February 2, 2011.
During the general audience, Benedict XVI declared that “time spent
in prayer is not lost” and used St. Teresa of Avila as an example
of holiness.
As
part of his running theme on female saints in his catecheses, the
Pope recalled that Teresa of Avila was proclaimed a Doctor of the
Church by Paul VI. Teresa and St. John of the Cross reformed the
Carmelite Order and founded 17 monasteries.
Benedict
XVI
“
May
the example and prayers os Saint Teresa of Avila inspire us to
greater fidelity to prayer and, through prayer, to greater love for
the Lord and his Church, and more perfect charity towards our
brothers and sisters.”
At age 20, Saint Teresa entered the Carmelite Convent of Avila. After
becoming seriously ill and having a profound inner struggle, she
began to feel mystical experiences of union with God.
Benedict
XVI
“
Teresa
considered the evangelical and human virtues the basis of an
authentic Christian life. She identified deeply with Christ in his
humanity and stressed the importance of contemplation of his Passion
and of his real presence in the Eucharist.”
Her
work includes “The Book of my Life,” in which she presents her
soul to San Juan de Avila, she dedicates her book “The Way of
Perfection” as a spiritual program for her followers, and “The
Interior Castle or The Mansions,” which she wrote later in her
life, about the path of Christian life toward holiness.
Benedict
XVI
“
She
presents prayer as an intimate friendship with Christ leading to an
ever greater union of love with the Blessed Trinity.”
A
small boy decided to interrupt the normalcy of the audience and ran
to greet the Pope. The two briefly spoke before the child returned
to his seat.
Among the 3,000 attendees were pilgrims from
Brazil, Nigeria and Poland. As well as students from the United
States, Norway, Germany, Chile and France.
CB/AE
CTV
JM
-BN
