Wisdom 7:7-14 / Romans 8:14-17, 26-27 / John 7:14-18, 37-39
St. Teresa of Avila is the founder of the Discalced Carmelites. In 1970 she was declared a Doctor of the Church for her writings and teachings on prayer.
The symbols of St. Teresa in art are that of a heart and an arrow to represent her mystical experience, and a book and a pen to represent her writings.
But despite those seemingly lofty endowments, St. Teresa of Avila is the patron saint of headache sufferers (that would probably include migraine sufferers)
We might wonder why she is not the patron saint of mystics, or reformers, or writers, although she is the patron of Spanish Catholic writers.
To say the least, her spiritual journey was a headache and maybe also at times a heartache for her.
As a reformer, she faced difficulties and persecution from among her own people
As one who tried hard to be in union with God, she faced distractions and long dry spells in prayer.
And we are all familiar with this experience of hers when at times she couldn't avoid complaining to her closest Friend, Jesus, about the hostility and gossip that surrounded her.
When Jesus told her, "Teresa, that's how I treat my friends" she responded, "No wonder you have so few friends."
But since Christ has so few friends, she felt they should be good ones. And that's why she decided to reform her Carmelite order.
She had more than her share of headaches and heartaches but her writings on prayer goes to show that her teaching is not of herself but divinely inspired.
As Jesus said in the gospel: When a man's doctrine is his own he is hoping to get honour for himself; but when he is working for the honour of one who sent him then he is sincere and by no means an impostor.
We too may have our headaches about prayer and about life. May St. Teresa pray for us that we will stay true and faithful to Jesus so that we can help others to come into a loving union with God.