Feast of St. Teresa of Avila
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Rom 8, 22-27; Ps 18; Lk 6, 43-45 “The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought.” (Romans 8, 26) |

St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).
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“Why did our Lord love Saint Teresa so much and overwhelm her with so many favors? It is because, even though she had resisted his grace for rather a long time, once she began to love him, she sacrificed everything for him. She was great-souled; no difficulty could stop her, and she wanted only to suffer for the object of her love; the desire to glorify him and to testify to his love consumed her; therefore, we see her establish the reform for this end, and how many troubles, how much opposition did she not have to suffer to succeed? She triumphed over all by the generosity that this very love inspired. From what source did St. Teresa draw so much grace? From prayer, from her union with God… From the depths of her solitude she embraced the whole world in her desire to win it for Jesus Christ. Our hearts must not be less spacious than hers.” |
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For prayer : Young Let us ask the Lord to help each one of us to find the best means of service for the Kingdom, given our capabilities and our desire for union with his will. |
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This retreat on line has been composed by |




Castellano: Santa Teresa dice que hay una unión con Dios semejante a dos velas que juntan sus llamas pero luego se pueden separar. Una unión más fuerte es la del río que al llegar al mar deja de ser río y se convierte en mar. Estamos llamados todos a dejar nuestro yo individual y convertirnos en el Océano, Dios, la Totalidad. Estoy aprendiendo a vivir en el momento presente, hacer silencio mental porque ese silencio consiste en vaciarse de sí para que el Señor lo llene todo. Ser como el cántaro vacío. Hoy la meditación sin objeto es un medio, una práctica eficaz para vaciarse de sí y dejar a Dios ser Dios en mí. Entonces, como Dios es Amor, este amor saldrá espontáneo sin esperar que el otro sea digno de él. Estamos llamados a SER AMOR como Dios. Que Santa Teresa nos ayude.
Français: Sainte Thérèse dit qu’il y a une union à Dieu qui ressemble à deux bougies qui joignent leurs flammes mais qui aussitôt peuvent se séparer. Une union plus forte est celle de la rivière qui, après être arrivée à la mer, cesse d'être rivière et ce se convertit en mer. Nous sommes tous appelés à quitter notre moi individuel et à nous jeter dans l’Océan, Dieu, la Totalité. J'apprends à vivre le moment présent, à faire intérieurement silence parce que ce silence consiste à se vider de soi-même et à laisser Dieu nous emplir entièrement. Être comme la cruche vide. Aujourd'hui la méditation sans support m’est un moyen, une pratique efficace pour me vider de moi-même et laisser Dieu être Dieu en moi. Alors, comme Dieu est Amour, cet amour jaillira spontanément sans regarder si l’autre est digne de lui. Nous sommes appelés à ÊTRE AMOUR comme Dieu. Que Sainte Thérèse nous aide.
English: Saint Teresa says that there is a type of union with God that is like two candles whose flames come together but which can then separate. A very strong kind of union is that of the river which, on reaching the sea, stops being a river and becomes the sea. We are called to leave our individual self and to become the Ocean, God, Totality. I am learning to live in the present moment, to create mental silence because this silence consists in emptying oneself so that the Lord may completely fill me. To be like an empty jug. Today, unstructured meditation is a means, a useful tool to help in self-emptying and allowing God to be God in me. Then, as God is Love, this love will come out spontaneously without waiting for the other person to be worthy of it. We are called to BE LOVE like God. May Saint Teresa help us.