Today, October 15, the people of God remember a remarkable woman in our church history, St. Teresa of Avila. Known to us for her profound spiritual experiences and that of being a reformer, she is a source of inspiration to us all. Teresa, a doctor of the Church, devoted her life, responding to Jesus' call through religious life. Entering the Carmelite monastery in Spain at the age of 20, Teresa struggled with discontent for many years at the monastery. At age 40, Teresa was drawn by a series of experiences that compelled her to carry out the reform of the Carmelite community resulting in establishing new monasteries for men and women. There is also evidence that Teresa was the recipient of mystical visions of Christ.

As we consider our remembrances of the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican Council II, it is good to keep in mind that Teresa, as a part of her reform, "reaffirmed and strengthened the Constitution of the Carmelite Order, bringing new life and joy to an order that had lost its vigor throughout the 13th to 16th centuries." Of her many beautiful spiritual writings my favorite is:

 

Christ Has No Body

"Christ has no body now on earth but yours,

no hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes through which he looks

Compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet, with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but  yours."

 

In light of this remarkable woman's life and her efforts to reform, in light of the anniversary of Vatican Council II and its reforms, how do we see ourselves today as Christ's body, hands, eyes, and feet to the world? As Teresa responded to Christ calling, and in light of our experience of contemplative dialogue, how are we called and in turn respond every day to those we encounter in the world? How do we, Sisters and Associates, use our prophetic voice and sense of responsibility as the eyes to which he looks compassion on this world?

 

--MM
SSJ Associate

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