LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU(the story of St. Theresa of Avila)

LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU--- ( the story of SAINT THERESA of AVILA) So easily We become disturbed In today’s world About our health About our finances About our relationships And about a myriad of other things Even as a child Theresa of Avila Was thought to be particularly pious Playing with her brother---at hermitages And once---the two of them even ran away Hoping to die as martyrs in Monaco Theresa’s mother died when she was 14 And her reaction was predictable As she developed a desire for worldly treasures Such as romance, fashion, and perfume Her father sent her away To be educated by Augustinian nuns And while there---she became ill While ill She began so study the word of God And became so enthralled By the letters of Saint Jerome She decided to become a nun She became a Carmelite nun But a year later---became ill again Possibly a malignant malaria LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU Theresa began to practice mental prayer But later abandoned it But after her father’s death Picked it up again NEVER to give it up again Theresa’s exuberance, prudence, and charity Touched ALL---but later When she began to experience visions And other SPIRITUAL encounters She began To become misunderstood, ridiculed, and even persecuted She identified herself with two great Saints ---Two great sinners-penitents Who were TRANSFORMED BY GOD--- Saint Augustine and MARY MAGDALENE She lived in a little nunnery With 12 other nuns Under conditions of poverty-hardship-and solitude Theresa herself---took her turns at sweeping-spinning And many other menial household tasks Her prayers to God Lasted a lifetime And LIVE ON today in her writings--- THE WAY TO PERFECTION and THE INTERIOR CASTLE Dear God We pray that as we experience hardship in this life And we will That we adopt that same attitude Of Saint Theresa That we keep our eyes FIXED on you And that we truly live by what Saint Theresa truly did And in fact said: “LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU” Robert P. Wallman 10-15-11 Ps her feast day is October 15th 10-15-15