Today, we celebrate the liturgical memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, also known as Saint Teresa of Avila (28 March 1515 - 4 October 1582), a Spanish noblewoman who chose to follow a monastic lifestyle. A Carmelite nun, she was a prominent Spanish mystic, a religious reformer, an author and a theologian. She is one of very few women who has been designated as a Doctor of the Church because of her writings and explanations of Catholic theology.
Trying to explain the role of theology - which allows us to understand God and the relationship that God wants to have with us - Jesus himself used the image of a vine. Speaking of himself, he said: I am the true vine and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit and every one that does, he prunes so that it can bear more fruit (Jn 15:1-2).
Today, we give thanks to God for the gift of Saint Teresa of Jesus. Because of her own suffering, she now bears witness to the pruning that the Lord carried out in her life, and she shares the fruit of her own meditation and growth with us. Let us ask her to pray for us, so that we will celebrate the Lord's presence in our lives, even as we are aware of the ways in which He prunes our own hearts so that we can also grow closer to Him.
Have a great day.
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