Liturgy Alive ST. THERESA OF JESUS, Virgin and Church Doctor, Memorial

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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

ST. THERESA OF JESUS, Virgin and Church Doctor, Memorial 
October 15

Introduction

St Teresa of Jesus (of Avila) (1515–1582) had to grow from a lukewarm Carmelite nun into a fervent one. In The Interior Castle, she describes her mystic experience of deep union with the Lord. God is felt with a quiet, mystic feeling as living in one's deepest castle. Notwithstanding much opposition, Teresa reformed her Carmel and much of the Carmelite order on the basis of a life of deep prayer and a profound sense of community. Because of her writings about mysticism, she became the first woman to be a doctor of the Church.

Opening Prayer

Our living and loving God,
St. Teresa of Jesus was deeply aware
how much you live in the deepest of ourselves.
May Teresa help us to live Jesus' life
as living branches attached to the vine, 
who bear plenty of fruit
of justice, goodness, and love.
Let our union with Jesus become visible 
in our openness to one another
and in a deep sense of prayer.
We ask this though Christ, our Lord.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God, center of our lives,
you planted your Son among us
as the true, life-giving vine.
Let him give himself to us
as our bread of strength
and pour himself for us
as the vigorous, unifying vine,
that he may live in us and we in him
and that we can do all things in him,
for he is our Lord for ever.

Prayer after Communion

God, core of our life,
we thank you for filling us
with the sap of life of Jesus, our true vine.
May we go on living in deep union
with him and with one another,
that in the uncertainties of life
we may go on believing, hoping,
and building together a kingdom of love.
And when we go again our selfish ways,
use your pruning knife 
to purify our faith and love.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

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