Teresa Of Avila

"It is love alone that gives worth to all things. "

Today's feast day is Teresa of Avila. She is one of only three lady Doctors of the Church. I had heard of her but was not familiar with her work and devotion to God. I vaguely remembered she was a friend of John of the Cross and had reformed the Carmelite Order to form the Discalced Carmelites (Barefoot Carmelites) but I could not have quoted one word of her beliefs or made comment other than she was a Saint.

I like a couple of quotes attributed to her...

"To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience. "

"Seeing, then, that our Lord is so powerful, — as I see and know He is, — and that the evil spirits are His slaves, of which there can be no doubt, because it is of faith, — and I a servant of this our Lord and King, — what harm can Satan do unto me? Why have I not strength enough to fight against all hell? I took up the cross in my hand, — I was changed in a moment into another person, and it seemed as if God had really given me courage enough not to be afraid of encountering all the evil spirits. "