Wisdom of St. Teresa of Avila

Although her official feast day was last month, the 16th century Carmelite nun St. Teresa of Avila remains a spiritual guide whose wisdom speak to hearts today. In fact, St. Teresa's theological and spiritual writings have been so insightful for the Christian tradition that she has been declared a "Doctor of the Church."

The following prayer was found written on a bookmark in Teresa's prayer book. It is a simple, yet deeply profound statement of faith:

(in Spanish):                                             (in English):
Nada de turbe,                                         Let nothing disturb you,
nada te espante;                                      let nothing frighten you;
todo se pasa,                                           All things are passing away.
Dios no se muda.                                     God never changes.
La pacientia todo lo alcanza.                  Patience obtains all things.
Quien a Dios tiene nada la falta:           Whoever has God lacks nothing:
solo Dios basta.                                      God alone is enough. 


**St. Teresa, while a very holy saint, also had a great sense of humor! Here are a few gems she wrote or purportedly said during her lifetime:
- "A sad nun is a bad nun."
- "I am more afraid of one unhappy sister than a crowd of evil spirits..."
- "From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, Lord, deliver us!"

St. Teresa of Avila, pray for us!