"To have courage for whatever comes in life--everything lies in that."Today is the Feast Day of St. Teresa of Avila, a great Spanish mystic who was granted many visions of God. She was apparently very extroverted, but in a vision, God ordered her into prayer, saying "I want you to speak with angels." She has this to say about her vision of an angel:
"I saw an angel very near me, towards my left side, in bodily form, which is not usual with me; for though angels are often represented to me, it is only in my mental vision. This angel appeared rather small than large, and very beautiful. His face was so shining that he seemed to be one of those highest angels called seraphs, who look as if all on fire with divine love. He had in his hands a long golden dart; at the end of the point methought there was a little fire. And I felt him thrust it several times through my heart in such a way that it passed through my very bowels. And when he drew it out, methought it pulled them out with it and left me wholly on fire with a great love of God."
Her visions, or raptures, brought her great criticism from doubters and it is recorded that she spoke of this to Jesus in a vision. Jesus said about the visions, "That is how I treat my friends." To which she quipped, "No wonder you don't have many friends."
3 comments:
Clare, like a child, I still need to be reminded of feast and Holy days, sometimes. It's embarassing.
Thank you, I have always truly loved her and it is beautiful what you wrote.(not that it was just to me or anything)
I think you don't realize what a special place in my heart you have.
Yes, Happy Feast Day, Maureen!
Brent asked me the other day what "la_abulensa" meant. It means "the one from Avila".
Santa Teresa de Avila, my confirmation Saint and whom you were named after, was and is a Treasure of the Catholic Church.
And did you know that the reason Dad and I hadn't known that you were born on her birthday(until it ws brought to our attention hours after you were born) was because we thought her birthday was Oct. 15th? In fact, the Feasts of the Saints are celebrated on the day they died.
That quote that Clare used is perhaps Teresa's most famous. She was a real spitfire!
Hmmm....reminds me of someone I know.
Thank you for the reminder, Clare.
We should all know our particular Feast days; they are so important.
Thank you Maureen, I love you very much too!
P.S. I remember my feast day is August 11th because Granner gave me a little picture of St. Clare when I was 10ish and told me.
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