#discalcedcarmelitereform — Public Fediverse posts

Quote of the day, 13 February: St. Teresa of Avila

Having decided to accept this foundation [in Villanueva de la Jara], it seemed to me necessary, for many reasons that occurred to me, that I go with the nuns who were to live there. My human nature resisted very much, for I had arrived in Malagón very sick and have always been so. But since I thought the foundation would serve our Lord, I wrote to my superior to order me to do what he thought best. He sent the license for the foundation and the command that I go personally and bring the nuns of my choice.

This latter worried me a great deal… Praying to our Lord very much over this matter, I took two from the monastery of St. Joseph’s in Toledo, one of them for prioress, and two from Malagón, one of them for subprioress. Since we had prayed so much to His Majesty, things turned out very well, which to me was no small matter; for in the foundations that we begin by ourselves alone, the nuns adapt to each other well.

Father Fray Antonio de Jesús and Father Fray Gabriel de la Asunción came for us. Given an assurance of help from the town, we left Malagón on the Saturday before Lent, the thirteenth of February in 1580.

God was pleased to make the weather so good and give me such health that it seemed to me I had never been sick. I was surprised and reflected on how very important it is not to consider our weak state of health or any opposition that occurs when we understand that something serves the Lord, since God is powerful enough to make the weak strong and the sick healthy. And when our Lord does not do this, suffering will be the best thing for our souls; and fixing our eyes on His honor and glory, we should forget ourselves. What is the purpose of life and health save that they be lost for so great a King and Lord?

Believe me, Sisters, you will never go astray in following this path.

Saint Teresa of Avila

The Foundations, 28.17–18

Note: Saint Teresa left Malagón with her nurse, Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew, to make the foundation in Villanueva de la Jara. Teresa selected four foundresses: from Toledo, María de los Mártires (prioress) and Constanza de la Cruz; from Malagón, Elvira de San Angelo (subprioress) and Ana de San Agustín.

Teresa of Avila, St 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, Kavanaugh, K & Rodriguez, O (trans.), ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Featured image: We gratefully acknowledge photographer José-María Moreno García for making his photo-documentary of the Fifth Centenary visit to Saint Teresa’s foundation at Villanueva de la Jara available under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). The complete photo album may be viewed here.