The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:44-46
So I say now that all of us who wear this holy habit of Carmel are called to prayer and contemplation.
This call explains our origin; we are the descendants of men who felt this call, of those holy fathers on Mount Carmel who in such great solitude and contempt for the world sought this treasure, this precious pearl of contemplation (Cf. Mt 13:46) that we are speaking about.
Yet few of us dispose ourselves that the Lord may communicate it to us. In exterior matters we are proceeding well so that we will reach what is necessary; but in the practice of the virtues that are necessary for arriving at this point we need very, very much and cannot be careless in either small things or great.
So, my Sisters, since in some way we can enjoy heaven on earth, be brave in begging the Lord to give us His grace in such a way that nothing will be lacking through our own fault; that He show us the way and strengthen the soul that it may dig until it finds this hidden treasure (Cf. Mt 13:44). The truth is that the treasure lies within our very selves.
Saint Teresa of Avila
The Interior Castle V.1.2
George William Joy (1844–1925)
Oil on canvas
© Williamson Art Gallery & Museum
Teresa of Avila, St. 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, translated from the Spanish by Kavanaugh, K; Rodriguez, O, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Oh, thank you, I hadn’t noticed that. I can see why it’s a favourite.
Wonderful!! And it can be the last place I look. Fabulous painting too.
I wanted the link to redirect to ArtUK so that you could see the image on their site… it’s one of my favorites there.