There’s a Monastic in Each of Us

On October 15^th, the church celebrated the feast of St. Teresa of Avila.  This feast day gave me much pause for thought.  Having some connection with Carmel in my early years, I always feel a love for Teresa of Avila.  She was born in Spain in 1515 and spent much of her life writing about doctrine and the mystical life.  She is considered a Doctor of the Church.

Thinking of Teresa made me also think about the monastic life.  What connections, if any, have you had with a monastic?  What can we learn from Teresa and from modern monastics?

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Angels, Angels, Everywhere!

As a child growing up in a fairly devout Catholic family, I remember the picture of the guardian angel that hung in the nursery of our two-story tenement.  The angel was lovely with a soft face, expansive and delicate wings, and an expression of kindness and concern on her face.  She was standing over two little children, a boy and a girl, as they walked across a little bridge that appeared to emerge out of nowhere.  No doubt you’ve seen a similar picture, or you have fond memories of your own guardian angel picture.