Quote of the day, 10 February: St. Teresa of Avila

O Cross, my life’s delightful rest,
My welcome be.

Beneath your protecting banner
Even the weakest are made strong!
O life of our death,
Reviving it so well.
Having tamed the lion,
By you he was slain:
My welcome be.

Captive is he that loves you not,
No freedom does he know;
Those who approach you
From bad paths are saved.
Oh, in this Kingdom blessed
Evil finds no rest:
My welcome be.

You are the freedom
From our dread captivity;
With so precious remedy,
From evilness
You restored me.
In God the means
Of this joy obtained:
My welcome be.

St. Teresa of Avila

Poetry, 18: To the Cross

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.

Featured image: This detail of St Teresa kissing the crucifix comes from an engraving by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta, created ca. 1750–1780, found in the collections of the British Museum.