July 13
St. Teresa of Jesus "of the Andes", Virgin
OC: Optional Memorial
OCD: Memorial
Juanita Fernandez Solar was born at Santiago, Chile, on July 13, 1900. From her adolescence she was devoted to Christ. She entered the monastery of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns at Los Andes on May 7, 1919, where she was given the name of Teresa of Jesus. She died on April 12, of the following year after having made her religious profession. She was beatified on April 3, 1987, at Santiago, Chile, and canonized on March 21, 1993 by Pope John Paul II and proposed as a model for young people. She is the first Chilean and the first member of the Teresian Carmel in Latin America to be canonized.
from the Common of Virgins
Office of Readings
Second Reading
from the Spiritual writings of St. Teresa of Jesus, of the Andes
Jesus alone is beautiful; He is my only joy. I call for Him, I cry after Him, I search for Him within my heart. I long for Jesus to grind me interiorly so that I may become a pure host where He can find His rest. I want to be athrist with love so that other souls may possess this love. I would die to creatures and to myself, so that He may live in me.
Is there anything good, beautiful or true that we can think of that would not be in Jesus? Wisdom, from which nothing would be secret. Power, for which nothing would be impossible. Justice, which made Him take on flesh in order to make satisfaction for sin. Providence, which always watches over and sustains us. Mercy, which never ceases to pardon. Goodness, which forgets the offenses of His creatures. Love, which unites all the tendernesses of a mother, of a brother, of a spouse, and which, drawing Him out of the abyss of His greatness, binds Him closely to His creatures.
Beauty which enraptures...what can you think of that would not be found in this Man-God?
Are you perhaps afraid that the abyss of the greatness of God and that of your nothingness cannot be united?
There is love in Him. His passionate love made Him take flesh in order that by seeing a Man-God, we would not be afraid to draw near Him. This passionate love made Him become bread in order to assimilate our nothingness and make it disappear into His infinite being. This passionate love made Him give His life by dying on the cross.
Are you perhaps afraid to draw near Him? Look at Him, surrounded by little children. He caresses them, He presses them to His heart. Look at Him in the midst of His faithful flock, bearing the faithless lamb on His shoulders. Look at Him at the tomb of Lazarus. And listen to what He says of the Magdalene: "Much has been forgiven her, because she has loved much."
What do you discover in these flashes from the Gospel except a heart that is good, gentle, tender, compassionate; in other words, the heart of a God?
He is my unending wealth, my bliss, my heaven.
Responsory
R/. I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ: I am racing to grasp the prize* since I have been grasped by Christ Jesus.
V/. I give no thought to what lies behind but push on to what lies ahead as I run toward the prize to which God calls me on high*since I have been grasped by Christ Jesus.
Prayer
God of mercy, joy of the saints,
You set the young heart
of St. Teresa (of Jesus of Los Andes) ablaze with the fire of virginal love for Christ and for His Church'
and even in suffering made her a cheerful witness to charity.
Through her intercession,
fill us with the delights of Your Spirit, so that we may proclaim by word and deed the joyful message of Your love to the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives reigns with You and the Holy Spirit one God, for ever and ever.
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for Mass
Entrance Antiphon
Let us rejoice and shout for joy, because the Lord of all things has favored this holy and glorious virgin with His love.
Prayer
(see above)
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord,
receive the gifts we bring to Your altar on the feast of St. Teresa (of Jesus of Los Andes).
Grant to Your people the gifts of unity and peace, through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon
I d You just as the Father has loved me, says the Lord; remain in
my
love.
Prayer after Communion
Lord,
may the reception of the body and blood of You Son keep us from the seduction of passing things.
Help us by the example of
St. Teresa (of Jesus of Los Andes)
to grow in Your love on earth
that we may rejoice for ever in heaven
seeing You as You are.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Philippians 4: 4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 33:2-11
R/. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
I will bless the Lord at all times,
His praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad. R/.
Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us praise His name.
I sought the Lord and He answered me;
from all my terrors He set me free. R/.
Look towards Him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called; the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress. R/.
The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who revere Him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
He is happy who seeks refuge in Him. R/.
Revere the Lord, you His saints.
They lack nothing, those who revere Him.
Strong lions suffer want and go hungry
but those who fear the Lord lack no blessing. R/.
Gospel
John 15:5, 8-17
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may
be full. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I
d you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. This I command you, to love one another.
