On Holy Saturday, we began our little pilgrimage to the life sites of two great Carmelite saints, Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross.
One of Segovia's gates is bordered by an Roman aqueduct, one of the best preserved ancient monuments on the Iberian peninsula.
This more modern looking sanctuary was added on to the original church.
Carmelite monk, mystic, confessor to St. Teresa of Avila. Born in Spain in 1542, he had a love for serving people even at a young age. He taught that those who seek happiness from the world are like famished people, opening their mouths to satisfy themselves with air. The ropes of worldly desires must be broken so that we can fly up to God - "What do you want, o soul? And what else do you search for outside, when within yourself you possess your riches, delights, satisfaction and kingdom - your beloved whom you desire and seek? Desire him, adore him there. Do not go in pursuit of him outside yourself."
Possessions and manuscripts of St. John of the Cross.
The place where St. John was initially buried.
St. John of the Cross' tomb - pray for us!
This trip was especially significant, because Michael spent it all in underwear, and did a fine job of staying dry. He learned how to use God's wonderful outdoor facilities too.
Our rental car and trusty, well-traveled double stroller.
One of the downsides about traveling by car - trying to find a parking place during busy seasons. We drove around the town twice, both inside and on the outskirts before finding a place - in the meantime these two conked out. So we sat and let them sleep for a bit.
Hiking up to the castle.
On the city walls overlooking the monastery of the Carmelite fathers that we had just visited.
Another monastery - there were quite a few outside of Segovia's walls.
The Alcazar, dating back to the 12th century, was first built as a fortress, then was later expanded to be used as a royal palace, a state prison, and a royal artillery college and military academy.
In the ticket queue - only 5 euros to get in!
Michael has taken an interest in looking at maps with me, and of course, Dominic wants to join in everything now.
Michael is still not quite sure if there lurks a person in the armor displays.
This friendly security guard couldn't resist.
The ceilings were ornately carved and gilded.
Painting of the famous Spanish warrior, El Cid.
The tapestries were plentiful and so amazingly detailed.
Then we climbed to the top of the St. John's Tower.
Nice view of Segovia's Cathedral.
Segovia Cathedral.
Gazebos are a thing in Spanish plazas and all the children were drawn to them.
Dominic likes to help push the stroller now.
It was a busy day, and all the restaurants were looking very crowded and slow. So we picked up dinner foods from the market and ate overlooking the valley.
And we're not too cool for cheap boxed sangria!
Dessert treat for the boys for their good behavior that day.
Dominic thought he was very grown up holding the cone and having a few licks.
Walking along the city walls back to our car. They held hands often on this trip.
After an hour drive, we arrived at Avila - such a cool walled medieval city - found our hostel and went to sleep.
Easter Sunday we attended Mass in Avila's cathedral presided at by the archbishop.
Exploring the city after Mass.
Lovely statue of St. Teresa outside one of the main gates.
We came across an Easter procession; the smell of lilies was in the air, the melodies were much cheerier, and the smiles and joy was abundant.
The risen Lord!
St. Teresa was born in 1515 here in Avila, and from her earliest years she was religiously inclined. Her mother died when she was 12, and she entrusted herself to the Blessed Virgin Mary for maternal care. At the age of 19 she left home to join the Carmelite order in her home town. However, she found that this order had greatly relaxed its rules and lived more like those in the outside world. After reading St. Augustine’s Confessions she embarked upon a reform of the order. She traveled throughout Spain reforming old convents and forming new ones. On one of her journeys she met St. John of the Cross, who became her spiritual adviser. They both worked together to help reform the Carmelite orders, both men and women. In the afternoon, we visited the Church of St. Teresa which is built over the place where her family's home stood.
The home garden where St. Teresa played as a child.
The side chapel.
The bed and room in which St. Teresa was born.
Next to St. Teresa's Church was a tiny museum with some of her personal possessions.
Then we drove outside the walls to a place called Los Cuatro Postes (the Four Posts), a shrine that marks the spot where St. Teresa, when a child, ran off with her brother to become martyrs for Christ at the hands of the Moors.
Easter Monday we drove out to Alba de Tormes which was the town where St. Teresa lived her last years and place of her death.
Dominic channeling his inner nun.
Outside the Carmelite convent where St. Teresa lived.
The church where St. Teresa is buried - and the room where she died.
From the museum side, you can go up to the level of her tomb to pray. St Teresa died in 1582 on her way to this convent at Alba de Tormes. When her body was exhumed more that 330 years later, the coffin emitted a sweet-smelling heavenly fragrance known as “the odor of sanctity”.
Arm of St. Teresa.
Heart of St. Teresa. In her autobiography she talks about an extraordinary grace she received when an angel who thrust an arrow in to her heart, leaving her “on fire with a great love of God”. After her body was exhumed and examined, it was found that she had a perforation of the heart. Thus, science confirmed one of her greatest mystical experiences.
The Carmelite museum was quite extensive with many paintings and other Spanish religious items.
We made a grocery store run and ate in the town's small plaza. Such a lovely, peaceful day.
We loved the Spanish pears!
The boys' still had running noses from the cold they had when we began this trip - we were so tired of pulling the TP roll out, Papa had this brilliant idea of affixing it for easy access...
We then drove 10 minutes up the road to Salamanca. What a beautiful university town; we really wished we had more time to explore. Here is an old church that is part of the university, and now is only used for its bell towers and cloister for art exhibits. We hiked to the top for a lovely view of the city and had the towers all to ourselves!
Michael and Papa continued up to the bells while Mama and Dominic stayed below.
Looking down into the university courtyard and library.
Someone was tired after all that climbing, but he was proud that he was a "big hiker like Papa!"
Then we headed over to the cathedral, which was amazing!
The last stop on our Carmelite pilgrimage was the Monestario de la Encarnacion in Avila where St. Teresa lived for 30 years and where St. John of the Cross lived his final 5 years. It was here that St. Teresa entered the Carmelite order at the age of 19.
The confessional where St. John of the Cross heard confessions and his chair.
In the convent courtyard is outlined with a visual representation of the Interior Castle, written by St. Teresa in 1577. This work compares the contemplative soul to a castle with seven successive interior courts, or chambers, analogous to the seven heavens. As the soul goes through each, she grows closer to God in a more passive, all-renouncing receptivity - all to God, for God.
The very door that St. Teresa entered to be received into the Carmelite order in 1535.
A freseco of Christ's scourging that St. Teresa asked a fellow sister to paint shortly after her vision of this scene.
St. Teresa was very fond of music! Here are some instruments that were used by the sisters during her time here.
We could look through to the main staircase of the monastery at that time. It is here that St. Teresa encountered a small child playing, and she asked his name. He replied, "What is your name?" She answered, "I am Teresa of Jesus." He answered in return, "I am Jesus of Teresa."
Upstairs, was a wonderful museum of articles belonging to St. Teresa, this convent, and St. John. Above is the piece of wood she used as a pillow for penance.
The "Ecce homo" statue that stood in St. Teresa's room. One day she was so moved to compassion and sorrow by reflecting on it, that she vowed to reform her life as a sister, and consequently, work for the reform of the Carmelite order, which had grown quite lax and distant from its initial charisma.
The "Tattletale statue" of St. Joseph. Tradition has it that St. Teresa would leave this statue in her prioress chair when she had to leave the convent on travels. Upon her return, St. Joseph would tell her everything that had occurred during her absence.
The pillow St. Teresa prostrated upon to make her final vows.
Peering into St. Teresa's cell.
St. Teresa's key to her room.
The crucifix St. Teresa took with her during her founding travels.
The chalice that St. John of the Cross used to celebrate Holy Mass.
And a painting of the Annunciation done by St. John - I didn't know he was such an accomplished artist!
The visiting room where St. Teresa met with people and where she experienced the vision of Christ being tortured, depicted below - amazing to stand in the same room!
In 1970 Pope Paul VI named Teresa of Avila as the first woman Doctor of the Church. St. Teresa's approach to God , that is to say that to possess Christ, or more precisely to be possessed by Christ, one must be free of all other attachments. God alone suffices. As regards prayer, Teresa sees a movement within the soul—and for Teresa the focus of prayer is on interior prayer—from actively seeking God in meditation through a gradual quieting of the soul until it rests united to God in contemplation—something which is always totally within the gift of God and not attainable by human effort. The purpose of prayer, indeed the end of the spiritual life, is not the enjoyment of God’s presence—something to which we must have a certain indifference—but the conformity of the will to the will of God. This conformity is the fruit of our love for God but it is directed to empower us for the love of our neighbor.
Michael enjoyed running around an adjacent park after our convent visit. We find it quite amusing and nice that most parks in Spain include workout machines - even elliptical trainers! In the evenings especially, we would see people working out to the sunset. I really appreciate the Spaniards' commitment to sensible eating and health.
Beautiful, stirring moments with these two Carmelite saints this week - pray for us, Sts. Teresa and John, that we may obtain Him, our hearts' desire!
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment