One of my favorite works of art
is located in the corner chapel of the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria in
Rome. I remember walking miles through the rain the first time I visited Rome
to see this sculpture of St. Teresa in Ecstasy by the famous Italian artist
Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The sculpture carved of white marble, depicts St. Teresa
of Avila, garbed in her Carmelite habit, reclined on a cloud. Over her, a joy-filled
angel holds a golden arrow ready to pierce her heart with Divine Love.
Bernini drew his inspiration for this sculpture from the
amazing life of this saint. For many years, Teresa had difficulty sitting
through her prayers, perhaps she thought she had something better to do. But,
one day, she began meditating upon an image of the Passion of Jesus—scourged,
bound, and crowned with thorns and standing before a hostile crowd, that she
resolved to dedicate herself as seriously as she could to the prayer,
meditation, and contemplation.
With that determination to grow in prayer, her love for the
Lord deepened. She would become absorbed in deep contemplation and would become
so filled with divine love that, miraculously her body would levitate—hence
Bernini depicting Teresa floating on a cloud. At the same time, she would feel deeply
overwhelmed by love that it felt like her heart was being pierced—hence the
angel holding that golden arrow in the sculpture.
St. Teresa didn’t just keep her insights into prayer to
herself. She wrote a book called The Interior Castle, which describes
the Christian soul’s journey to union with God. The book is a spiritual classic
and still very accessible to the modern reader.
Her holiness was so deeply evident that she was canonized
within forty years of her death. And, in 1970, Pope St. Paul VI bestowed upon
her the title “Doctor of the Church” for her insights into the spiritual life,
teaching us to take up the Lord’s invitation to the Divine Will through prayer.
In seminary, we read a wonderful book by Fr. Thomas Dubay called
The Fire Within, which I highly recommend to those wanting to
grow in prayer. Fr. Dubay summarizing Teresa’s spirituality writes, “Genuine
prayer, does not happen without effort.
Depth of communion with the indwelling Trinity occurs only in a person
intent on living the Gospel totally, one who is humble and patient, temperate
and obedient, pure and kind, free of selfish clinging. It is not accidental that our very best
explanations of contemplative prayer have their origin in men and women of
marvelous sanctity.”
May St. Teresa, this great Doctor of the Church continue to
teach us how to pray, and the determination we need for the growth in prayer
that God desires for us, that we may more deeply be drawn into the love God has
for each of us, contemplate his indwelling presence in our souls, and be united
to God in all of our activities and relationships for the glory of God and
salvation of souls.
For Pope Leo, especially for his recovery from surgery, and
in his cancer diagnosis.
On this feast of St. Teresa, we pray for the Carmelites and
all religious orders and communities, that they may remain faithful to their
charisms and be beacons of God's love in the world. Let us pray to the Lord.
For all who feel spiritually dry or distant from God, that
they may persevere in prayer and experience the transforming power of divine
love. Let us pray to the Lord.
For all of us gathered here, that we may learn to detach
ourselves from worldly concerns and trust more fully in God's providence. Let
us pray to the Lord.
For those burdened by anxiety and fear, and for all those
suffering from mental illness, addiction, or any type of illness: that the
grace of Christ may console and strengthen them. Let us pray to the Lord.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and
parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious,
and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject
to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the
prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
