ST.
TERESA OF AVILA AND THE HOUSE OF ST. JOSEPH
How a whole
town could go against the foundation of a Carmelite monastery by a saint
shows the extent of blindness that can happen to a seemingly Catholic
community.
So this
house was founded in utmost secrecy. God even cooperated by causing Teresa's
brother-in-law to be ill while his wife was away. This gave Teresa the good
excuse of caring for him while really establishing the new foundation. She
made all the arrangements necessary without exciting suspicion. And the
illness of her brother-in-law lasted no longer than the time needed to fix
everything. When the brother-in-law saw the nuns arriving, he understood the
reason for his illness: "It is not necessary that I should be ill any
longer." He knew why he was ill.
Thus was
established the small and poor foundation of St. Joseph, a convent that cost
her so much labor and so much reproach, the Carmelite Convent of the
Barefoot.
(12-29-03)
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