?

Majestic Sovereign, Unending wisdom, Kindness pleasing to my soul; God sublime, one Being Good, Behold this one so vile. Singing of her love to you: What do You want of me?

Yours, you made me, Yours, you saved me, Yours, you endured me, Yours, you called me, Yours, you awaited me, Yours, I did not stray. What do You want of me?

Good Lord, what do you want of me, What is this wretch to do? What work is this, This sinful slave, to do? Look at me, Sweet Love, Sweet Love, look at me, What do You want of me?

In Your hand I place my heart, Body, life and soul, Deep feelings and affections mine, Spouse — Redeemer sweet, Myself offered now to you, What do You want of me?

Give me death, give me life, Health or sickness, Honor or shame, War or swelling peace, Weakness or full strength, Yes, to these I say, What do You want of me?

Give me wealth or want, Delight or distress, Happiness or gloominess, Heaven or hell, Sweet life, sun unveiled, To you I give all. What do You want of me?

Give me, if You will, prayer; Or let me know dryness, And abundance of devotion, Or if not, then barrenness. In you alone, Sovereign Majesty, I find my peace, What do You want of me?

Give me then wisdom. Or for love, ignorance, Years of abundance, Or hunger and famine. Darkness or sunlight, Move me here or there: What do You want of me?

If You want me to rest, I desire it for love; If to labor, I will die working: Sweet Love say Where, how and when. What do You want of me?

Calvary or Tabor give me, Desert or fruitful land; As Job in suffering Or John at Your breast; Barren or fruited vine, Whatever be Your will: What do You want of me?

Be I Joseph chained Or as Egypt’s governor, David pained Or exalted high, Jonas drowned, Or Jonas freed: What do You want of me?

Silent or speaking, Fruitbearing or barren, My wounds shown by the Law, Rejoicing in the tender Gospel; Sorrowing or exulting, You alone live in me: What do You want of me?

Yours I am, for You I was born: What do You want of me?

+St. Teresa of Avila

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A Meditation from St. Teresa of Avila

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 16:00:11 +0000

Ave Maria Meditations

It is through this Lord of ours that all blessings come. He will show us the way; we must look at His life — that is our best pattern. What more do we need than to have at our side so good a Friend, Who will not leave us in trials and tribulations, as earthly friends do? Blessed is he who loves Him in truth and has Him always at his side.

Let us consider the glorious Saint Paul, from whose lips the name of Jesus seems never to have been absent, because He was firmly enshrined in his heart. Since realizing this, I have looked carefully at the lives of a number of saints who were great contemplatives and I find that they followed exactly the same road. Saint Francis, with his stigmata, illustrates this, as does Saint Anthony of Padua with the Divine Infant. Saint Bernard, too, delighted in Christ’s Humanity, and so did Saint Catherine of Siena and many others…This withdrawal from the corporeal must doubtless be good, since it is advised by such spiritual people, but my belief is that it must be practiced only when the soul is very proficient.

The Lord was deprived of all consolation; they left Him alone in His trials. Let us not leave Him; for His hand will help us to rise more effectually than our own efforts. And He will withdraw Himself when He sees that it is good for us and when He is pleased to draw the soul out of itself. God is well pleased to see a soul humbly taking His Son as Mediator, and yet loving Him so much that, even if His Majesty is pleased to raise it to the highest contemplation, it realizes its unworthiness, and says with Saint Peter: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” I have proved this, for it is in this way that God has led my soul. Others will take another and a shorter road. What I have learned is this: that the entire foundation of prayer must be established in humility, and that, the more a soul abases itself in prayer, the higher God raises it.il then, it is clear, the Creator must be sought through the creatures.

+St. Teresa of Jesus (feast day is October 15th)

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Oct 15 – Homily – Fr Ignatius: St. Teresa of Avila

Griswold Friars — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 12:14:03 +0000

Homily #141015 ( 08min) Play – St. Teresa, Doctor of the Church, teaches us to pray and hope.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Teresa of Jesus – Mem – Form: OF
Readings: Wednesday in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
1st: gal 5:18-25
Resp: psa 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6
Gsp: luk 11:42-46

Audio (MP3)

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Jan 06 – Homily – Fr Johannes: St. Andre Bessette’s Devotion to St. Joseph

apostolate — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 16:30:07 +0000

Homily #150106m ( 11min) Play– In today’s homily Fr. Johannes tells us about the life of St. Andre Bassette and his special devotion to St. Joseph.
Ave Maria!
Mass: St. Andre Bessette – Mem – Form: OF
Readings:

Audio (MP3)

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Feb 24 – Homily – Fr John Joseph: True prayer comes from the heart

apostolate — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 02:04:27 +0000

Homily #150224m ( 11min) Play – In today’s homily, Fr. John Joseph talks about the prayers we recite as catholics, such as the Our Father and the Hail Mary, which are incorporated into the Holy Rosary. Prayer is something that should come from the interior not the exterior. As we read in today’s gospel, Jesus tells us how we are to pray. Whatever we ask the Father in his name we will obtain. Let us not babble as the pagans do but let us approach God confidently trusting in His word and providence.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Tuesday 1st Week of Lent – Wkdy – Form: OF
Readings:
1st: isa 55:10-11
Resp: psa 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19
Gsp: mat 6:7-15

Audio (MP3)

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