Simple Words Guided by the Hand of God
Copyright© 2012 by harry lime
Chapter 3
Saint Teresa of Avila is one of the most respected of the recognized Saints of the Catholic Church. In parts I and II, we learned how she lived her life of dedication to the service of God. Much of the opposition that she faced was due more to political intrigue and internal Church "Turf Warfare" rather than any true displeasure with her pious beliefs.
In her earlier convent years, Saint Teresa was mentored by the Society of Jesus and she often turned to Jesuit priests for advice and spiritual guidance. In her middle years and in times of stress, she later turned to the learned priests of the Dominican Order. They instructed on the ways she could navigate the twisting paths of Church teachings without causing unnecessary friction.
Saint John of the Cross, an early follower of Teresa's reform efforts, gave her insight to psychological influences for meditation and the appreciation for true Divine Grace. Both Saint Teresa and Saint John of the Cross wrote inspired works on the process of "Mystical Theology". In fact, the great work by Saint John of the Cross "Ascent of Mount Carmel" addressed the teachings of Saint Teresa. Teresa had scant training in Theology but described Church Doctrine with perfection in every word in her own revealing work "Interior Castle". His brilliant work merely attested to the accuracy of her guiding words.
Over the Centuries that followed her time on earth, many learned Theologians have used Saint Teresa's and Saint John of the Cross's very words to explain and defend their theories.
Saint Teresa of Avila's Feast Day is October 15. That is the day to celebrate her dedicated life and her revelation of the word of God.
It is important to consider the special feat accomplished by Saint Teresa of Avila. She was the first female member of the clergy to establish an order for males. Historically, it was the male order which was established first and then the convents of nuns would follow. By the time she died in 1582, her Discalced Carmelite order had become validated by the Pope as a recognized order of the Roman Catholic Church.
No less than 3 Pontifical "Bulls" between 1580 and 1605 gave full credence to the new Discalced Carmelite order as being the replacement for the original Carmelite order. In order to simplify the progression, it is easier to think of the Discalced Carmelite Monasteries as the "First of the Orders" and the Discalced Carmelite Convents as the "Second of the Orders" and the secular Carmelites as the "Third of the Orders."