Teresa was God’s familiar. She often spoke
To Him informally,
As if together they shared some heavenly joke.
Once, watching stormily
Her heart’s ambitions wither to odds and ends,
With all to start anew,
She cried, “If this is the way you treat your friends,
No wonder you have so few!”
There is, however, no record standing by
Of God’s reply.
Phyllis McGinley
Conversation in Avila
Avila Charles Webster Hawthorne (American, 1872-1930) Watercolor on paper, 1929 Private collection
McGinley, P 1954, The Love Letters of Phyllis McGinley, Viking Press, New York.
I gave myself to Love Divine, And lo! my lot so changèd is That my Beloved One is mine And I at last am surely His.
When that sweet Huntsman from above
First wounded me and left me prone,
Into the very arms of Love
My stricken soul forthwith was thrown.
Since then my life’s no more my own
And all my lot so changèd is That my Beloved One is mine And I at last am surely His.
The dart wherewith He wounded me
Was all embarbèd round with love,
And thus my spirit came to be
One with its Maker, God above.
No love but this I need to prove:
My life to God surrender’d is And my Beloved One is mine And I at last am surely His.
de Jesús, T 1963, The complete works, vol. III, The Book of Foundations, minor prose works, poems, documents and indices, translated and edited by Peers, E, Sheed and Ward, London.
I gave myself to Love Divine, And lo! my lot so changèd is That my Beloved One is mine And I at last am surely His.
When that sweet Huntsman from above
First wounded me and left me prone,
Into the very arms of Love
My stricken soul forthwith was thrown.
Since then my life’s no more my own
And all my lot so changèd is That my Beloved One is mine And I at last am surely His.
The dart wherewith He wounded me
Was all embarbèd round with love,
And thus my spirit came to be
One with its Maker, God above.
No love but this I need to prove:
My life to God surrender’d is And my Beloved One is mine And I at last am surely His.
Poems III. I gave myself to Love Divine … (“Yo toda me entregué y dí. …”) (translation by E. Allison Peers)
Reflection by Fr. Emiel Albalahin, O.Carm.
This beautiful poem is the result of Teresa’s reflection on Songs 2:16: “My Beloved belongs to me and I to him.” In her verse, she expresses a fundamental truth of the interior journey: God himself initiates and sustains the relationship, and invites us to surrender to Him in faith. Our efforts of self-renunciation, sacrifice, and humility about which Teresa constantly discusses in her writings are our personal response to this love. In renouncing ourselves, we allow the Lord to unite us to Himself.
Let us not tire of making our sacrifices of love, but instead take courage, sure in the knowledge that we are already loved.
We pray together
Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.
V.Holy Mother St. Teresa, pray for us:
R.That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.
Let us pray:
Father,
by your Spirit, you raised up
our Mother Saint Teresa of Jesus
to show your Church the way to perfection.
May her inspired teaching
awaken in us a longing for true holiness.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Fr. Emiel Albalahin, O.Carm. is a friar of the Saint Elias Province and the pastor of Transfiguration Parish in Tarrytown, New York, U.S.A.
View the entire novena on the website of the General Curia of the Carmelite Order.
Oh father, ten years ago
You were stricken by cruel death!
You left your grief-stricken widow,
Your children, still quite young;
And your soul left the earth,
The place of exile and of misery,
To return to the bosom of God
In the beautiful city of Heaven.
It was in my weak arms as a child,
These arms that caressed you so much,
That your brief agony lasted,
The last battle of your life!
And I tried to hold on
To that last, long breath!
Protector of my childhood,
Who knew how to watch over
His dear little children with constancy,
I truly promise you that the years
Will not erase from my memory
The souvenir of a beloved father
Who was called by Jesus,
Still quite young, to eternal glory!
Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity
Poem 37, 2 October 1897
Elizabeth, age 7 (1887)
The year 1887 was difficult for St. Elizabeth’s family. When she was two years old, her maternal grandmother died, leaving her grandfather, Raymond Rolland as a widower to fend for himself. Eventually, he moved in with his daughter Marie and son-in-law Capt. Joseph Catez.
But 24 January 1887, Grandfather Rolland died in the Catez home. It was a rude shock for the family.
Eight months later, Joseph Catez, the proud army captain, was knocked down by serious health problems. It’s his heart, the doctor says. Besides, he can feel it himself, says biographer Conrad de Meester (2017). Several times during the summer of 1887 he has serious heart attacks, “but the courageous captain, a committed Christian, doesn’t complain easily.”
Nobody expected his condition to deteriorate so quickly, however. The veritable unraveling of the strong fabric of his existence was so rapid and so tragic for the Catez family.
Sunday morning 2 October 1887, Captain Catez fought his last battle and died, borne away in one single night by a massive heart attack. He died in the arms of Elizabeth, who literally felt him draw his last breath.
Elizabeth was always a daddy’s girl; the profound event, which engraved an indelible image upon her memory, inspired her to compose a poem on the anniversary of Captain Catez’s death 10 years later.
The French website of the Carmel of Dijon provides more detail here. Images of Capt. Catez and Elizabeth at age seven are courtesy of the Carmel of Dijon.
de Meester C 2017, Rien moins que Dieu: Sainte Elisabeth de la Trinité biographie, Presses de la Renaissance, Paris.
O Queen of martyrs, till the evening of your life
That sorrowful sword will pierce your heart,
Already you must leave your native land
To flee a king’s jealous fury.
Jesus sleeps in peace under the folds of your veil.
Joseph comes begging you to leave at once,
And at once your obedience is revealed.
You leave without delay or reasoning.
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus,remember your promise to do good on earth; send your shower of roses in abundance on those who call upon you, and obtain for us from God the graces we are waiting to receive from His infinite goodness.
¡Oh, Reina de los mártires, hasta el fin de tu vida
la espada dolorosa traspasará tu pecho !
Habrás de abandonar el suelo de tu patria,
para evitar de un rey el furor traicionero.
En paz duerme Jesús, a quien tu mano abriga,
cuando José te avisa que habéis de partir luego.
Tu obediencia es puntual y enseguida se apresta
y partís sin demora y sin razonamientos.
Santa “Teresita”,recuerda tu promesa de “hacer bien en la tierra” y que enviarías “lluvia de rosas” sobre quienes te invoquen. Obtenme de Dios las gracias que quiero de su infinita bondad.
This text is an excerpt from the poem, Why I Love You, O MaryRead more
Este texto es un extracto del poema Por qué te amo, MaríaLeer más
There is on this earth
A marvelous Tree.
Its root, O mystery!
Is in Heaven….
In its shade
Never could anything cause pain.
One can rest there
Without fearing the storm.
Love is the name
Of this ineffable Tree,
And its delectable fruit
Is called Abandonment.
It gives me in this world
An ocean of peace.
In this deep peace
I rest forever…
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus,remember your promise to do good on earth; send your shower of roses in abundance on those who call upon you, and obtain for us from God the graces we are waiting to receive from His infinite goodness.
Hay en la tierra un árbol,
árbol maravilloso,
cuya raíz se encuentra,
¡oh misterio!, en el cielo.
Acogido a su sombra,
nada ni nadie te podrá alcanzar;
sin miedo a la tormenta,
bajo él puedes descansar.
El árbol inefable
lleva por nombre «amor».
Su fruto deleitable
se llama «el abandono».
Un mar de paz me da ya en este mundo,
un océano de paz,
y en esta paz profunda
descanso para siempre.
Santa “Teresita”,recuerda tu promesa de “hacer bien en la tierra” y que enviarías “lluvia de rosas” sobre quienes te invoquen. Obtenme de Dios las gracias que quiero de su infinita bondad.
This text is an excerpt from the poem, Abandonment is the Sweet Fruit of LoveRead more
Este texto es un extracto del poema El abandono es el fruto delicioso del amorLeer más
For you the Kingdom and the Glory,
The Riches of the King of kings.
For me the ciborium’s humble Host.
For me the Cross’s treasure.
With the Cross, with the Host,
With your celestial aid,
In peace I await the other life,
The joys that will last forever.
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus,remember your promise to do good on earth; send your shower of roses in abundance on those who call upon you, and obtain for us from God the graces we are waiting to receive from His infinite goodness.
Para ti la gloria, el reino,
las riquezas del que es Rey,
Rey de los reyes del mundo.
Para mí el Pan del sagrario
y el tesoro de la cruz.
Con la cruz y con la hostia,
y con tu celeste ayuda,
espero en paz la otra vida,
la felicidad del cielo,
que nunca terminará.
Santa “Teresita”,recuerda tu promesa de “hacer bien en la tierra” y que enviarías “lluvia de rosas” sobre quienes te invoquen. Obtenme de Dios las gracias que quiero de su infinita bondad.
This text is an excerpt from the poem, To My Guardian AngelRead more
Este texto es un extracto del poema A mi ángel de la guardaLeer más
My burning heart wants to give itself unceasingly.
It needs to prove its tenderness.
Ah! who will be able to understand my love?
What heart will want to pay me in return?
But I crave this return in vain.
Jesus, you alone can satisfy my soul.
Nothing can charm me here below.
True happiness cannot be found here
My only peace, my only happiness,
My only love is you, Lord!…
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus,remember your promise to do good on earth; send your shower of roses in abundance on those who call upon you, and obtain for us from God the graces we are waiting to receive from His infinite goodness.
Mi corazón ardiente quiere darse sin tregua, siente necesidad de mostrar su ternura. Mas ¿quién comprenderá mi amor,
qué corazón querrá corresponderme? En vano espero y pido que nadie pague con amor mi amor. Sólo tú, mi Jesús, eres capaz de contentar mi alma. Nada puede encantarme aquí en la tierra, no se halla aquí la verdadera dicha. ¡Mi única paz, mi amor, mi sola dicha eres tú, mi Señor!
Santa “Teresita”,recuerda tu promesa de “hacer bien en la tierra” y que enviarías “lluvia de rosas” sobre quienes te invoquen. Obtenme de Dios las gracias que quiero de su infinita bondad.
This text is an excerpt from the poem, Jesus AloneRead more
Este texto es un extracto del poema Sólo JesúsLeer más
Later I loved the creature
Who seemed pure to me.
Seeking the God of nature everywhere,
In Him I found peace
Forever!…
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus,remember your promise to do good on earth; send your shower of roses in abundance on those who call upon you, and obtain for us from God the graces we are waiting to receive from His infinite goodness.
Y más tarde amé a la criatura
que yo veía más pura,
a Dios buscando en su creación.
Y en El, sólo en él hallé
la paz…
Santa “Teresita”,recuerda tu promesa de “hacer bien en la tierra” y que enviarías “lluvia de rosas” sobre quienes te invoquen. Obtenme de Dios las gracias que quiero de su infinita bondad.
This text is an excerpt from the poem, The Canticle of CélineRead more
Este texto es un extracto del poema El Cántico de CelinaLeer más
On the evening of Love, speaking without parable, Jesus said: “If anyone wishes to love me All his life, let him keep my Word. My Father and I will come to visit him. And we will make his heart our dwelling. Coming to him, we shall love him always. We want him to remain, filled with peace, In our Love!…”
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus,remember your promise to do good on earth; send your shower of roses in abundance on those who call upon you, and obtain for us from God the graces we are waiting to receive from His infinite goodness.
«La noche del Amor, ya sin parábolas,
Jesús decía :»si alguien quiere amarme,
toda su vida guarde mi palabra ;
y le visitaremos yo ¡y mi Padre !
Viniendo a él, por siempre lo amaremos,
¡su corazón será nuestra mansión… !
¡Queremos que él esté, lleno de paz,
en nuestro Amor…» !
Santa “Teresita”,recuerda tu promesa de “hacer bien en la tierra” y que enviarías “lluvia de rosas” sobre quienes te invoquen. Obtenme de Dios las gracias que quiero de su infinita bondad.
This text is an excerpt from the poem, Living on Love. Read more
Este texto es un extracto del poema Vivir de AmorLeer más
Joseph, your admirable life Took place in poverty, But you contemplated the beauty Of Jesus and Mary.
Joseph, O tender Father, Protect Carmel. May your children on earth Always savor the peace of Heaven!
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus,remember your promise to do good on earth; send your shower of roses in abundance on those who call upon you, and obtain for us from God the graces we are waiting to receive from His infinite goodness.
Vuestra admirable vida en la sombra, José, se deslizó humilde y escondida, ¡pero fue augusto privilegio vuestro contemplar muy de cerca la belleza de Jesús y María!
José, tierno Padre, protege al Carmelo. ¡Que en la tierra tus hijos gocen ya la paz del cielo!
Santa “Teresita”,recuerda tu promesa de “hacer bien en la tierra” y que enviarías “lluvia de rosas” sobre quienes te invoquen. Obtenme de Dios las gracias que quiero de su infinita bondad.
This text is an excerpt from the poem, To Our Father Saint Joseph. Read more
Este texto es un extracto del poema A San José. Leer más
Remember the ardent prayer You made for your third child. God granted it, for on earth she is Like her sisters, a very brilliant beautiful Lily. The Visitation hides her from the eyes of the world, But she loves Jesus, she is flooded with his peace. Her ardent desires And all her sighs Remember!…
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus,remember your promise to do good on earth; send your shower of roses in abundance on those who call upon you, and obtain for us from God the graces we are waiting to receive from His infinite goodness.
Acuérdate de la oración ferviente
que un día formulaste por tu tercera hija.
¡Dios la escuchó! Ella es, igual que sus hermanas,
un lirio que brilla sin igual.
Ya la Visitación la esconde y cela a los ojos del mundo y su malicia.
Ama al Señor, y ya su paz la inunda, su dulce paz y su quietud divina.
De sus ardientes
suspiros y deseos
¡acuérdate!
Santa “Teresita”,recuerda tu promesa de “hacer bien en la tierra” y que enviarías “lluvia de rosas” sobre quienes te invoquen. Obtenme de Dios las gracias que quiero de su infinita bondad.
This text is an excerpt from the poem, Prayer of a Child of a Saint. Read more
Este texto es un extracto del poema Plegaria de la Hija de un Santo. Leer más
If I think about tomorrow, I fear my fickleness,
I feel sadness and worry rising up in my heart,
but I’m willing, my God, to accept trial and suffering
Just for today.
Divine Pilot! whose hand guides me,
I’m soon to see you on the eternal shore.
Guide my little boat over the stormy waves in peace
Just for today.
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus,remember your promise to do good on earth; send your shower of roses in abundance on those who call upon you, and obtain for us from God the graces we are waiting to receive from His infinite goodness.
Si pienso en el mañana, me asusta mi inconstancia,
siento nacer tristeza, tedio en mi corazón.
Pero acepto la prueba, acepto el sufrimiento
¡nada más que por hoy!
¡Oh Piloto divino, cuya mano me guía!,
en la ribera eterna pronto te veré yo.
Por el mar borrascoso gobierna en paz mi barca
¡nada más que por hoy!
Santa “Teresita”,recuerda tu promesa de “hacer bien en la tierra” y que enviarías “lluvia de rosas” sobre quienes te invoquen. Obtenme de Dios las gracias que quiero de su infinita bondad.
This text is an excerpt from the poem, My Song For Today. Read more
Este texto es un extracto del poema Mi Canto de Hoy. Leer más
Mary, at the top of Calvary standing beside the Cross
To me you seem like a priest at the altar,
Offering your beloved Jesus, the sweet Emmanuel,
To appease the Father’s justice…
A prophet said, O afflicted Mother,
« There is no sorrow like your sorrow ! _ »
O Queen of Martyrs, while remaining in exile
You lavish on us all the blood of your heart !
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus Why I Love You, O Mary (PN 54, excerpt)
This detail from a streetside Calvary shrine in the village of Rochefort-en-Terre is typical of many found scattered throughout Bretagne, France | Source: Flickr creative commons
You reign at the Father’s right hand
In the kingdom of his eternal glory
As God’s Word from the beginning.
You reign on the Almighty’s throne
Also in transfigured human form,
Ever since the completion of your work on earth.
I believe this because your word teaches me so,
And because I believe, I know it gives me joy,
And blessed hope blooms forth from it.
For where you are, there also are your own,
Heaven is my glorious homeland,
I share with you the Father’s throne.
Saint Edith Stein I Will Remain With You . . . (excerpt)
Transfiguration icon by Theofan the Greek from Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Pereslavl-Zalessky 15th c. Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow | Jim Forest / Flickr
Remember that your holy will
Is my rest, my only happiness.
I abandon myself and I fall asleep without fear
In your arms, O my divine Savior.
If you also fall asleep when the storm rages,
I always want to stay in deep peace.
But, Jesus, while you are asleep,
Prepare me
For the awakening!
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Jesus, My Beloved, Remember!… “Rappelle-toi” (PN 24), Stanza 32
On 14 July 1897 Mother Agnès of Jesus notes that Thérèse began to repeat “with a heavenly melody and accent” stanza 32 of her poem, “Rappelle-toi” | Screenshot detail
Read the full text of the poem in French here and in English here. Read this and more entries from Mother Agnès’ yellow notebook of her last conversations with Saint Thérèse during July 1897 here. You can explore the English website of the Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux here.
Stanzas applied spiritually to Christ and the soul
1. A lone young shepherd lived in pain
withdrawn from pleasure and contentment,
his thoughts fixed on a shepherd-girl
his heart an open wound with love.
2. He weeps, but not from the wound of love,
there is no pain in such affliction,
even though the heart is pierced;
he weeps in knowing he’s been forgotten.
3. That one thought: his shining one
has forgotten him, is such great pain
that he bows to brutal handling in a foreign land,
his heart an open wound with love.
4. The shepherd says: I pity the one
who draws herself back from my love,
and does not seek the joy of my presence,
though my heart is an open wound with love for her.
5. After a long time, he climbed a tree,
and spread his shining arms,
and hung by them, and died,
his heart an open wound with love.
The SacredHeartofJesus adored by angels Andrés López Oil on copper, 1785 Peyton Wright Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico See a larger work here on a similar theme by Andrés López in the sacristy of the Oratorio de San Felipe Neri in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Are you the master who builds the eternal cathedral,
Which towers from the earth through the heavens?
Animated by you, the columns are raised high
And stand immovably firm.
Marked with the eternal name of God,
They stretch up to the light,
Bearing the dome,
Which crowns the holy cathedral,
Your work that encircles the world:
Holy Spirit God’s molding hand!
You are the space
That embraces my being and buries it in yourself.
Away from you it sinks into the abyss
Of nothingness, from which you raised it to the light.
You, nearer to me than I to myself
And more interior than my most interior
And still impalpable and intangible
And beyond any name:
Holy Spirit eternal love!
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