500 Years and Going Strong

On March 28, 1515, St. Teresa of Jesus was born in Avila, Spain.

500 years later, in the midst of yearlong celebrations, St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Student Center at the edge of Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, IN, had a celebration for St. Teresa's birthday with Mass on Saturday morning, March 28, 2015.

It was such a big occasion that Bishop Donald Hying, recently installed as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary in Northwest Indiana, came to be the main celebrant for the Mass, starting off quite a busy schedule for the day, which would later include a visit with some Carmelites.

Bishop Hying celebrating Mass (near the center, wearing the miter, the pointed hat), with Father Kevin concelebrating

He gave a great biographical sketch of St. Teresa in his homily.  She had religious fervor, even as a young girl, wanting to evangelize the Muslims in Africa, and there become a martyr.  She became a Carmelite nun, at a time when unmarried noble daughters filled the ranks, and enjoyed a party life.  She changed course one day when she suddenly felt the urge to kneel in front of a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the convent, which she had passed by thousands of times before, refusing to get up until God gave her the desire to become a saint.  From then on, she was a changed person, working to reform the Carmelite order to make it more intentionally spiritual.

She persevered in her relationship with God, even in the midst of hardships.  Her heart was even pierced by God.  She was a mystic, connecting with God in very mysterious, otherworldly ways.

The Gospel reading from John 15, about Jesus the true vine, speaks to this mysterious relationship we have with God, through Jesus, the vine.  It draws us to Him in ways we can't understand, but which make us so in love with Him.

In that light, even though we have yet to reach Heaven, the way to Heaven is like being there, because of the marvelous ways God works in our lives, and how we experience love with Him.

There are stories that St. Teresa's body didn't decay after she died.  In any case, she's going pretty strong at 500 years since birth--not that women ever grow old, because they just grow more wise and beautiful--inspiring the Church by her example of faith, even as a Doctor of the Church.

Personally, I find it notable that the day of my Confirmation, October 15, is the Feast Day of St. Teresa of Avila.  And this place in Valparaiso named for her had an enormous impact on my life, continuing to build on the work of faith that happened before and since my Confirmation.

In this spirit of faith do we continue, even at St. Teresa's in Valparaiso.