OCDS Apostolate to Catholic Parishes PART TWO: SAINT TERESA OF JESUS

Presentation Outline: Revised June 20, 2001
St Louis OCDS Community
Clayton, Missouri

OCDS Apostolate To: Catholic Parishes

PART TWO: SAINT TERESA OF JESUS:

a] INTRODUCTION

1] St. Teresa is the patron saint other country, Spain.

2] She is regarded as the greatest spiritual authority in the annals of the Church on, Prayer.

3] Her foundations of Carmelite Convents in Cloister have spread through-out the world.

4] She is the only women to found a Religious Order for Men [Friars]

5] Major Works: Way of Perfection, Foundations, Life, & Interior Castle

b] BIO-SKETCH:

1] Teresa was born at Avila in 1515.

2] As a member of the Carmelite Order she made great progress in the search for perfection and received mystical revelations.

3] After beginning the reform of her Order she underwent many trials which she intrepidly overcame.

4] She also wrote books of the greatest spiritual value which reflect her own experiences.

5] She died at Alba in 1582, at the age of 67. St. Teresa was canonized in 1622, and named a Doctor of the Church, in 1970.

c] SPIRIT & SIGNIFICANCE:

1] St. Teresa is called by Christ to affect the reform of the Carmelite Order

2] She is placed by Jesus at the very center of the Catholic counter reformation in the 16th Century, and her Order becomes universal

3] A Catholic's life must be Christ centered and prayer centered.

4] Union with God is open to all mankind

5] A Catholic must accept and embrace the commandments of Christ, and put his commandments into daily practice.

d] THE LIFE OF PRAYER:

1] INTRODUCTION: The following thoughts are taken from a wonderful booklet written by the contemporary Carmelite Friar, Sam Anthony Morello, OCD, titled "Divine Reading," and the practice of Teresian Prayer. Father Morello, writes to approach the subject of Teresian prayer [that is prayer after the pattern of St. Teresa of Avila] we need a broad perspective. This is necessary, although surprising, because there is no distinctively Teresian way to pray. There is not even a uniquely Carmelite way to pray. Carmel's spirituality is rooted in the greater tradition of Lectio Divina, [literally "Divine Reading"], a particular way of reading and praying over the Scriptures.

St. John of the Cross writes "Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.** (Sayings,#158]

2] MENTAL PRAYER: St. Teresa writes in her autobiography: "Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than intimate sharing with friends; it means taking time to be alone with Him who we know loves us." [Life 8,5]

3] VOCAL PRAYER: In a word, vocal prayer is nothing but formulary prayer, praying a pre-fabricated set of words and sentiments, like the, "0ur Father," or a psalm. Our Holy Mother wants us to say our prayers well, with understanding, and attentively!

4] MEDITATION: Teresa uses the word in reference to several prayful activities that all qualify as ascetical prayer or, "Meditation." Meditation for St. Teresa is a category of prayer. It is a prayer of effort, effort to think about and love the Lord. Meditation is all prayer this side of contemplation.

5] THE CONTEMPLATIVE DIMENSION: Teresian prayer is oriented toward contemplation. This is another essential quality to appreciate. For St. Teresa, meditation is ascetical prayer; that is, it depends on our efforts as we exercise our faculties with the help of ordinary grace. Contemplation cannot be produced by our own efforts; it is completely gratuitous. We can dispose ourselves for it by the virtues and by praying in a very simplified affective way. But contemplation is an infused experience of the presence of God that gives light to the soul and warmth to the heart. Sam Anthony Morello, OCD [ Lectio Divina, ICS Publications] (make hypertext link)

6] KINDS OF CONTEMPLATION: The Trappist Theologian, Thomas Merton, writes: "There is really only one kind of contemplation. The word, used properly, in its strict and correct sense signifies infused or mystical contemplation. This is also called "passive contemplation." It is a pure gift of God, and God is the principal agent Who infuses it into the soul and Who, by this means, takes possession of the soul's faculties and moves them directly according to His will." [Thomas Merton, "What is Contemplation" Templegate Publications]

e] TEACHING EXCERPS:

1] One must be conformed to the person of Christ in His divinity and His humanity

2] Prayer is the union with God as our Father and our most intimate friend

3] Mysticism; Teresa emphasizes the mystical vocation of the Christian and of every human being

4] Service: Teresa attests to the unity of life, and the mystical dimension of eccelsial service in her foundation of basic ideas

5] Love: St. Teresa teaches the supreme value of charity. Without charity united with obedience, nothing worthwhile can be done.