How St Theresa Can Help You Remain Calm, Cool and Collected This Week
We were talking about how this week can be pretty hectic, even if you're on top of your business. It's all that family activity that starts to consume us - and maybe distract us from our Advent preparation. Hang in there. Christmas is right there in front of you, but Advent's still here. Don't get sidetracked from your prayer, penance and acts of charity now.
I even suggested we could just trust in God, especially when it seems like there's just no way to remain collected and prayerful with all the demands on our time and attention this week. And maybe this could be a good test of just how much we really trust in God.
St Theresa of Avila - if you know anything about this remarkable woman, this great saint - led an extraordinarily busy life. Add to that the various physical ailments she had to contend with and the interior spiritual battles she fought - all part of what makes her a great saint. She could easily have been distracted from the basics of her spiritual life. She could easily have rushed through her prayers, cut out some penances and mortifications, been far from charitable to all those around her. But she persisted.
After her death, a book mark was discovered in her breviary. It wasn't intended for publication. It was her personal reminder, something she kept before her eyes every day to keep her focused. We can use this not only during these last few days of Advent, but every day of our busy lives:
So, what do you think? I hope you find it helpful.
Meanwhile, on top of it all, I'm fighting a really nasty cold and cough - the worst I've had in years. Talk about bad timing! Oh, right, trust in God. Ask Our Father to get me through this in spite of how I feel. Yeah, I think I get it.
I even suggested we could just trust in God, especially when it seems like there's just no way to remain collected and prayerful with all the demands on our time and attention this week. And maybe this could be a good test of just how much we really trust in God.
St Theresa of Avila - if you know anything about this remarkable woman, this great saint - led an extraordinarily busy life. Add to that the various physical ailments she had to contend with and the interior spiritual battles she fought - all part of what makes her a great saint. She could easily have been distracted from the basics of her spiritual life. She could easily have rushed through her prayers, cut out some penances and mortifications, been far from charitable to all those around her. But she persisted.
After her death, a book mark was discovered in her breviary. It wasn't intended for publication. It was her personal reminder, something she kept before her eyes every day to keep her focused. We can use this not only during these last few days of Advent, but every day of our busy lives:
Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing afright you.
All things pass away.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who has God lacks nothing
God alone suffices.
So, what do you think? I hope you find it helpful.
Meanwhile, on top of it all, I'm fighting a really nasty cold and cough - the worst I've had in years. Talk about bad timing! Oh, right, trust in God. Ask Our Father to get me through this in spite of how I feel. Yeah, I think I get it.
Divine Infant of Bethlehem, come and take birth in my heart!
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