Photo: R. Massaro Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Grafton, Ohio
At the dawn of creation the eyes of God rested with satisfaction on the universe he had created. At a second moment he looked with pleasure on the soul of Mary as he was about to recreate a fallen world. So fresh, unsullied, so unsurpassingly beautiful she was. He smiled on the loveliest creature that his creative love had fashioned; he saw that she was good.
Her soul was a meeting-place. Here was goodness, for she was full of grace; here was beauty, for she was all-beautiful; here was truth, for here was the Word in her womb, the source of all truth. No wonder he found delight in her.
An excerpt from Pilgrims with Mary by John Moloney PP
Photo: R. Massaro St. Teresa of Avila Church Sheffield Lake, Ohio
From the life of St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila):
While at the Incarnation in the second year that I was prioress, on the octave of the feast of St. Martin, when I was receiving Communion, Father John of the Cross who was giving me the Blessed Sacrament broke the host to provide for another Sister. I thought there was no lack of hosts but that he wanted to mortify me...His Majesty said to me: "Don't fear, daughter, for no one will be a party to separating you from Me." making me thereby understand that what just happened didn't matter. Then He appeared to me in an imaginative vision, as at other times, very interiorly, and He gave me His right hand and said: "Behold this nail; it is a sign you will be My bride from today on. Until now you have not merited this; from now on not only will you look after My honor as being the honor of your Creator, King, and God, but you will look after it as My true bride. My honor is yours, and yours Mine." This favor produced such an effect in me I couldn't contain myself, and I remained as though entranced...Throughout the whole day I remained thus very absorbed. Afterward I felt great pain, and greater confusion and affliction at seeing I don't render any service in exchange for such amazing favors. Spiritual Testimonies, No. 31
To possess ourselves of Holy Love, we must call to mind the presence of God and place ourselves in that presence; just as one in the world loving some one of the world often has him in his thoughts, so we must frequently remind ourselves that God is always present, and that He always has us in His thoughts for our good and happiness. In loving, one must render love for love; therefore, if God has loved us always and so much, regardless of our merit what must we, who have been loved, do to requite Him for His love? We must make ourselves like unto Jesus in humility, kindness, sweetness...
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 renowned for their depth of doctrine and which showed her own spiritual experiences. She died at Alba in 1582. From the Carmelite Proper
O most Holy Virgin, who was pleasing to the Lord and became His mother, immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look kindly on me as I implore your powerful intercession. O most Holy Mother, who by your blessed Immaculate Conception, from the first moment of your conception did crush the head of the enemy, receive our prayers as we implore you to present at the throne of God the favor we now request...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
...First, individuals commune with God more respectfully and courteously, the way one should always converse with the Most High. In the prosperity of their satisfaction and consolation as beginners, they did not act thus, for that satisfying delight made them somewhat more daring with God than was proper, and more discourteous and inconsiderate. This is what happened to Moses: When he heard God speaking to him, he was blinded by that gratification and desire and without any further thought would have dared to approach God, if he had not been ordered to stop and take off his shoes [Ex. 3:4-5]. This instance denotes the respect and discretion, the nakedness of appetite, with which one ought to commune with God. Consequently when Moses was obedient to this command, he was so discreet and cautious that Scripture says he not only dared not approach but did not even dare look [Ex. 3:6; Acts 7:32]. Having left aside the shoes of his appetites and gratifications, he was fully aware of his misery in the sight of God, for this was the manner in which it was fitting for him to hear God's word. The Dark Night, Bk 1, Chap. 12, No. 3
