By CTK Council
KUCHING — In conjunction with the Solemnity of St Teresa of Jesus, Christ the King OCDS Community organised an online talk on 11 October 2022 entitled, “The Humour of St Teresa” given by Fr George Ho OCD.
St Teresa, whose maiden name was Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, was born on 28 March 1515 in Ávila and died on 4 October 1582 in Alba de Tormes. She founded 17 monasteries and two communities of friars within 20 years.
On 27 September 1970 she was declared the first woman Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI. Teresa was a woman of many God-given talents; her four characteristics are—a saint, a foundress or reformer, a writer and a mystic.
St Teresa was a woman who enjoyed a bit of joke in her life but to some, she became a prey of very bad humour. However, it was very natural for her to provoke laughter and provide amusement.
Despite living in a cloister, she also enjoyed flan and partridge, justifying that “there’s a time for penance, and there’s a time for partridge,” much to the delight of her sisters.
St Teresa has left us several precious writings. In the book of Her Life, she professes, “The Lord helps us, strengthens us and never fails; He is a true friend who will not abandon us in our labours and tribulations, as friends in the world do. Blessed are they who truly love Him and always keep Him at their side!”
St Teresa had such an intimate relationship with God that she was able to joke with Him.
While founding a monastery, her wagon was inadvertently stuck in the mud. She promptly complained to God, “Oh, my Lord! When will You cease from scattering obstacles in our path?” The Lord replied, “Do not complain, daughter. For it is ever thus that I treat My friends.” She replied wittily, “Ah, Lord, it is also on that account that You have so few!”
Our Holy Father St John of the Cross was also not spared. At the opening of the friar foundation at Duruelo, referring to St John’s small stature, she announced that Duruelo was founded by one and a half friars!
While most scholars think that she was addressing St John as the half, others claimed that the full friar was actually St John whose spirituality stood significantly taller than that of his fellow brother friar.
If St Teresa died on 4 October, why then is her feast celebrated on 15 October? Thanks to the reform of the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, we can likewise joke with Our Holy Mother that she took a lengthy 11 days to reach heaven!
