Solemnity of St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)

Happy Feast Day to all OCD and OCDS Carmelites!

St. Teresa was born at Avila in Spain in 1515. She entered the Carmelites and made great progress in the way of perfection and was granted mystical revelations. Wishing to share in the spiritual renewal of the Church of her time, she began to live her religious life more ardently and soon attracted many companions, to whom she was like a mother. She also helped in the reform of the friars, and in this had to endure great trials. She wrote books which are renowed for their depth of doctrine and which showed her own spiritual experiences. She died at Alba in 1582.

(From the Carmelite Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours)

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

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CARMELITE QUOTE

ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)

FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 15

SOLEMNITY FOR DISCALCED CARMELITES

GENTLE REMINDER: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14

IS A DAY OF FAST AND ABSTINENCE FOR ALL

SECULAR CARMELITES (OCDS)

The Lord desires intensely that we love Him and seek His company, so much so that from time to time He calls us to draw near Him. And His voice is so sweet...They come through words spoken by other good people, or through sermons, or through what is read in good books, or through the many things that are heard and by which God calls.


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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SPIRITUAL DIRECTION WITH ST. TERESA OF JESUS

ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)

FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 15

Perhaps we don't know what love is...It doesn't consist in great delight but in desiring with strong determination to please God in everything, in striving, insofar as possible,not to offend Him, and in asking Him for the advancement of the honor and glory of His Son and the increase of the Catholic Church. These are the signs of love.

Next week the Church, and in particular, the Carmelite Order will celebrate the feast of St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila). Many pilgrim souls look to her teaching for guidance and direction. Many souls who are experiencing consolation and deep prayer experiences turn to her for guidance and direction.  Her excellent teaching wrought from inspiration by the Holy Spirit and explained through her own personal experiences on prayer gives the Church and her members a holy source we can turn to again and again for spiritual direction.

The quote I have used today gives her teaching on consolations and delight in prayer, experiences given mainly to the beginner to keep the soul attracted to God. But even advanced souls may fall victim to the temptation that once consolations cease we are failing in the spiritual life.  St. Teresa tells us again and again this is not so.  Charity, namely love of God and neighbor is the true test to see if we are progressing in the life of holiness.

So we can read again her quote above and ask ourselves a few questions:

1. Do I have a great desire and determination to please God in everything? Do I give up on the life of virtue easily when things get difficult? Do I make the effort to die to my own ego in sacrificing "little things" each day and offering them up?

2. Do I pray for the Church on a daily basis? Do I disrespect Church teaching? Do I tell others I disagree with certain Church teachings? Do I criticize my pastor, my bishop, the Holy Father?

3. Do I pray that Jesus Christ be honored and glorified? Do I listen to criticism of the Church without defending her? Do I watch television shows that ridicule the Church and her priests? Do I watch shows that take the name of the Lord in vain?

Let us turn to the Holy Doctor of the Church, St. Teresa of Jesus. May she intercede for us and help us on the Way of Perfection. This can sometimes be a lonely road filled with obstacles and pitfalls, even delightful ones, such as spiritual consolations.  Let us follow where she leads, the summit of Mt. Carmel-Christ our Lord!




Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
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SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

I saw the Mother of God descend with a great multitude of angels and sit in the prioress's choir stall wehre there was a statue of our Lady...She told me: "you were indeed right in placing me here; I shall be present in the praises they give my Son, and I shall offer these praises to Him. 
St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)


Peace be with you!
Rosmarie, ocds
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CARMELITE QUOTE

ST. TERESA OF JESUS (AVILA)

FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 15

He wants us to desire the eternal; we, here below, lean towards what comes to an end. He wants us to desire sublime and great things; we, here below, desire base and earthly things. He would want us to desire only what is secure; we, here below, love the dubious.

Through his favors we can understand something of what he will give us in heaven without the intervals, trials, and dangers that there are in this tempestuous sea.

Peace be with you!
Rosmarie, ocds
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Novena to St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)

Novena to St. Teresa of Avila

 This Novena was written by St. Alphonsus of Liguori.

First Day:


O most amiable Lord Jesus Christ! We thank Thee for the great gift of faith and of devotion to the Holy Sacrament, which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits and by those of Thy faithful spouse, to grant us the gift of a lively faith, and of a fervent devotion toward the most Holy Sacrament of the altar; where Thou, O infinite Majesty! hast obliged Thyself to abide with us even to the end of the world, and wherein Thou didst so lovingly give Thy whole Self to us.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Second Day:


O most merciful Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the great gift of hope which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy holy spouse, to give us a great confidence in Thy goodness, by reason of Thy Precious Blood, which Thou hast shed to its last drop for our salvation.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Third Day:


O most loving Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the great gift of love which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most loving spouse, to give us the great, the crowning gift of Thy perfect love.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Fourth Day:


O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the gift of great desire and resolution which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa, that she might love Thee perfectly; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most generous spouse, to give us a true desire, and a true resolution of pleasing Thee the utmost of our power.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Fifth Day:


O most kind Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the great gift of humility which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most humble spouse, to grant us the grace of a true humility, which may make us ever find our joy in humiliation, and prefer contempt before every honour.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Sixth Day:


O most bountiful Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the gift of devotion towards Thy sweet mother, Mary and her holy spouse, Joseph, which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most dear spouse, to give us the grace of a special and tender devotion towards Thy most holy mother, Mary, and towards Thy beloved foster-father, Joseph.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:
R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Seventh Day:


O most loving Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the wonderful gift of the wound in the heart which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy seraphic spouse, to grant us also a like wound of love, that, henceforth, we may love Thee and give our mind to the love of nothing but Thee.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Eighth Day:


O most beloved Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the eminent gift of the desire for death which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most constant spouse, to grant us the grace of desiring death, in order to go and possess Thee eternally in the country of the blessed.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Ninth Day:


Lastly, O dearest Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the gift of the precious death which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa, making her sweetly to die of love; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most affectionate spouse, to grant us a good death; and if we do not die of love, yet, that we may at least die burning of love for Thee, that so dying, we may be able to go and love Thee for evermore with a more perfect love in heaven.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

V. St. Teresa, pray for us:

R. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY

OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY,

PRAY FOR US!

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