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 and 10-12-18 10-15-2019
