Teresa, Elijah, and poverty

Spiritual Life, Fall 2003 by Ackerman, Jane

Christ's spiritual suffering and humble service of his Father were the greatest influence on Teresa's thoughts on the matter. She constantly wrote to her sisters about his willing self-impoverishment. Given the magnitude of his self-offering, Carmelites could not attain the poverty he experienced, she taught.

By calling them to their way of life, Christ made Teresa and her sisters poor. This, she said, was a gift that they should accept as a particular favor (Meditations on the Song of Songs 2). It was God's will that they be poor (Life 35,36). Carmelites needed to learn to trust that God indeed would provide for their material needs....