DISCALCED CARMELITE NUN

Discalced Carmelite Nun –  Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, O.C.D.                                                                                                   “The life-blood of the Church”                                                                             “Christ has no body but yours; No hands, no feet on earth but yours.                                              Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world .                                                                         Christ has no body but yours.”         – St. Teresa of Ávila

Founders:  Saint Teresa of Ávila                                                                                                                                     Saint John of the Cross

Place:  Ávila, Spain

Year:  1562A.D.

Her Charism:  Prayer, contemplation, and sacrifice for the Church, the needs of the world, and for all the peoples of the earth, are the inner journeys of this Carmelite nun.  Who she is and what she does is the life-blood of the Church.  As the heart is enclosed in the body and hidden from public view, so is this contemplative nun within the Church.  The heart performs a vital function – pumping blood to the other parts even though it is not seen.  This inner journey toward God touches, transforms and enables her to “taste in her heart” and experience in her soul the divine presence and sweetness of heavenly glory – not only after death, but during mortal life.  Her special mission is to pray for all those who are engaged in the task of saving souls.  Her prayer is contemplative, her fasting and penances are her gifts to a world littered with joys, sorrows, problems, and fears.  But she believes with all her heart that her special friendship with Jesus embraces all.  It is He Who holds her hand as she walks along her paths of prayer, of joy, of fraternity – of time on earth lived as grace.