LET NOTHING DISTURB YOU

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 15^th

 

 

10-15-15 and 10-12-18 10-15-2019