Gifts of the spirit shared by saints

Teresa of Avila by Shirley du Boulay (Hodder & Stoughton 1:14.95) Sr Miriam ODC
THIS new biography of the great Teresa, coming at the close of the fourth centenary of the death of St John of the Cross whom she called "father of my soul", throws light on both saints.
Without doubt unless Teresa had persuaded John to join her reform, instead of becoming a Carthusian as he was intending, he would have died an unknown and uncelebrated saint.
His mystical doctrine and poetry would have been lost to the church; and cermet would have lacked the example of its most eminent son. It is to Teresa, then, that, under God, we owe the saint and doctor of the church as we know him today.
When the Holy Spirit grants special gifts or charisma to certain men and women it is always to further the holiness of the church as a whole. The gifts of the spirit are to be shared, consciously or unconsciously.
It is impossible to count the people who, like John, have grown in holiness through contact with Teresa, who so generously shared her abundant gifts.
Biographers of Teresa are at an advantage in Flaying her own autobiography, letters and other works to draw upon. In fact it would seem that one has only to collate selections from her writings to have a ready-made history. This is easier said than done, however. The biographer has to emphasise some particular aspect of her subject's personality just as a portrait painter chooses the facial expression he thinks most revealing.
Here Shirley du Boulay, in pointing out Teresa's weaknesses, especially toward the end of her life when she had attained, or rather been granted, the closest union with God possible in this life, is telling us that the truth about all the saints indeed about ourselves too namely, that without Jesus we cannot take one single step towards holiness.
Our weaknesses do not hinder us; but we must be determined to give ourselves to Jesus and so to our brethren always and everywhere.
"Perhaps", she concludes, "most of all Teresa deserves honour and gratitude because in finding her true centre (in Christ), she gives hope to others".