“Those who give themselves to prayer should in a special manner have always a devotion to St. Joseph; for I know not how any man can think of the Queen of the angels, during the time that she suffered so much with the Infant Jesus, without giving thanks to St. Joseph for the services he rendered them then.”
Saint Teresa of Avila“For if the will has nothing to employ it and love has no present object with which to busy itself, the soul finds itself without either support or occupation, its solitude and aridity cause it great distress and its thoughts involve it in the severest conflict.”
Teresa of Ávila, The Life of Saint Teresa of Ávila by Herself“But always when I was without a book, my soul would at once become disturbed, and my thoughts wandered. As I read, I began to call them together again and, as it were, laid a bait for my soul”
Teresa of Ávila, The Life of Saint Teresa of Ávila by Herself“I used unexpectedly to experience a consciousness of the presence of God, or such a kind that I could not possibly doubt that He was within me or that I was wholly engulfed in Him. This was in no sense a vision: I believe it is called mystical theology. The soul is suspended in such a way that it seems to be completely outside itself. The will loves; the memory, I think, is almost lost; while the understanding, I believe, thought it is not lost, does not reason—I mean that it does not work, but is amazed at the extent of all it can understand; for God wills it to realize that it understands nothing of what His Majesty represents to it.”
Teresa of Ávila, The Life of Saint Teresa of Ávila by Herself“It is of great importance, when we begin to practise prayer, not to let ourselves be frightened by our own thoughts.”
Teresa of Ávila, The Life of Saint Teresa of Ávila by Herself“I am quite sure I am more afraid of people who are themselves terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself.”
Teresa of Ávila, The Life of Saint Teresa of Ávila by Herself“...aconsejaría yo a los que tienen oración, en especial al principio, procuren amistad y trato con otras personas que traten de lo mismo. Es cosa importantísima, aunque no sea sino ayudarse unos a otros con sus oraciones, ¡cuánto más que hay muchas más ganancias! Y no sé yo por qué no se ha de permitir que quien comenzare de veras a amar a Dios y a servirle, deje de tratar con algunas personas sus placeres y trabajos, que de todo tienen los que tienen oración.”
Teresa of Ávila, The Life of Saint Teresa of Ávila by Herself“Our souls may lose their peace and even disturb other people's, if we are always criticizing trivial actions - which often are not real defects at all, but we construe them wrongly through our ignorance of their motives.”
Saint Teresa of Avila“All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted.”
Saint Teresa of Avila“Nothing can be compared to the great beauty and capabilities of a soul; however keen our intellects may be, they are as unable to comprehend them as to comprehend God, for, as He has told us, He created us in His own image and likeness.”
Saint Teresa of Avila