In the early 1990’s, Rosemary Broughton wrote a very thoughtful book entitled, Praying with Teresa of Avila. The exercises offered were a practical way to engage the great spiritual themes of Teresa’s writings in our own day and time. Saint Teresa was fond of saying that prayer is the door to our inner castle and Broughton’s book assists the reader to go through that door. In a meditation entitled Good Conversations, Broughton wrote these words….
“Teresa believed that in the early stages of prayer, God often speaks to people in and through good conversations with their friends. In her own life, Teresa had ongoing conversations with many men and women – spiritual directors, religious superiors, friends, relations, and sundry others.
“In The Book of Her Foundations, Teresa wrote about her early acquaintance with a man who later became one of the first reformed Carmelite friars. During a visit to Medina, Teresa sought the advice of the prior of the Carmelite monastery there. She wanted to found reformed monasteries for men but did not know how to begin.
“The prior was happy to know of it and promised me he would be the first. I took it that he was joking with me and told him so. For although he was always a good friar, recollected, very studious, and found of his cell – in fact, he was a learned man – it did not seem to me that he was the one for beginning like this. Neither would he have the courage or promote the austerity that was necessary, since he was fragile, and not given to austerity.
“The prior confided in Teresa that he strongly desired to lead a more regular monastic life. In fact, he planned to join the Carthusians. Teresa continued:
“Despite all this, I was not completely satisfied. Although I was happy to hear what he said, I asked that we put it off for a while and that he prepare by putting into practice the things that he would be promising. And this he did….. (Foundation, page 112).
“In various situations, Teresa spontaneously sensed that conversations were an appropriate way to discover the will of God. They were a source of consolation and discernment. Often they carried love in them. She regularly took her conversations to prayer, and her prayer to conversations.”
Reflection for the Day: Think for a moment on conversations you have had that were sources for discerning the presence of God. Offer these conversations to God in thanksgiving.
Love One Another - Brian
Thanks be to God!
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