Prayer of St Teresa of Avila link
Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by You,
always follow Your plans,
and perfectly accomplish Your Holy Will.
Grant that in all things, great and small,
today and all the days of my life,
I may do whatever You require of me.
Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your Grace,
so that I may be Your trustworthy instrument for Your honour.
May Your Will be done in time and in eternity by me,
in me, and through me.
Amen
Prayer on Growing Older by St Teresa of Avila link
Lord, You know better than I myself
that I am growing older and will someday be old.
Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking
I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from craving to
straighten out everybody’s affairs.
Make me thoughtful but not moody;
helpful but not bossy.
With my vast store of wisdom,
it seems a pity not to use it all;
but You know, Lord,
that I want a few friends at the end.
Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details;
give me wings to get to the point.
Seal my lips on my aches and pains;
they are increasing, and love of rehearsing them
is becoming sweeter as the years go by.
I dare not ask for improved memory,
but for a growing humility and a lessening cock-sureness
when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others.
Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet, for a sour old person
is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places
and talents in unexpected people;
and give, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.
Amen
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Benediction by St Teresa of Avila link
Let nothing disturb you,
let nothing frighten you,
all things will pass away.
God never changes;
patience obtains all things,
whoever has God lacks nothing.
God alone suffices.
Amen
Dee, thanks so much for including the prayer and the benediction of Sainte Thérèse d’Avila. She is one of four women doctors of the church, recognized as having made a significant contribution to theology or doctrine through research, study, and writing.
Unlike the SBC’s Baptist Faith & Message 2000, other people, including men leaders of faith, recognize and honor women of faith for their scholarship, faith, and contribution. There are four women doctors of the church. Protestant or Catholic, we can all claim them in our fellowship.
Until 1970, no woman had been named a Doctor of the Church. Since then four are women: Thérèse d’Ávila (also known as Sainte Thérèse of Jesus) and Catherine de Sienne by Pope Paul VI; Thérèse de Lisieux by Pope John Paul II; and Hildegard of Bingen by Benedict XVI. Thérèse and Thérèse were both Discalced Carmelites, Catherine was a Dominican, and Hildegard was a Benedictine nun.
The female doctorate reflects the evolution of relations between women and church leaders, theology in the 20th century, and women’s access to university theological knowledge. It contributes to the intellectual history of the Church.
Women contribute. As Jesus testified to Mary and Martha, this contribution is far beyond the kitchen.
Pope Francis told 60 Minutes: … “that the ones who never abandoned Jesus were the women. The men all fled.”
(Later, Fr. RJ de Souza added that St. John and Joseph of Aramithea did not abandon Jesus and there were SOME women who did. Yet, Francis makes a point.)
There have always been women leaders among the faithful. From Judge Deborah to Prophetess Huldah to Queen Esther, to Mary the mother of Jesus to Mary M. witnessing then announcing Jesus’ resurrection to the unbelieving male disciples, to Priscilla in the New Church, and down through the Ages, the four women Doctors of the Church. We have a through line of women leadership from beginning to end. God gives women a place at the table. God gives women voices. Those who, like the first men disciples, choose to not listen to women’s voices when God has given women Good News, well, these men fail. They miss God’s revelation, just like those disciples who dissed Mary’s testimony. Pity.
Moreover, Psalm 2 says that in Heaven God laughs at leaders too pompous to listen to His message, even if God chooses to send His message via a woman. It happened in Jesus’s day. It happens now.
Men, don’t make fools of yourselves. Gender bias is never discernment.
Ava Aaronson(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Swallow gives a good talk.
Smart woman.
My reading is very promiscuous, which is why Stephen King is my goto author.
Muff Potter(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
When this is brought up to conservative fundagelicals, they will either try to ignore it, or blow it off as a minimal detail to the resurrection of Jesus.
Muff Potter(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)
Embedded in that Psalm is a clear warning to America:
“Honor His Son, or He will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for His wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” (Psalm 2:12)
Max(Reply & quote selected text) (Reply to this comment)