Carmelite wisdom to encourage & inspire
St Teresa's youngest brother Agustín de Ahumada left with the Spanish armada on 24 May 1546, bound for Peru. Here Teresa writes to her brother Lorenzo: "I am very concerned about Agustín... I pray a great deal for him."
Reading time: 3 minutes, 652 words
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Saint Teresa of the Andes entered the Carmel of the Holy Spirit in the township of Los Andes, some 90 kilometers from her home in Santiago de Chile on Wednesday, 7 May 1919. The Prioress said that when Teresa bade farewell to her oldest sister, she said, "Until heaven! Life is so short!"
Reading time: 1 minute, 213 words
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While sheltered in the basilica crypt in Lisieux during the 1944 bombardments, Céline felt troubled by the lack of a cloister. Acceptance finally came as she prayed about the mission of Sts. Philip and James.
Reading time: 3 minutes, 538 words
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Whenever St. Louis Martin visited Paris, he wanted to stop and pray in the Church of Notre-Dame des Victoires, which was like a little bit of heaven on earth for him. Here, he writes to tell St. Zélie about a recent visit.
Reading time: 1 minute, 83 words
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St. Zélie Martin was quite concerned about the poor health of her infant son Joseph Jean-Baptiste in 1868; she mentioned his illness and medical treatment in a letter to her sister-in-law Céline at the beginning of May.
Reading time: 4 minutes, 770 words
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St Elizabeth of the Trinity, overjoyed by the birth of her second niece, writes to her sister, Guite, “I recollect myself with you close to the little ones,” and sends a medal touched to the Infant of Jesus of Beaune.
Reading time: 3 minutes, 557 words
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St. Zélie Martin was concerned about her brother Isidore’s plan to take over the Fournet pharmacy in Lisieux. "You will work as hard as the Trappists and the reward will be much less,” she wrote on 22 April 1866.
Reading time: 2 minutes, 394 words
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St. Teresa was born on 28 March 1515 to devout parents in Avila. St. Edith Stein describes her birth and background: “Teresa, a bold warrior for God, came from such a race of heroes” as the knights of Old Castile.
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The Servant of God Sr. Maria Lucia, although born on Holy Thursday 28 March 1907, had a baptismal certificate that indicated she was born on 22 March; here is the story of her two birthdays.
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St. Titus Brandsma was born and baptized on 23 February 1881 on a farm in the Frisian countryside outside of Bolsward, Netherlands. Sixty years later, he affirmed, "Obviously, I am pure Frisian."
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St. Thérèse of Lisieux studied French composition at the Benedictine abbey boarding school, Notre Dame du Pré. On 18 February 1886 she wrote "The Little Savoyard," a story that combines a tale of French mountain culture and childlike trust.
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"God protects all who trust in Him," writes St. Zélie Martin. Reflecting on what God had done "for me and my husband, I don't doubt that His Divine Providence watches over His children with special care."
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In May 1890 St. Thérèse sent a note to her sister Pauline to tell her that Léonie would go to Lourdes and seek healing in the baths for her eczema, accompanied by Céline; the family prayed for her cure.
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St. Zélie Martin was an admirer of Blessed Marie of the Incarnation—better known as Madame Acarie, who was born 1 February 1566. Marie Martin recalls her mother's desire to be as generous as Barbe Acarie.
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St. Zélie Martin and her sister Marie-Louise were raised in a strict family atmosphere. Reading the biography of the gentle St. Francis de Sales inspired Marie-Louise at age 29 to enter the Visitation monastery.
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Roughly six weeks before his death on this date from smallpox, the Servant of God Hermann Cohen wrote to his sister: "I have been named Chaplain to the 5300 French prisoners of war..."
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Do you proofread your letters before sending them? In this quote, St. Teresa of Avila admits that "I never reread mine." She considered it to be a "waste of time."
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In his “Testament of a Loving Father,” St. Kuriakos Elias Chavara dispenses saintly, homespun wisdom for the renewal of Christian families. “Tell me who your friends are,” he writes, “I will tell you who you are.”
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St. Edith Stein sends New Year’s greetings to her friend, philosopher Roman Ingarden. Apologizing for her formality, she writes: “All the best wishes for the New Year for the entire family!”
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St. Teresa of the Andes had an emergency appendectomy on 28 December 1914. Here, she tells us about her mixed emotions and her preparation for death during the risky procedure.
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Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices. ~ St. Teresa of Avila
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