SAINT OF THE DAY: TERESA DE JESUS! (TERESA OF AVILA)REFORMER OF THE CARMELITE ORDER TO ORDER OF CARMELITE DISCALCED (OCD)


It's almost 3am in the cold Stockholm but I can't sleep without writing about Madre Teresa de Jésus (also known as St Teresa of Avila.) I recount the old memories when I was s very, very young. I cannot remember the exact years but before I reached even ten years. In simple put, since I started talking (probably) hahahha anyway,my lovely mother ; whose name is Catherine, has great devotion to St Catherine of Sienna (her patron saint) and Teresa de Jesus. So she's one of the earliest Saints I came across with. Nevertheless,only the name was famous to me an issue which made me kinder lax to search for any information about Teresa of Avila.

In a way, I took the "old memories for granted" Well, for quiet sometime now her name and fame became so popular in my ears and I wondered what's so special about this woman? Still, I kept my laxity and I bothered not to do any kind of research. It's unfortunate/ or rather fortunate may be! mh who knows? I came to know her through her famous daughters; St Thérèse of the infant Jesus (my patron saint) and St Teresa of the Andes. My close friendship with these two women directed me to the woman who influenced their love towards the only one Love; Jesus Christ.

Still, I didn't take any effort but I guess she kinder did 'cause I sometimes asked myself "Why is Saint Teresa de Jésus so famous?" with no avail. In case you don't know, I have got a bunch of saints friends (strange mh?!) so I spend a great deal of my time to learn about their lives et.
One day, I was set to watch a film in EWTN, guess what I found? "A min- series of St Teresa de Jésus". I was extremely happy and I knew for sure, this was the "famous bright beginning." I followed this series for three consecutive weeks, and when they wrote "FINITO", I had the reasons why "she is a super woman". So I went to buy her book "The way of perfection" which left me in wonder.

I would love to regenerate some of her words from the book which really touched my heart the most. Don't be happy 'coz I will quote just few of them.
"For one occasion as much distress may be caused by quiet a small matter as would be caused by some greater trial, and there are people whose nature it is to be very much cast down by small things. If you are not like this, do not neglect to have compassion on others; it may be our Lord wishes to spare us these sufferings and will give us sufferings of another kinds which will seem heavy on us, though to the person already mentioned they may seem light. In these matters, then, we must not judge others by ourselves, nor think of ourselves as we have been at some time when, perhaps without any effort ou our part, the Lord has made us stronger than they; Let us think of what we were like at times when we have been weakest" (The way of perfection Pg 52)


It's sad that I have to post this story with no photos, how sad! Can't upload any photo por qui? lol, my poor french!

About giving up our WILL, this is what she said "It seems very easy to say that we will surrender our WILL to someone, until we try it and realize that it is the hardest thing we can do if we carry it out as we should" (PG 206 Supra)

NEVERTHELESS, SHE CONTINUES

"Do not fear that He will give reaches or pleasures or great honours or any such earthly things; His Love for you is not so poor as that. And He sets a very high value on what you give Him and desires to recompense you for it since He gives you His Kingdom while you are still alive." (ibid)

Guess what, I was joking to my sister few days ago requesting her to visit me before I go back to Tanzania for she might find me in a cloister. We both laughed at the Idea. After that talk, I felt something pulling me to search for cloistered orders in Tanzania,only to land in Kiabakari
http://kiabakarisnippets.blogspot.com.
What a grace! So I wrote to the sisters, wish they reply today (The feast of Saint Teresa de Jesus, Madre Teresa de Jesus!. O Lord, it takes a strong woman to enter Carmel ,how can I even desire it? The weak Piccolito, the imperfect little one?
O Madre St Teresa de Jesus pray for us!
Pray for our beloved Pope Benedict XVI
Pray for our priests,
Pray for religious
Pray for Vocations,
Pray for families
Pray for me
I'm so sleepy! Let me call it a day! Happy feast day. This makes me miss Pilauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

pICCOla