Wyatt North - 180 Days of Prayer with the Saints

Wyatt North

Contents

St. Teresa of Avila

St Therese of Lisieux

St. Bernard of Clairvauix

St. John of the Cross

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Catherine of Siena

Day 1

I n todays meditation, Teresa presents a powerful metaphor for the human soul, particularly with respect to the body and how the whole human being relates to God who seeks to fill each person with His presence. As you consider todays meditation, think about how deeply God desires to know you, and what greater intimacy with God might mean for you as you go about your daily life.

Meditations from St. Teresa

I thought of the soul as resembling a castle, formed of a single diamond or a very transparent crystal, and containing many rooms, just as in Heaven there are many mansions.

If we reflectwe shall see that the soul of the just man is but a paradise, in which, God tells us, He takes His delight.

What, do you imagine, must that dwelling be in which a King so mighty, so wise, and so pure, containing in Himself all good, can delight to rest? Nothing can be compared to the great beauty and capabilities of a soul; however keen our intellects may be, they are as unable to comprehend them as to comprehend God, for, as He has told us, He created us in His own image and likeness.

As this is so, we need not tire ourselves by trying to realize all the beauty of this castle, although, being His creature, there is all the difference between the soul and God that there is between the creature and the Creator; the fact that it is made in Gods image teaches us how great are its dignity and loveliness. It is no small misfortune and disgrace that, through our own fault, we neither understand our nature nor our origin. Would it not be gross ignoranceif, when a man was questioned about his name, or country, or parents, he could not answer? Stupid as this would be, it is unspeakably more foolish to care to learn nothing of our nature except that we possess bodies, and only to realize vaguely that we have souls, because people say so and it is a doctrine of faith.

Rarely do we reflect upon what gifts our souls may possess, Who dwells within them, or how extremely precious they are. Therefore we do little to preserve their beauty; all our care is concentrated on our bodies, which are but the coarse setting of the diamond, or the outer walls of the castle.

Let us imagine, as I said, that there are many rooms in this castle, of which some are above, some below, others at the side; in the centre, in the very midst of them all, is the principal chamber in which God and the soul hold their most secret intercourse. Think over this comparison very carefully; God grant it may enlighten you about the different kinds of graces He is pleased to bestow upon the soul. No one can know all about them, much less a person so ignorant as I am. The knowledge that such things are possible will console you greatly should our Lord ever grant you.

St. Teresa of vila. The Interior Castle. First Mansions, Chapter 1.

Additional Biblical Reflections: Psalm 51:10-19, John 14:2, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Prayer

Lord, your majesty is greater than we can possibly comprehend. An entire life of devotion is not enough to know you fully. Grant us, Lord, your Holy Spirit that we might be drawn to you more intimately, that our lives might reflect your glory, and that we would receive your mercy and blessings. Amen.

Day 2

N othing can be so perilous in our quest for greater intimacy with God than the tendency we all have to compare our progress to that of others. Truth be told, God does not bestow the same gifts on all of us in the same way. When we allow such comparisons between ourselves and others to creep in, however, we become quickly distracted, consumed with envy, and lose sight of our own spiritual journey. Here, Teresa bids we give thanks to God when He shows special graces to our fellow believers. Rather than being jealous of them, we should take encouragement from the fact that God does, indeed, glorify Himself in His creatures!

Meditations from St. Teresa

I feel sure that vexation at thinking that during our life on Earth God can bestow these graces on the souls of others shows a want of humility and charity for ones neighbour, for why should we not feel glad at a brothers receiving divine favours which do not deprive us of our own share? Should we not rather rejoice at His Majestys thus manifesting His greatness wherever He chooses? Sometimes our Lord acts thus solely for the sake of showing His power, as He declared when the Apostles questioned whether the blind man whom He cured had been suffering for his own or his parents sins. God does not bestow these favours on certain souls because they are more holy than others who do not receive them, but to manifest His greatness, as in the case of St. Paul and St. Mary Magdalen, and that we may glorify Him in His creatures.

St. Teresa of vila. The Interior Castle. First Mansions, Chapter 1.

Additional Biblical Reflections: Job 5:2, Proverbs 23:17-18, James 3:14-16.

Prayer

Dearest Lord, you are the gracious giver of every good gift. You bestow blessings on your humble creatures according to your infinite well. Grant me a spirit of gratitude for the blessings you show others and spare me from the temptation to grow jealous of how you have chosen to show yourself to others. For you, Lord, are a gracious God who gives to each of us according to your infinite knowledge precisely what is required that we might grow closer to you. Amen.

Day 3

T oday, Teresa warns us against the perils of complacency. Often, when pursuing God, we are tempted to think we have arrived. We have fleeting moments of intimacy and believe the journey is complete. When that happens, Teresa warns, several temptations arise that can destroy our spiritual progress. While we should be content in the graces God has given us, we should never remain complacent or stagnant in our quest toward greater intimacy with the Lord.

Meditations from St. Teresa

This is the deception by which the Devil wins his prey. When a soul finds itself very near to God and sees what a difference there is between the good things of Heaven and those of Earth, and what love the Lord is showing it, there is born of this love a confidence and security that there will be no falling away from what it is now enjoying. It seems to have a clear vision of the reward and believes that it cannot now possibly leave something which even in this life is so sweet and delectable for anything as base and soiled as earthly pleasure. Because it has this confidence, the Devil is able to deprive it of the misgivings which it ought to have about itself; and, as I say, it runs into many dangers, and in its zeal begins to give away its fruit without stint, thinking that it has now nothing to fear. This condition is not a concomitant of pride, for the soul clearly understands that of itself it can do nothing; it is the result of its extreme confidence in God, which knows no discretion. The soul does not realize that it is like a bird still unfledged. It is able to come out of the nest, and God is taking it out, but it is not yet ready to fly, for its virtues are not yet strong and it has no experience which will warn it of dangers, nor is it aware of the harm done by self-confidence.

St. Teresa of vila. A Life. Chapter 19.

Additional Biblical Reflections: Amos 6:1, Hebrews 6:11-12, Revelation 3:15-17.

Prayer

Lord, you are the great giver of life. As such, you are the giver of growth. Lead us Lord to always seek you more fervently, to desire you more deeply, and to know you more fully. Let us never fall complacent, but make us always content with your blessings and gifts that in all we say and do, we might glorify you through our lives and not be led astray by temptation. In Jesuss name, Amen.