Madre Teresa: An Ode to her Spiritual Motherhood

JMJT! Praise be Jesus Christ! Now and Forever!

Today we celebrate the 400th anniversary of St. Teresa of Jesus' canonization. What a glorious day for the Church then until this present day! St. Teresa's influence regarding prayer and how to live out the call to universal holiness for every vocation continues unabated and speaks to people of all different religious backgrounds, cultures, interests, and professions. Indeed, her foundations of the Discalced Carmelite Order have had  a profound impact on history within the Church, various forms of creativity and art, as well as in geopolitical matters. It can be said that St. Teresa is truly a spiritual madre who has helped to form and birth many spiritual sons and daughters throughout the world.  This is a little poem I wrote several years ago to honor Teresa's maternal guidance, practicality, wisdom and love that she has shared so generously with me and so many others. 

Madre Teresa: An Ode to her Spiritual Motherhood

Trimester I

Passive receptivity

Spirit, come!

Quiet fiat

Jesus, beside her,

Opened mind,

Opened heart

Soul laid bare.

Pierced with heavenly dart of love,

Divinely overshadowed.

Gifted with flash of castle,

Divinely instructed.

United with the Three,

Incarnation of the new Carmel.

Trimester II

Madre Teresa, spiritual womb of Carmel.

Encasing reformed order within

Nurturing the garden of this new vineyard,

Tilling the earth founded upon Elijah and Mary

In your interior soil of prayer and humility,

With love and obedience.

Seeds germinating within

Flowing waters of prayer

Sowing, sustaining

Anointed words of divine wisdom

Releasing seedlings carried on the breeze

Bringing glad tidings to chosen souls.

Trimester III

Maternal womb of Carmel, expansive tent

Cocoon pregnant with anticipation of new life

Metamorphosis, straining towards [life-giving] union

Birthing of a new Carmel carried on damp

Butterfly’s wings

Under the burning heat of the Spirit’s love

This dart of fire tinged aglow with Word and Breath

Behold! He is doing something new!

Foundations rapt in love of God and neighbor

Generating brides in this verdant meadow

Fading mirage of self, fresh eyes turned towards the Beloved's Face

Rapt in Jesus’ Crucified love.

Madre Teresa, Madre. 

See also: http://carmelphoenix.blogspot.com/2014/10/st-theresas-butterflies.html