Lines Written in St. Teresa of Avila's Breviary

The poem of St. Teresa of Avila, said to be written in her breviary, is printed as an alternative to the hymn of Tuesday's Night Prayer in the modern breviary. The poem is well known and also made into a chant by the Taize community in France:

Let nothing disturb thee,
Nothing affright thee;
All things are passing;
God never changeth;
Patient endurance
Attaineth to all things;
Who God possesseth
In nothing is wanting;
Alone God sufficeth.

The wisdom St. Teresa of Avila expresses in this poem is undisputed. It is a wisdom born from her deep prayer, fruiutful contemplation, and perseverance in doing God's will. St. Teresa of Avila lived in a time when Spain's Catholic Church was very much dominated by a male hierarchy. Even in such a climate were the odds is against her, St. Teresa heard the Lord's call and responded to it by her work to reform Carmel. She led the reformation that directed the Order to its original spirit - poverty, simplicity, prayer and self-denial. She was greatly opposed by many for her efforts. Despite all the opposition she had to experience, St. Teresa continued on, and built the mission entrusted to her by the Lord.

The poem above is a fruit of St. Teresa's spiritual experiences and her work in the reformation of the Carmelite Order. Through wisdom, she learned (as all those who seek God learn also), that ultimately, only God is what is important above all others. Possessing God in one's soul is the one thing necessary. It directs all lives and efforts in the pursuit of His holy will.

God's presence in one's mind and heart will create a peace which nothing can disturb, nor frighten. It produces an equanimity born of wisdom. When wisdom reveals that all things are passing in relation to One who is Eternal, the spiritual discipline to patiently seek God's will, and persevere in it comes naturally. For faith and confidence in God's Divine Providence is all that was, is, and ever shall be needed.

Memorial of Saints (January 23)

St. Emerentiana, according to Tradition, was a foster sister of St. Agnes - one of the illustrious virgin-martyrs of the early Church. When St. Agnes was martyred because of her faith in Christ, Emerentiana prayed at the grave of her foster sister. It was while praying at the grave of St. Agnes that Emerentiana, who was just in her teenage years, was seen by an anti-Christian mob and was stoned to death (died ca. 304 A.D.).

St. Asclas was a Christian from Egypt who was arrested for his faith and tortured under the rule of governor Arrian. St. Asclas was able to miraculously convince Arrian to acknowledge the God of the Christians in writing. However, Arrian had eventually subjected Asclas to further torture and had him drowned in the river Antinoe (died ca. 3rd century).

St. Agathangelus was the deacon of St. Clement, bishop of Ancrya, Galatia. Both Clement and Agathangelus devoted themselves to the education of the young and the poverty-stricken. During the persecution of Christians, both were tortured and executed by the sword (died ca. 308 A.D.).

St. John the Almsgiver was from a noble family in Cyprus. He married early in life, but after his wife and child passed away, he entered into religious life. Because of John's holiness and charity, he was named patriarch of Alexandria in 608 A.D. He earned the title "Almsgiver" because of his well known concern and financial aid to the poor (died ca. 619 A.D.).

St. Ildephonsus of Toledo became a monk at Agalia, near Toledo in Spain. He soon became the abbot of that monastery and had occasion to attend the two councils in Toledo in 653 A.D. and 655 A.D. In 657 A.D., he was named archbishop of Toledo. Known for his devotion to the Mother of God, he also wrote several theological treatises - one of which was dedicated to Mary (died ca. 667 A.D.).

St. Barnard was raised in the court of Charlemagne. He restored the monastery at Ambronay in 800 A.D. Eventually he decided to join the Benedictines there and soon became Ambronay's abbot. Because of his gifts of leadership, he was also named archbishop of Vienne. As the prelate of Vienne, he founded the abbey of Romans in 837 A.D. (died ca. 841 A.D.).

St. Lufthildis was very charitable to the poor. Unmarried and a virgin, her charity was misunderstood by her stepmother, who always mistreated her. So she left home to become a hermitess at Cologne, Germany. Numerous miracles were known to have occured at her tomb (died ca. 850 A.D.).

St. Maimbod, also known as Mainbouef, was an Irish missionary. Tradition narrates that Maimbod was martyred by pagans while preaching near Kaltenbrunn in Alsace, northeastern France (died ca. 880 A.D.).

Blessed Henry Suso was a German Dominican mystic who wrote and preached much in his time. He wrote "Book of Eternal Wisdom" and an autobiography. In 1343 A.D., he was elected prior of Diessenhafen and lived in the Dominican house at Ulm, Germany, where he died on January 25, 1365 A.D.

A Hymn to God the Father

Poems are used as an alternative to the hymns in the Night Prayer section of the breviary. The poem for Monday's Night Prayer, A Hymn to God the Father, is attributed to John Donne

The poem is as follows:

Wilt Thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which was my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.

Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin? and made my sin their door?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallowed in a score?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.

I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
But swear by Thy self, that at my death Thy Son
Shall shine as he shines now and heretofore;
And, having done that, Thou hast done,
I fear no more.

Night Prayer always reminds the faithful of the sins committed during the day. It could be a sin committed by word or by an action. It can also be a sin of omission - the good the person was not able to do. Examination of one's conscience helps in seeing all the sins of commission and omission during the day. One can also examine one's thoughts and feelings. Getting to the root of one's ill thoughts or feelings can help in understanding what vice can be replaced with a good habit of thought. Also, getting at the root of one's feelings of anger, envy or pride can save one from being controlled by these vices.

This poem for Monday's Night Prayer makes all aware of sin in its many dimensions. The first stanza of the poem speaks of both original sin and personal sin. It makes one realize the strong influence of sin, for even when God forgives, it seems that "[He] hast not done", "for I have more". It appears as if man's basic sinfulness overtakes God's mercy and forgiveness.

The second stanza of the poem helps one to realize that one's sins can also lead others to sin. Also, the sin that one has avoided for a long time, can suddenly become a sin again committed many times over. Everyone knows that God forgives, but it feels that "[He] hast not done" because sins multiply in a way that overtakes the forgiveness and mercy of God. In this regard, one can remember what St. Paul said about the law of sin in his soul in one of his epistles: how he is influenced to do what he should not do.

The third stanza of the poem teaches all not to fear dying in sin, but to have access to Jesus' forgiveness. With trust in Christ's mercy - the Divine Mercy - Christ will brightly shine His great mercy to finally conquer the darkness of all sins. And there is no need to fear losing the salvation of one's souls if the direction of one's primordial commitment is to confess one's sins, to do penance and to amend and reform one's life to build the City of God.