Remedies For The Soul
Lately I’ve been reading old saints. This month it has been The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila. I’ve been calling it a reading hour, although it doesn’t always last an hour. Sometimes it’s only a few pages and ten minutes but it is always on the topic of spiritual development.
I found the first book by St. Teresa of Avila a few years back and I knew when I read her words we were kindred souls. She was able to answer questions that I had in a way no one else ever has. A priest asked her to write. She was reluctant, suffering from frequent headaches and working on setting up new convents. Her story is fascinating and I am so thankful for her, and for this priest that encouraged her to write.
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11
I think of all that has been written and how I want to read it all. I’m like Eve wanting all the knowledge of good and evil. I want a glimpse of the lives that say yes to God and begin what St. Teresa calls, “The Way To Perfection.” If this Carmelite nun from the 1500s can reach a woman in 2020, I call that timeless. I call that God’s words, sentences, paragraphs all coming together to create a story that God had plans for. Not to prosper the person but to prosper His word.
St. Teresa gives a small list of remedies for the soul. 1.frequenting the sacraments 2.reading good books 3.hearing sermons. We must make use of the things in our lives that are available to care for our soul. Today most of us our blessed with not only more options to do things that are healthy for our souls but we also have science backing up the benefits.
A few soul remedies that God has placed in my life are, having a morning quiet time with God, reading His word, writing in my journal and praying. Taking walks in the woods, and of course reading the writings of ancient as well as modern day saints, because I love their stories and this is where real day to day life is actually portrayed.
Feel free to share your own soul remedies. I would love to hear them.
