Air Castles

Today is the feast day of Teresa of Avila, Spanish mystic and Doctor of the Church. She was the Roman Catholic Nun who reformed the Carmelite Order during the Spanish Inquisition started by Ferdinand and Isabella -- the same monarchs who gave us "Columbus Day." Teresa died in 1582.

Teresa's mystical contemplative works are The Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle. To read and appreciate them, I have to get very, very quiet.

Here is an excerpt from the ending of The Interior Castle, which was written to her nuns:

In sum, my Sisters, what I conclude with is that we shouldn't build castles in the air. The Lord doesn't look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which they are done. And if we do what we can, His Majesty will enable us each day to do more and more, provided that we do not quickly tire.

But during the little while this life lasts - and perhaps it will last a shorter time than each one thinks - let us offer the Lord interiorly and exteriorly the sacrifice we can. His Majesty will join it with that which He offered on the cross to the Father for us. Thus even though our works are small they will have the value our love for Him would have merited had they been great. [page 194]

The Episcopal Church celebrates Teresa's life with this prayer:

O God, by your Holy Spirit you moved Teresa of Avila to manifest to your Church the way of perfection: Grant us, we pray, to be nourished by her excellent teaching, and enkindle within us a keen and unquenchable longing for true holiness; through Jesus Christ, the joy of loving hearts, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
http://www.holycrosschurchbillings.org/
406-208-7314
Photos: ruins of the Dungeness Mansion
estate of Thomas and Lucy Carnegie
Cumberland Island, Georgia
December 2007