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"Courageous Love and Mystical Wisdom: Walking with St. Teresa of Avila"
This liturgy celebrates St. Teresa of Avila as a contemplative mystic, fearless reformer and spiritual guide whose life invites us into a deeper relationship with God and a bolder commitment to justice.
Welcome and Gathering
Welcome to our Zoom liturgy at Mary Mother of Jesus, an inclusive Catholic Community where all are welcome.
Please have bread and wine/juice nearby as we pray our Eucharistic prayer.
Opening Song: Courageous Women by Jan Novotka, Video by MT Streck
https://youtu.be/x8YdXUl4ZsQ
Rite of Transformation
Andrea S: We pause now to remember the times we have been consumed with worry in caring for self and others. Take a moment to recall one missed opportunity.
(Pause briefly and extend your hand over your heart)
ALL: As we let go and let God, we open our hearts to Infinite Love embracing and healing us. Let it be so, Yes, Alleluia!
A Joyful Gloria: Linda Lee Miller and graphics by Rick Miller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lA5I0nODZI
Opening Prayer
Bridget M:
God of Fire and Friend of the Soul,
you breathed courage into Teresa of Avila,
a woman of strength, laughter, and mystical insight.
Open our hearts as you opened hers—
to silence that speaks,
to prayer that burns,
to a love that reforms what is broken
and lifts up what is holy.
May her spirit walk with us as we gather.
All: Amen
Liturgy of the Word
Bob F: First Reading: A reading from Praying with Visionary Women by Bridget Mary Meehan
In her best-known writing, Interior Castle, Teresa used the image of a castle to describe the seven “dwelling places” or stages of prayer. According to Teresa, the first three “dwelling places” show us how to let go of distractions, and how to encounter the Holy One in meditation, spiritual reading and good works. The fourth dwelling place is like a bridge between the natural and supernatural, where we can “center” in the divine presence. The fifth is the prayer of union, in which the soul experiences life in Christ. The sixth is one of purification and transformation in preparation for total oneness with the divine. The seventh is complete communion with divine love.
An Excerpt from The Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila:
“Perhaps we don’t know what love is. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to learn that this is true, sad but true. Love doesn’t exist-as we like to think- in the degree to which we are happy. No, love exists in the strength of our determination to try to please God in everything that we do, each and every day. The important thing is not to think much but to love much. So, start doing whatever most stirs you to love.”
These are the inspired words of Teresa of Avila, We affirm these words by saying AMEN
Responsorial Psalm: Healer of my Soul – John Michael Talbot
https://youtu.be/5FISm9JfmTA
Second Reading: Pat F:
Today’s second reading for us is from Praying with Visionary Women by Bridget Mary Meehan
St. Teresa of Avila born on March 28, 1515 in Castile, Spain. Teresa was the apple of her father’s eye and a confidant of her mother. She wrote: “I was the most loved of my father.” At the age of eleven, she experienced a heart-breaking loss when her mother died. She described her sorrow: “when I realized what I had lost, I ran to the statue of Our Lady and begged her to be my mother.”
As an adolescent, Teresa was quite beautiful, charming and often in love. She went out regularly with young suitors without her father’s knowledge or permission. Teresa lied to her father about a man she hoped would marry her. Teresa recalled that her integrity was damaged when she was no longer a virgin. She wrote; “they put me in a convent in the neighborhood where they took care of girls like me, only not so evil in their ways.”
Nineteen months later, Teresa became ill and was diagnosed with heart problems and rheumatoid arthritis. At that time, her father took her home. She began reading writings of St. Jerome and grew to fear if she did not enter the convent, she was destined for hell!
When she pleaded to be allowed to enter the convent, her father initially refused but later changed his mind. Teresa explained leaving home was a devastating experience: I can remember completely what it was like, and in sober truth, I don’t think that the pain will be more when I die, than when I walked out of my father’s house, for I felt as if my bones were being pulled apart.”
After entering the convent of the Incarnation in Avila in 1536, at the age of twenty, Teresa continued to care for her beloved father until his death. She wrote: “When I saw coming to the end of his life, it seemed my soul was being wrenched from me, for I loved him dearly.”
When Teresa was forty years old, Teresa saw an image of Jesus in agony that changed her life. “The vision of Christ left on me an impression of his most extraordinary beauty, and the impression remains today, one time is sufficient to make this imprint.”
From that time on, Teresa grew closer to Christ and developed a way of practicing the presence of God, which Teresa described as an intimate sharing between friends. (Autobiography 8:5)
These are the sacred words of St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church. And we respond to them by saying: Amen!
https://youtu.be/o1rc7ojQtJU
Bob F: Gospel
Jesus addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
"Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --
greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.'
But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
These are the sacred words of the evangelist known as Luke.
ALL: LET IT BE SO!
Homily: St. Teresa of Avila, Mystic and Reformer
By Bridget Mary
Beloved community, today we remember and celebrate a towering figure in our Christian story—a woman who was as grounded as she was visionary, as practical as she was mystical: St. Teresa of Avila.
Teresa was no ethereal, otherworldly saint. She was fiercely alive. Passionate. Determined. Earthy. She laughed, she struggled, she spoke truth to power, and she poured her life out for God and for her sisters. She lived from the depths of her soul, and in doing so, she teaches us what it means to live with courage, compassion, and holy desire.
Though she was a cloistered Carmelite, Teresa was no passive contemplative. In the final twenty years of her life, she traversed the breadth of Spain, founding 17 new convents and reforming her religious order from within—a bold and dangerous mission in a Church and world where women’s voices were often suppressed. But Teresa knew something the powers couldn’t touch: that true authority comes not from titles or thrones, but from intimacy with the living God.
And Teresa loved life. She made time for laughter and friendship, and she understood that what matters most is not our accomplishments, but the love with which we live. As she once wrote, “What value God places on our loving and keeping peace with one another! The good Jesus places it before anything else.”
Like all mystics, Teresa had her moments of raw honesty with God. When her wagon got stuck in the mud during a river crossing and her supplies floated away, she heard the divine voice say: “This is how I treat my friends.” To which she replied, “No wonder you have so few!” That boldness, that intimacy, that holy humor—that’s the Teresa who invites us to speak freely with God.
Yet her freedom came at a cost. In an age of suspicion and repression, Teresa’s visions and raptures brought her under the scrutiny of the Inquisition. Had she been found guilty of heresy, she could have faced torture or even death. Her interior life—her direct experience of God—was seen as a threat to the male-dominated Church hierarchy. As Joan Chittister notes, the Inquisition may have feared Teresa not only for her spirituality but for her reform agenda, her Jewish ancestry, and her refusal to be silenced. She was too bold, too independent, too alive.
But thanks be to God, her voice was preserved—and it sings to us across the centuries. Her "Bookmark Prayer" remains a lighthouse in our storms, a mantra of trust, a gentle call to release our fears and return to the still center where God dwells.
This is the gift of Teresa: she reminds us that holiness is not perfection—it is friendship with God. It is the long, often messy journey of inner transformation. It is the willingness to let go of control, to walk with God in love, and to rise—again and again—in hope.
We, too, are called to be reformers and mystics in our time. We, too, are invited to speak our truth, love deeply, challenge systems that exclude, and root our lives in the presence of God. Teresa walks with us still, companioning us into courage and communion.
Let us now pray her beautiful prayer together, with hearts open to the Spirit who makes all things new:
All:
Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing frighten you.
Everything is changing;
God alone is changeless.
Patience attains the goal.
Who has God lacks nothing.
God alone fills all our needs.
Amen.
Community Sharing
Communal Statement of Faith
Pat F: We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery beyond all definition and rational understanding, the heart of all that has ever existed, that exists now, or that ever will exist.
We believe in Jesus, messenger of God's Word, bringer of God's healing, heart of God's compassion, bright star in the firmament of God's prophets, mystics, and saints.
We believe that we are called to follow Jesus as a vehicle of God's love, a source of God's wisdom and truth, and an instrument of God's peace in the world.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
The life of God that is our innermost life,
The breath of God moving in our being,
The depth of God living in each of us.
We believe that God's kin-dom is here and now, stretched out all around us for those with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it, and hands to make it happen.
Prayers of and for the Community
Bob F: We now bring our prayer intentions to the Table. With Teresa of Avila and all the saints, we pray:
Response: All: God of love, walk with us.
For mystics, prophets, and all who listen deeply to the Spirit…
For the devastated families of all the undocumented who are imprisoned and awaiting deportation
For the people of Israel and Palestine, Ukraine and Russia, India and Pakistan and the Sudan that they may live in peace
For world leaders that they may put children and the needs of people who are suffering in the world above guns, power, and greed
For those silenced or scrutinized for speaking truth from the margins…
For reformers working for justice in the Church and the world…
For the intentions in our MMOJ prayer book (Joan shares)
For what else shall we pray?
Bob:
Gracious One, receive our prayers and guide us on the path of love and transformation. Amen.
Offertory
Presentation of the bread and wine
Presider: Bridget Mary
God of all life, through your goodness we have bread, wine, all creation, and our own lives to offer. Through this sacred meal we become your new creation.
Presider : Andrea S
O Holy One, You dwell in all of us, and you accept our gifts that we offer in service to our faith community. We do this in memory of our brother, Jesus. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer
Preface:
Prayer Leader: Pat
The Holy One is with you.
Prayer Leader Bob and All:
And also with you.
Prayer Leader: Pat
We lift up our hearts.
Prayer Leader: Bob and All
We lift them up to the Holy One, the Love of our Hearts.
Prayer Leader: Pat
We give thanks and praise to our compassionate God.
Prayer Leader Bob and All:
It is right to give the Holy One thanks and praise.
Prayer Leader: Pat
We join with the angels and saints as we sing this joyful song of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy…
https://youtu.be/orKBBIj5LZA
Presider: Andrea S
Rooted in Teresa’s unwavering trust in Divine Love and her tireless passion for renewal, we too are called—to listen with open hearts, to speak truth with boldness, and to live with holy courage. Through prayer, laughter, and sacred action, we help shape a Church that is contemplative, inclusive, and vibrant with the Spirit.
During his life on earth, Jesus stood with the marginalized, healed the broken, and challenged the systems of injustice that oppressed the people. Because of his radical love, he was feared by the authorities—and ultimately crucified. Yet his Spirit lives on. His embrace of all people continues through our prophetic witness and loving service. We are the hands and feet of Christ in our world today—called to embody the compassion, courage, and justice of Jesus- in every act of love.
Invocation of the Holy Spirit (extend you hands in blessing)
Presider and All: Bridget Mary
You bless us O Sacred Spirit and you enliven all that exists. You transform these gifts of bread and wine, and our lives, by boundless grace that nourish and sustains us on our journey.
On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at the Seder supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly with them, he bent down and washed their feet.
(All lift your bread and pray)
When Jesus returned to his place at the table, he lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread, and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat, this is my very self. (pause)
Preside and All: Andrea S:
(All lift your cup and pray)
Then Jesus took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink.
Whenever you remember me like this,
I am among you. (pause)
Presider: Andrea S
Let us proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace, remembering that we are bearers of light and hope.
All: Christ of the Cosmos you are the spark of love in whom we believe; the Wisdom of Sophia in whom we trust; and the desire for justice that consumes us.
Presider: Bridget Mary
Sacred Spirit, we remember Mary, Mother of Humanity, who birthed Jesus into our world. We rejoice that the Universal Christ remains always and ever present within and around us. We remember Teresa of Avila and all the great saints, prophets and martyrs.
Presider: Andrea S
We remember all the members of our MMOJ Community, our family members and friends who have transitioned into New Life. We give thanks for all those who have blessed our lives and whose memory continues to inspire us.
… (Pause and remember the names of your loved ones in silence…)
Prayer Leader: Bridget Mary
We pray that the Holy One renew in our hearts our commitment to journey always in faith and hope as we reach out and support our religious and political leaders, comfort and love those closest to us, those who live in our country and all the people of the earth.
And we respond together by singing the Great Amen.
https://youtu.be/0sDDgwZlijc
Communion Rite:
Prayer Leader: Pat F
Prayer of Jesus:
Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
Pat and All:
O Holy One, who is within, around and among us,
We celebrate your many names.
Your Wisdom come,
Your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all we need.
You remind us of our limits, and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage,
For you are the dwelling place within us,
the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us, now and forever.
Amen
(Miriam Therese Winter)
Prayer Leader Bob F
Sign of Peace:
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Namaste! Namaste! Namaste
Prayer for the Breaking of the Bread
Presider: Pat F:
Please join in praying the prayer for the breaking of the bread:
All: Loving God, You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice.
We will live justly.
Loving God, You call us to be Your presence in the world.
We will love tenderly.
Loving God, You call us to speak truth to power.
We will walk with integrity.
(Presiders hold up bread and wine) Let us share the bread and cup as we say to each other: You are the Body of Christ
Communion: St. Teresa’s Prayer by John Michael Talbot
https://youtu.be/tF7Yb9fobCg?si=R82Tb2WQrxMRTqKN
Prayer After Communion: Presider: Andrea S:
Ever-living God,
you lit a fire in the heart of Teresa of Avila,
and it has not gone out.
May we burn with that same flame—
a love bold enough to challenge injustice,
a peace deep enough to silence fear,
a joy strong enough to carry us through the muddy roads of life.
Keep us faithful, keep us humble, keep us free. Amen.
May it be so. Amen
Presider Bridget Mary: Introductions, Prayers of Thanksgiving and Announcements
Final Blessing:
Presider: Andrea S
We together raise our hands as we bless one another.
All: May the wisdom of Teresa guide us
May the courage of the mystics fill our bones.
May the joy of the Spirit lift our hearts.
And may the God of Love bless us and keep us—
in our prayers, in our dreams, and in our every step.
Amen.
Closing Song; We Go Forth by Jan Novotka – shortened video
https://youtu.be/jtSAZp5hdME
Liturgy created by Bridget Mary Meehan with permission given to share with communities of faith.
Website: marymotherofjesus.net
