Celebrating a great feast for Carmel!

JMJT
Jesus+Mary+Joseph+Teresa

"We shall never learn to know ourselves except by endeavoring to know God; for, beholding His greatness, we realize our own littleness; His purity shows us our foulness; and by meditating upon His humility we find how very far we are from being humble."

 - St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa was born on March 28, 1515.  At the age of 20, she joined the Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation in Avila.  In 1562, St. Teresa founded the Convent of St. Joseph where she proceeded to begin the reform of the Carmelite order.  For this reason, St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross are known as the founders of the Discalced Carmelites.  Before her death in 1582, St. Teresa founded 32 convents throughout Spain.

St.Teresa was blessed with mystical experiences including visions of Our Savior and a piercing of her heart by an angel.  These mystical experiences led her to a profound knowledge of the Divine for which she was named a Doctor of the Church.

"Let nothing disturb you; Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing. God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God. God alone suffices."

- St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa, pray for us!

Some excellent reading: 
The Life of Teresa of Jesus (Autobiography)
The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila