Day 2: The life and mission of St. Teresa of Ávila
Daily Meditation
St. Teresa of Ávila's conversion of heart did not happen immediately after entering the Convent. She had moments of doubt, of loneliness... Her journey to God was long.
One day, in 1553, she was praying by a statue representing a deeply wounded Jesus, when she had a major mystical experience. This event preceded the many other intense experiences and visions that she would be exposed to throughout her life.
St. Teresa notably identified herself with Mary Magdalene, an important female figure in the life of Jesus. The visions she experienced contributed immensely to Teresa's conversion of heart, her love for Christ grew more intensively each day.
Through prayer - what she considers to be an intimate connection with Christ - St. Teresa began to understand God's mission for her: it was notably to bring about the reformation of the Carmelite Convents, and to fight against the Inquisition.
Teresa of Ávila then acted for the reformation of her own convent, which needed to abide by the primitive rule and follow the way of Christ in prayer, poverty, and simplicity of life. Over the years, she became the founder of many other Discalced Carmelite Convents (17 convents were created under her supervision).
St. Teresa is the author to several religious works such as The interior Castle, The Book of Her Life, The Way of Perfection.
She died in Salamanca on October 4, 1582 at the age of 67.
Teresa of Ávila was beatified in 1614 by Pope Paul V, and proclaimed a saint in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. St. Teresa of Ávila is the first woman to be named Doctor of the Church (1970, Pope Paul VI).
Let Us Pray with St. Teresa of Ávila:
"May you be blessed forever, Lord, for not abandoning me when I abandoned you.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for offering your hand of love in my darkest, most lonely moment.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for putting up with such a stubborn soul as mine.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for loving me more than I love myself.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for continuing to pour out your blessings on me, even though I respond so poorly.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for drawing out the goodness in all people, even including me.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for repaying our sin with your love.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for being constant and unchanging, amidst all the changes of the world.
May you be blessed forever, Lord, for your countless blessings on me and on all your creatures.
Amen."
St. Teresa of Ávila
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Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Col 4:6