Thought for the Day – – 15 October – The Memorial of St Teresa of Jesus/Avila (1515-1582) Doctor of the Church
Since her encounter with Jesus, St Teresa lived “another life”; she become a tireless communicator of the Gospel (cf. Life, 23, 1). Eager to serve the Church and in the face of serious problems of her time, she did not limit herself to being a spectator of the reality around her. In her position as a woman and with her health difficulties, she decided, she said, “to do what little depended on me … that is to follow the evangelical counsels as perfectly as possible and to ensure that these few nuns who are here do the same” (The Way, 1, 2). Thus began the Teresian reform, in which she asked her sisters not to lose time negotiating with God “interests of little importance,” while “the world is in flames” (ibid., 1, 5). This missionary and ecclesial dimension has always marked the Carmelites and Discalced Carmelites.
As she did then, even today the saint opens new horizons for us, she calls us to a great undertaking, to see the world with the eyes of Christ, to seek what He seeks and to love what He loves. (Pope Francis in a letter to to Carmelite Father Xavier Cannistrà)
Ours is a time of turmoil, a time of reform, and a time of liberation. Modern women have in Teresa a challenging example. Promoters of renewal, promoters of prayer, all have in Teresa a woman to reckon with, one whom they can admire and imitate.
St Teresa of Jesus, Pray for us!
AnaStpaul 