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Victim of Love: Feast of the Transverberation of St. Teresa (of Jesus/Avila) [Catholic Caucus]
MarysChild.blogspot.com ^ | not given | little one

Posted on 10/15/2011 12:57:59 PM PDT by Salvation

Feast of the Transverberation of St. Teresa of Avila


Today Carmelites around the world celebrate the feast of the Transverberation of St. Teresa of Avila, Virgin, and Reformer of the Carmelite Order. The transverberation is a mystical grace wherein the Saint's heart was pierced with a "dart of love" by an angel. I quote St. John of the Cross, "It will happen that while the soul is inflamed with the Love of God, it will feel that a seraph is assailing it by means of an arrow or dart which is all afire with love. And the seraph pierces and in an instant cauterizes this soul, which, like a red-hot coal, or better a flame, is already enkindled. The soul is converted into an immense fire of Love. Few persons have reached these heights."

Saint Teresa died in 1582 after proclaiming that she was "a daughter of the Church". Her body was buried in a wooden coffin. After nine months it was exhumed and to everyone's amazement, though her clothes were decaying, her body was incorrupt. While the Carmelite nuns reclothed her a delightful perfume spread throughout the monastery. Later, her heart was removed to be enclosed in a crystal vessel and placed in a jeweled silver reliquary. When this was being done they beheld a glorious and wonderful sight: a wound from the angel's dart was visible! It can still be seen today at the Carmelite Monastery of Alba de Tormes in Spain. Her heart has kept it's color and since the nineteenth century three sharp thorns are visible at the base of the heart.

In the Liturgy for today's feast, the hymn for Evening Prayer is as follows:

Mild messenger of heaven's high King,
Forth from home's sheltering walls you set:
'Christ to the Pagan's land I'll bring
Or die a martyr!' - Ah, not yet: (as a child she set out on foot for Africa, being impatient to see God. She wanted to die a martyr at the hands of the Moors. Fortunately, her Uncle found her and brought her home.)

A sweeter pain, a death more dear
Must win for you a wider fame;
No mortal hand's to wield the spear
That kindles your consuming flame.

Victim of God's unbounded Love,
Let our heart's burn with like desire;
Lead all your retinue above
That none may taste eternal fire.

Jesu, celestial choirs adore
You, Bridegroom of all virgins pure,
And wedding-songs unceasing pour
While endless ages shall endure.

For further reading I recommend The Life of St Teresa by Herself, The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila, and The Collected Letters of St. Teresa of Avila. All of these can be purchased at the Institute for Carmelite Studies... (just google it.)

Jesus, You want your Spirit of Love to blaze like fire throughout the world; may we, like Saint Teresa, be instrumental in keeping that flame of love alight.

You sanctify Your friends and reveal to them the mysteries of Your heart; unite our hearts to yours in a friendship so close and intimate that we may experience the secrets of Your Love, proclaim it to others, and win them to you.

You blessed the pure of heart and promised that they would see You; purify our sight so that we may see you in all things, and through all things be close to You.

You oppose the proud and give wisdom to the simple; make us humble of heart, so that we may receive Your wisdom for the sake of the Church. ~ Intercessions from the Carmelite Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; saints; woundedheart
Mysteries, Marvels and Miracles: In the Lives of t - Joan Carroll Cruz
Mysteries, Marvels and Miracles: In the Lives of the Saints
 - Joan Carroll Cruz
Not as well known to Catholics as some other miraculous events, the Transverberation is a spiritual wounding of the heart.

Saints were sometimes rewarded by God for loving Him so much that they offered the Lord total dominion over their heart.

Many famous saints, including several Doctors of the Church, experienced different forms of the transverberation, which could come in the form of mystical vision, a physical wounding of the heart by a dart or a flame of love.

In one very rare instance, that of St. Veronica Giuliani, the imprint of the cross was actually made upon the heart of a saint, and after her death this heart and the image upon it has been preserved.


1 posted on 10/15/2011 12:58:03 PM PDT by Salvation
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To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...
Saint of the Day Ping.

Victim of Love: Feast of the Transverberation of St. Teresa (of Jesus/Availa) [Catholic Caucus]
St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle
St. Teresa of Avila on Prayer
St. Teresa de Avila's Devotion to St. Joseph (Catholic Caucus)
WHO IS ST. TERESA OF JESUS?
Film explores spiritual life and sexuality of 'sassy' Saint Teresa
Spanish bishop slams new film on St. Teresa of Avila
Avila University to Be Dedicated to Study of Mysticism
Saint Teresa of Avila[Doctor of the Church]
St. Teresa of Avila

2 posted on 10/15/2011 1:02:07 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All

The Bookmark of St. Teresa of Jesus:

 

Teresa of Avila’s Bookmark

 

3 posted on 10/15/2011 1:46:21 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

Wonderful.


4 posted on 10/17/2011 7:50:03 PM PDT by Bigg Red (Sarah, I am so disappointed....)
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