Saint Teresa Displayed a Profound Humility as Doctor of the Church
Sign up: Living Jesus Chat — Membership
The feast of this illustrious Spanish mystic – St. Teresa of Avila – was celebrated October 15th. Known as a Doctor of the Church, her spiritual writings are held in great esteem. Most well known of her writings, are her autobiography, and her work “The Interior Castle”.
St. Francis de Sales, also, admired this holy saint. As the article “The Influence of Italian and Spanish Mystics on St Francis de Sales” says,
The Influence of Italian and Spanish Mystics on St Francis de Sales – See more at: http://visitationspirit.org/2013/10/st-francis-de-sales-and-st-theresa-of-avila/#sthash.FOYStf7D.dpuf
“In [St. Francis’] Treatise of the Love of God no spiritual author is so often named as St. Teresa; all of whose principal works are cited by Francis. Frequently in his letters he recommends reading her.”
More than anything else, St. Francis was drawn to St. Teresa’s writings because they were both profound, and simple. Francis, himself, writes:
“Lastly, the Blessed Teresa of Jesus has written so well of the sacred movements of charity in all the books that she has left us that we are amazed to see so much eloquence amid such great humility and such firmness of mind in such great simplicity. Her most learned ignorance causes the knowledge of many learned men to seem like ignorance, for after their great efforts at study they are put to shame by not understanding what she has written in so happy a way in the practice of holy love.”
“Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing make you afraid.
All things are passing.
God alone never changes.
Patience gains all things.
If you have God you will want for nothing.
God alone suffices.”
-St. Teresa of Avila,
In our Living Jesus Chat Room this Sunday, we will discuss these points:
- St. Teresa was not canonized a saint until the last year of St. Francis’ lifetime. Nonetheless, what did St. Francis de Sales see in the writings of St. Teresa of Avila?
- In the quote from above, what does St. Francis de Sales mean when he refers to St. Teresa’s “learned ignorance”?
- Because of her humlity and scrupulosity, St. Teresa was told by some that her mystical visions were from the devil. It took her confessor to discern her visions and assure that they were from God. How does this illustrate the importance of spiritual guidance and direction?
We will discuss these topics during Sunday’s chat, which are taken from the article, “St. Francis de Sales and St. Theresa of Avila”.
Sign up for our Chat Room
Come to our Living Jesus Chat Room, 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM Eastern Time U.S