Date: March 11, 2007

Podcaster: stlocds

Episode Description: St. Teresa of the Andes - letter 65
to a friend
March 1918"I am going to ask you the following questions: Do you have a strong desire to belong to God alone, and serve Him as much as you can, with the greatest perfection? That was the ideal God proposed to us when He created us: that we should serve Him and love Him above all things. Do you think your heart can be satisfied with the love of creatures, who for the most part and most times are fickle and fleeting? Don't worldly recreations and parties leave your heart sad and empty? By way of contrast, God loves us and His love is unchanging. When we spend a little time with Our Lord praying with fervor or we do good for love of Him, don't we feel happy and peaceful? What does it matter to be praised and appreciated by creatures when these are nothingness. Isn't it much more important to be loved and appreciated by God? What does it matter to sacrifice ourselves in this exile for a few years, it during those years you demonstrate your love for a God who loves us eternally? To die suffering for souls that cost the Blood of an infinite God, does that seem to you a lot? Oh, if they gave me the whole world, all its vain ostentation, do you doubt that I'd go to my poor and unknown little convent? Besides, who can love us like God does? No on in the world. Not even our own mothers. His love is infinite. If we love those who love us; if much is given to those who love us the most, isn't it natural that we, who have understood God's love, should give ourselves to Him? God surpasses all creatures in beauty, goodness, wisdom, holiness, power, justice, and love. If we love people who have extraordinary qualities, why don't we love God who has all these things to an infinite degree?"time 4:30Copyright 1994. Letters of St. Teresa of the Andes Michael D. Griffin, O.C.D. Teresian Charism Press 2131 Lincoln Road, N.E. Washington, D.C.