A Bright Light...

~~~  Saint Thomas Aquinas ~~~

~~~ Priest and Doctor of the Church ~~~

~~~ 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29 ~~~ Psalm 132 ~~~

~~~ Mark 4:21-25 ~~~

For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; 

nothing is secret except to come to light.

Saint Thomas Aquinas...

 one of the most influential thinkers and 

prolific writers of medieval Scholasticism.

His most well known writing is his

Summa Theologica.

He has been called the 'Universal Teacher'.

A few quotes from St. Thomas Aquinas...

There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than friendship.

Wonder is the desire for Knowledge.

Love takes up where Knowledge leaves off.

The things that we love tell us what we are.

It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, 

from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes.

Saint Thomas was such a bright light 

that it would have been impossible to keep it hidden.

He began with wonder at a young age.

He quickly moved into his period of knowledge 

during his extensive schooling.

His writings validate his own wonder and knowledge

culminating in great love.

It is true for us as well.

Begin with wonder...embrace the pursuit of knowledge...

 arrive in the realm of greater love. 

We have much to learn from Saint Thomas Aquinas.

We are Blessed today with the wisdom of Thomas.

Read more of his quotes;

pick one that speaks to you...

write it in your journal for future reference.

Let the saints inspire and encourage you along your journey.

~~~Peace~~~

Saint Teresa of Avila...

Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, 

Virgin and Doctor of the Church

~~~ Romans 3:21-30 ~~~ Psalm 130 ~~~ Luke 11:47-54 ~~~

Within the walls of the cloister,

Saint Teresa of Avila filled the convent with

the beauty of her close relationship with the Lord.

She reformed religious life into something 

more than a mere title one gets for joining an order.

In her day, many probably said "Woe to you, Teresa."

She advocated some major changes for religious.

She was not interested in building meaningless memorials. 

Woe to you, scholars of the law!

You have taken away the key of knowledge.

The key of knowledge for Saint Teresa was her

tremendous love for Jesus.

Her great love relationship gave her equally 

great spiritual insight.

For there is no distinction;

all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.

They are justified freely by his grace

through the redemption in Christ Jesus...

Teresa was ever mindful of being a sinner,

but knew of the saving power of Jesus.

She gave up her shoes to emphasize poverty and penance.

Teresa was one spark 

that ignited change within the church.

She met with resistance, but did not 

let it deter her from her beliefs.

God loved Teresa and he had a very specific job for her.

She was a woman. Who would listen to her?

She was a contemplative. Why would she want 

to give up her worldly comforts?

She was an active reformer. 

How did she overcome those 

men who resisted?

Saint Teresa had everything going for her in the 

secular world yet she answered God's call

 to give up everything and follow him.

Her writings, especially the Way of Perfection

 and The Interior Castle, have helped generations of believers.

In 1970 the Catholic church declared Saint Teresa

 to be a Doctor of the Church.

A rare title bestowed to anyone

 much less a woman.

In closing, beautiful thoughts from Teresa...

“May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, 

and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul 

the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. 

It is there for each and everyone of you.” 

Saint Teresa of Jesus,

pray for us.

May you be Blessed with deeper faith,

greater peace in the acceptance of God's love for you.

~~~Peace~~~

Give Yourself Completely

The Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila

(1515-1582)

Doctor of the Church

 

~~~ Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31-5:1 ~~~ Psalm 113 ~~~ Luke 11: 29-32 ~~~

 

Jesus said to them,
"This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.

Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation."

 

Saint Teresa believed that Christ alone makes all things new.

 

Today Jesus is explaining to the crowd that something greater is coming.

The prophets realized that they were not to be regarded as the one who was coming.

Jonah resisted; he was reluctant to answer the call of God.

 

Each generation births those who are still looking for a sign.

They are still looking for 'the one'.

 

Teresa is inspiring with her devotion to Jesus

and her conversational style of prayer.

Some have said, 'Teresa is contagiously inspirational'.

 

Teresa believed that it is within ourselves that we discover

the meaning of God's words.

Teresa assure us that those who practice prayer faithfully will receive all they ask beyond their greatest expectations an hope.

Teresa wrote. 'My house will be a house of prayer'.

She was not only referring to the physical structure of a house,

but also her interior house where God dwells.

Her writings expand on this concept of a house of prayer.

She speaks of the various levels of prayer as 'mansions'.

 

She wants us all to know that God waits for us in our daily prayer.

It is in our prayer when we should be acutely aware

of giving our self completely

to God...body, mind, and soul.

Gradually throughout her life prayer became her passion.

As Teresa grew in age and in her prayer life,

she began to listen better and surrender to her vocation.

 

 

It is only through developing our prayer life that we can begin

to hear the word of God more clearly.

Jonah had to be swallowed up and spit out before he would

surrender to the will of God.

What will it take for you?

What do you need to do to find more time to pray?

The more we begin to live as God desires for us to live

the more we will discover

the wonderfulness of God.

The more we discover the wonderfulness of God

the more energized we will be to continue to be in prayer with him.

 

There have been more books written on prayer than any other topic of religion.

Prayer is our feeble attempt at connection with our creator.

We want to keep in touch with God through our prayers.

We want to experience his unconditional love.

 

The reality of prayer is that it changes you over time.

Dare you take the risk of being changed?

Try devoting more time to prayer and see what happens.

 

Saint Teresa, teach us to cherish our prayer time as much as you did.

Saint Teresa, pray for us!