To paraphrase my 16 old, St. Teresa of Avila is totally FIRE!
I have been reading St. Theresa of Avila's Interior Castle. I have to be honest, I am only understanding probably less than half of what I read. But what I am reading is SO RICH.
First of all, St. Theresa writes so plainly, it as if she is having a conversation with the reader. And there is something completely AMAZING about feeling like you are having a REAL conversation with a Saint. Like these are her words, and she is speaking directly to you. Not just a conversation that you make up in your head. (I do that a lot by the way.)
The whole book is basically an instruction manual that the Saint's superiors asked her to write for the religious living the carmelite way of life. Things had gotten a little comfortable over the years, and Teresa was great at shaking things up. Her book, Interior Castle, explains how a person can enter their own soul through meditation to encounter God in this amazing way.
But she doesn't just give a brief explanation or description of what step 1 is; followed by step 2. Although some may prefer if she had! She speaks directly from her heart, and gives such rich words of wisdom along the way.
Here are some of my favorite snipits...
In talking about how limited our own knowledge of ourselves is: "It is no small pity, and should cause us no little shame, that, through our own fault, we do not understand ourselves, or know who we are." Well isn't that a relief? She is basically saying we are not that smart, people, but it is not our fault. God created us so uniquely, and wonderfully and beautifully, that we couldn't possibly understand ourselves. I get it. I don't get it.
At another point St. Theresa talks about consolations, or favors, or what I would consider almost "God-Incidents" and she says, "He grants these favours, then, not because those who receive them are holier than those who do not, but in order that His greatness may be made known, as we see in the case of Saint Paul and Magdalen, and in order that we may praise Him in His creatures." She explains those times in our lives where we recognize these little God Moments as opportunities to recognize God's goodness. YES. Totally! (but in like 16th-century language.)
First of all, St. Theresa writes so plainly, it as if she is having a conversation with the reader. And there is something completely AMAZING about feeling like you are having a REAL conversation with a Saint. Like these are her words, and she is speaking directly to you. Not just a conversation that you make up in your head. (I do that a lot by the way.)
The whole book is basically an instruction manual that the Saint's superiors asked her to write for the religious living the carmelite way of life. Things had gotten a little comfortable over the years, and Teresa was great at shaking things up. Her book, Interior Castle, explains how a person can enter their own soul through meditation to encounter God in this amazing way.
But she doesn't just give a brief explanation or description of what step 1 is; followed by step 2. Although some may prefer if she had! She speaks directly from her heart, and gives such rich words of wisdom along the way.
Here are some of my favorite snipits...
In talking about how limited our own knowledge of ourselves is: "It is no small pity, and should cause us no little shame, that, through our own fault, we do not understand ourselves, or know who we are." Well isn't that a relief? She is basically saying we are not that smart, people, but it is not our fault. God created us so uniquely, and wonderfully and beautifully, that we couldn't possibly understand ourselves. I get it. I don't get it.
At another point St. Theresa talks about consolations, or favors, or what I would consider almost "God-Incidents" and she says, "He grants these favours, then, not because those who receive them are holier than those who do not, but in order that His greatness may be made known, as we see in the case of Saint Paul and Magdalen, and in order that we may praise Him in His creatures." She explains those times in our lives where we recognize these little God Moments as opportunities to recognize God's goodness. YES. Totally! (but in like 16th-century language.)
St. Teresa of Avila is a powerhouse and not for the light-hearted. She is essentially the EXACT opposite of Puppy dogs and ice cream. Whenever you need a kick in the pants, she is there for you. Another quote from her that I need to hear occasionally is that "prayer and comfortable living are incompatible." She also shares that "The less I have, the more free I become." Yes. I find this true in my life as well.
There are so many great stories about this firey woman. I pray that she can help me become a Powerhouse for the Lord. She loved him Fiercely and I pray I will have the courage to do the same someday!
