October 15th: Happy Feast Day of St. Teresa of Ávila

Happy Feast Day of St. Teresa of Ávila, who was the first female to be declared Doctor of the Church. As one can imagine, she did not live life for herself, at all, after she had been shown her place in hell IF she were to continue living a rather tepid religious life and thus squander the gifts Our Lord had given her. So don’t be surprised when you do read her own writing and find her style very down to earth, much like a mother teaching her daughters.

The prayer “Nada te turbe” is attributed to Teresa, having been found in her breviary. Here is an English rendering:

“Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.” ~ St. Teresa of Ávila

Teresa of Ávila, by Peter Rubens, 1615. This is the portrait of Teresa that is probably the most true to her appearance. It is a copy of an original 1576 painting of her when she was 61.

Rather than reading about her, I suggest reading what she herself wrote. The Interior Castle is well worth your time and contemplation.

“Perhaps we do not know what love is, nor does this greatly surprise me. Love does not consist in great sweetness of devotion, but in a fervent determination to strive to please God in all things, in avoiding, as far as possible, all that would offend Him, and in praying for the increase of the glory and honor of His Son and for the growth of the Catholic Church.” ~ St. Teresa of Avila, An excerpt from “Interior Castle”

Wikipedia about this wonderful saint