Transverberation of St. Teresa of Jesus

Hello Everyone:

It was brought to my attention by a dear friend that today is the feast of St. Teresa's Transverberation or "piercing through" of her heart while she was in prayer. - Aug. 26th. It is not celebrated today though because Sunday takes precedence over the feast day; but as Carmelites - we will mention it because it is so noteworthy. It is a celebration of her love for God! And boy with all that is going on in the world and in the Church - do we need to talk about love!

Here are some words taken from Pope Gregory the XV at her canonization:

"The chief among Teresa’s virtues was the love of God, which our Lord Jesus Christ increased by means of many visions and revelations. He made her His spouse on one occasion. At other times she saw an angel with a flaming dart piercing her heart. Through these heavenly gifts the flame of divine love in her heart became so strong that, inspired by God, she made the extremely difficult vow of always doing what seemed to her most perfect and most conducive to God’s glory’ (Gregory XV in the Bull of Canonization).

 Here is an excerpt from Chapter 29 of Life of St. Teresa of Jesus: 

 "Our Lord was pleased that I should have at times a vision of this kind: I saw an angel close by me, on my left side, in bodily form. This I am not accustomed to see, unless very rarely. Though I have visions of angels frequently, yet I see them only by an intellectual vision, such as I have spoken of before. It was our Lord's will that in this vision I should see the angel in this wise. He was not large, but small of stature, and most beautiful—his face burning, as if he were one of the highest angels, who seem to be all of fire: they must be those whom we call cherubim. Their names they never tell me; but I see very well that there is in heaven so great a difference between one angel and another, and between these and the others, that I cannot explain it.

I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron's point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart,439 and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it. The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God. The pain is not bodily, but spiritual; though the body has its share in it, even a large one. It is a caressing of love so sweet which now takes place between the soul and God, that I pray God of His goodness to make him experience it who may think that I am lying. "

St. Teresa of Jesus - please pray for us to love God above all things!

Please read my latest post under Formation - I Want to See God. The Chapter on Contemplation Ch. VII is just posted. This will help explain St. Teresa's Love!

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