Ave Maria! Solemnity of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Procession 2011

Draw us after you, virgin Mary; we shall follow in your footsteps

Zelo zelatus sum pro
 domino deo exercituum 

O most beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendour of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. O holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to succour me in this necessity; there are none that can withstand your power.

 Amen

“Take, beloved son, this scapular of thy Order as a badge of my confraternity and for thee and all Carmelites a special sign of grace; whoever dies in this garment, will not suffer everlasting fire. It is the sign of salvation, a safeguard in dangers, a pledge of peace and of the covenant.”

Thou who, with special mercy, look upon those clothed in thy beloved Habit, cast a glance of pity upon me. Fortify my weakness with thy strength; enlighten the darkness of my mind with thy wisdom; increase my faith, hope and charity. Assist me during life, console me by thy presence at my death, and present me to the August trinity as thy devoted child, that I may bless thee for all eternity in Paradise. Amen 

O beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine,

Splendor of Heaven, holy and singular, 

who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a Pure Virgin, assist me in this necessity. 

O Star of the sea, help and protect me! Show me that Thou art my Mother. 

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee! 

Mother and Ornament of Carmel, Pray for us! 

Virgin, Flower of Carmel, Pray for us!

Patroness of all who wear the Scapular, Pray for us! 

Hope of all who die wearing the Scapular, Pray for us! 

St. Joseph, Friend of the Sacred Heart, Pray for us! 

St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of Mary, Pray for us! 

St. Joseph, Our Patron, Pray for us!

O sweet Heart of Mary, Be our salvation! Amen.

St.Joseph

St. Joseph, 

Chaste Spouse of Mary, 

Pray for us!

St. Joseph

Flos Carmeli

Flos Carmeli, vitis florigera, splendor caeli, virgo puerpera singularis.
Mater mitis sed viri nescia Carmelitis esto propitia stella maris.
Radix Iesse germinans flosculum nos ad esse tecum in saeculum patiaris.
Inter spinas quae crescis lilium serva puras mentes fragilium tutelaris.

Armatura fortis pugnantium furunt bella tende praesidium scapularis.

St. Joseph the Patriarch, Mabolo, Cebu City.
Celebrant-Preacher
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Cristobal Garcia, SAP

Per incerta prudens consilium per adversa iuge solatium largiaris.
Mater dulcis Carmeli domina, plebem tuam reple laetitia qua bearis.
Paradisi clavis et ianua, fac nos duci quo, Mater, gloria coronaris. Amen.

FLOWER of Carmel, Tall vine blossom laden; Splendor of heaven, Childbearing yet maiden. None equals thee.

Mother so tender, Who no man didst know, On Carmel's children Thy favors bestow. Star of the Sea.

Strong stem of Jesse, Who bore one bright flower, Be ever near us And guard us each hour, who serve thee here.

Purest of lilies, That flowers among thorns, Bring help to the true heart That in weakness turns and trusts in thee.

Society of Angel of Peace.
Procession back to the Monastery.

Strongest of armor, We trust in thy might: Under thy mantle, Hard press'd in the fight, we call to thee.

Our way uncertain, Surrounded by foes, Unfailing counsel You give to those who turn to thee.

O gentle Mother Who in Carmel reigns, Share with your servants That gladness you gained and now enjoy.

Hail, Gate of Heaven, With glory now crowned, Bring us to safety Where thy Son is found, true joy to see. Amen.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Mater Dei, Regina et Pulchritudo Carmeli,

Benedicta Mater Nostra,

Ora Pro Nobis. 

Mother of Carmel, Pray for us. Unite us once more, draw your children back into the loving arms of your Son. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us. Look down with pity, help us to become what you want us to be. Blessed Mother of us all, Pray for us.

WE LOVE YOU MAMA MARY!

Photographed and Edited by A.R.M

using a Low Resolution Phone Camera

AVE MARIA!

-Solemnity of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 2011-

Cebu Carmelite Monastery, Mabolo, Cebu City

Image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
 inside the Monastery

Mary, Star of the Sea

Fault, Forgiveness & Love

"A disciple of Christ will never treat anyone badly. Error he will call error, but the person in error he will correct with kindness. Otherwise he will not be able to help him, to sanctify him" (St. J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 9).

Forgiveness=Love

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. James 1:16

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. Matthew 18:15

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 2 Timothy 2:25

Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. 2 Thessalonians 3:15

Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers; Psalm 141:5

Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Proverbs 9:8

The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:1 Corinthians 2:15

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ.1 Corinthians 3:1

Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.2 Corinthians 2:7

I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.2 Corinthians 2:8

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Ephesians 4:32

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.Colossians 3:13

or if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.Matthew 6:14 F

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children Ephesians 5:1

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.Colossians 3:12

Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.1 Thessalonians 4:1

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.1 Peter 3:8

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11

AMEN!

We go to Jesus as little children longed to be carried and comforted

by His loving and warm arms. 

With a sweet Smile and with His arms wide

open He says "Come little one, Come"

"What are these arms of mine for?" 

"Am I not the King of Hearts?"

"Here I am Papa, here I am!" 

"As I have loved you, so you must love one another."John 13:14

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"Matthew 5:44

"Keep on loving each other as brothers."Hebrews 13:1

-----------

Let there be peace on earth,

and let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on Earth,

the peace that was meant to be.

With God as our Father,

brothers all are we,

Let me walk with my brother,

in perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me,

let this be the moment now.

With every step I take,

let this be my solemn vow,

To take each moment and live each moment

in peace, eternally.

Let there be Peace on Earth,

and let it begin with me.

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

Jude 1:2

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Bible source : Bible.cc
Compiled by
Petite Fleur

Santa Teresa de los Andes

Teresa of the Andes

Saint Teresa of Jesus, O.C.D., "of the Andes", Teresa de Jesús "de los Andes,"(July 13, 1900 – April 12, 1920) was a Chilean nun canonized as a saint by theRoman Catholic Church.

"I also know that if I go to Carmel it will be to suffer, but suffering is nothing new or unknown to me. In it I find my joy, for Jesus is on the cross and He is love. And what does suffering matter if a person loves? The life of a Carmelite is one of suffering, loving and praying, and I find my whole ideal in this...".

 ( Let. 14).

SAINT TERESA OF JESUS OF LOS ANDES is the first Chilean to be declared a Saint. She is the first Discalced Carmelite Nun to become a Saint outside the boundaries of Europe and the fourth Saint Teresa in Carmel together with Saints Teresa of Avila, of Florence and of Lisieux.

The young woman who is today glorified by the Church with the title of Saint, is a prophet of God for the men and women of today. By the example of her life, TERESA OF JESUS OF LOS ANDES shows us Christ's Gospel lived down to the last detail.

She is irrefutable proof that Christ's call to be Saints is indeed real, it happens in our time, and can be answered. She is presented to us to demonstrate that the total dedication that following Christ involves, is the one and only thing that is worth this effort and that gives us true happiness.

Teresa of Los Andes with the language of her ardent life, confirms for us that God exists, that God is love and happiness, and that he is our fulfillment.

She was born in Santiago de Chile on 13 July 1900. At the font she was christened Juana Enriqueta Josefina of the Sacred Hearts Fernandez Solar. Those who knew her closely called her Juanita, the name by which she is widely known today.

She had a normal upbringing surrounded by her family: her parents Miguel Fernandez and Lucia Solar, three brothers and two sisters, her maternal grandfather, uncles, aunts and cousins.

Her family were well-off and were faithful to their Christian faith, living it with faith and constancy.

Juana was educated in the college of the French nuns of the Sacred Heart. Her brief but intense life unfolded within her family and at college. When she was fourteen, under God's inspiration, she decided to consecrate herself to him as a religious in the Discalced Carmelite Nuns.

This desire of hers was realized on 7 May 1919, when she entered the tiny monastery of the Holy Spirit in the township of Los Andes, some 90 kilometers from Santiago.

She was clothed with the Carmelite habit 14 October the same year and began her novitiate with the name of Teresa of Jesus. She knew a long time before that she would die young. Moreover the Lord revealed this to her. A month before she was to depart this life, she related this to her confessor.

She accepted all this with happiness, serenity and confidence. She was certain that her mission to make God known and loved would continue in eternity.

After many interior trials and indescribable physical suffering caused by a violent attack of typhus that cut short her life, she passed from this world to her heavenly Father on the evening of 12 April 1920. She received the last sacraments with the utmost fervour, and on 7 April, because of danger of death, she made her religious profession. She was three months short of her 20th birthday, and had yet 6 months to complete her canonical novitiate and to be legally able to make her religious profession. She died as a Discalced Carmelite novice.

Externally this is all there is to this young girl from Santiago de Chile. It is all rather disconcerting and a great question arises in us, "What was accomplished?" The answer to such a question is equally disconcerting: living, believing, loving.

When the disciples asked Jesus what they must do to carry out God's work, he replied, "This is carrying out God's work: you must believe in the one he has sent." (Jn 6, 28-29). For this reason, in order to recognize the value of Juanita's fife, it is necessary to examine the substance within, where the Kingdom of God is to be found.

She wakened to the life of grace while still quite young. She affirms that God drew her at the age of six to begin to spare no effort in directing her capacity to love totally towards him. "It was shortly after the 1906 earthquake that Jesus began to claim my heart for himself." (Diary n. 3, p. 26).

Juanita possessed an enormous capacity to love and to be loved joined with an extraordinary intelligence. God allowed her to experience his presence. With this knowledge he purified her and made her his own through what it entails to take up the cross. Knowing him, she loved him; and loving him, she bound herself totally to him.

Once this child understood that love demonstrates itself in deeds rather than words, the result was that she expressed her love through every action of her life. She examined herself sincerely and wisely and understood that in order to belong to God it was necessary to die to herself in all that did not belong to him.

Her natural inclinations were completely contrary to the demands of the Gospel. She was proud, self-centred, stubborn, with all the defects that these things suppose, as is the common lot. But where she differed from the general run, was to carry out continual warfare on every impulse that did not arise from love.

At the age of ten she became a new person. What lay immediately behind this was the fact that she was going to make her first Communion. Understanding that nobody less that God was going to dwell within her, she set about acquiring all the virtues that would make her less unworthy of this grace. In the shortest possible time she managed to transform her character completely.

In making her first Communion she received from God the mystical grace of interior locutions, which from then on supported her throughout her fife. God took over her natural inclinations, transforming them from that day into friendship and a fife of prayer.

Four years later she received an interior revelation that shaped the direction of her life. Jesus told her that she would be a Carmelite and that holiness must be her goal.

With God's abundant grace and the generosity of a young girl in love, she gave herself over to prayer, to the acquiring of virtue and the practice of a life in accord with the Gospel. Such were her efforts that in a few short years she reached a high degree of union with God.

Christ was the one and only ideal she had. She was in love with him and ready each moment to crucify herself for him. A bridal love pervaded her with the result that she desired to unite herself fully to him who had captivated her. As a result, at the age of fifteen she made a vow of virginity for 9 days, continually renewing it from then on.

The holiness of her life shone out in the everyday occurrences, wherever she found herself: at home, in college, with friends, the people she stayed with on holidays. To all, with apostolic zeal, she spoke of God and gave assistance. She was young like her friends, but they knew she was different. They took her as a model, seeking her support and advice. All the pains that are part of living, Juanita felt keenly, and the happiness she enjoyed deeply, all in God.

She was cheerful, happy, sympathetic, attractive, communicative and involved in sport. 

During her adolescence she reached perfect psychic and spiritual equilibrium. These were the fruit of her asceticism and prayer. The serenity of her face was a reflection of the divine guest within. Her life as a nun, from 7 May 1919, was the last rung on the ladder to holiness. Only eleven months were necessary to bring to an end the process of making her life totally Christ-like.

Her community was quick to discover the hand of God in her past life. The young novice found in the Carmelite way of life the full and efficient channel for spreading the torrent of life that she wanted to give to the Church of Christ. It was a way of life that, in her own way, she had lived amongst her own and for which she was born. The Order of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel fulfilled the desires of Juanita. It was proof to her that God's mother, whom she had loved from infancy, had drawn her to be part of it.

She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Santiago de Chile on 3 April 1987. Her remains are venerated in the Sanctuary of Auco-Rinconada of Los Andes by the thousands of pilgrims who seek in her and find guidance, light and a direct way to God.

~Source: Vatican.va

"Yes, Mother, you are the celestial Madonna who guides us. You allow heavenly rays to fall from your maternal hands. I didn't believe such happiness could exist on earth; yesterday my heart, while thirsting for it, found it. My soul was ecstatic at your virginal feet, listening to you. You were speaking and your maternal language was so tender. It was from heaven, almost divine."

~Prayer of Juanita to Virgin Mary

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Humanity and Humour of Juanita

"I'm very Yankee. Herminita and I went on long trips by foot all by ourselves. Sometimes we were covered with mud up to our ankles, because we'd been darting in every direction. Nothing stopped us. We overcame every obstacle; in a word, we excelled in courage. The other day I had an enjoyable horseback ride. We galloped with Chubby from two in the afternoon till four thirty. Since it was raining, we both went out with large blankets, so that we looked like comical characters. Did we laugh! And as we went along I was thinking about you, little Dove, studying or scrupulously sewing. I am very good at riding. The other day we went on an outing to a nearby farm. We left about 9 and returned at 12. You wouldn't believe how much I kidded Herminia. We kept breaking out in laughter."

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MOVIE of her Life

A beautiful, epic mini-series produced in Chile that tells the story of the inspiring life of the new young Carmelite saint who lived in the 20th century, died at the age of just 19 years old, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1993. 

Info: Ignatius Press

"Who can refuse the hand of the all-powerful One when He abases Himself to the most unworthy of His creatures?"

~Letter. April 15, 1916

Writings.

Prayer for the Intercession of St. Teresa de los Andes

God of mercy, joy of the saints,

you set the young heart of Blessed Teresa

ablaze with the fire of virginal love

for Christ and for his Church;

and even in suffering made her a cheerful witness to charity.

Through her intercession,

fill us with the delights of your Spirit,

so that we may proclaim by word and deed

the joyful message of your love to the world.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

A Hymn to the Name of the Admirable Saint Teresa

A Hymn to the Name and Honour of the Admirable

Saint Teresa

by Richard Crashaw

St. Teresa of Avila, Holy Mother Foundress of

the Discalced Carmelite Order

Love, thou are absolute sole lord

Of life and death. To prove the word,

We’ll now appeal to none of all

Those thy old soldiers, great and tall,

Ripe men of martyrdom, that could reach down

With strong arms their triumphant crown;

Such as could with lusty breath

Speak loud into the face of death

Their great Lord’s glorious name; to none

Of those whose spacious bosoms spread a throne

For love at large to fill; spare blood and sweat,

And see him take a private seat,

Making his mansion in the mild

And milky soul of a soft child.

       Scarce has she learn’d to lisp the name

Of martyr, yet she thinks it shame

Life should so long play with that breath

Which spent can buy so brave a death.

She never undertook to know

Luiz Juarez. St. Teresa and Her Brother Rodrigo in Their Way to the Land of
of the Moors

What death with love should have to do;

Nor has she e’er yet understood

Why to show love she should shed blood;

Yet though she cannot tell you why,

She can love, and she can die.

"My favorite brother and I used to read the lives of the saints. When I read

of the martyrdom that was undergone by the saints for the love of God

it struck me that the vision of God was cheaply purchased."

~Life, I. Sta. Teresa de Jesu (de Avila)

       Scarce has she blood enough to make

A guilty sword blush for her sake;

Yet has she’a heart dares hope to prove

How much less strong is death than love.

       Be love but there, let poor six years

Be pos’d with the maturest fears

Man trembles at, you straight shall find

Love knows no nonage, nor the mind.

’Tis love, not years or limbs that can

Make the martyr, or the man.

" We decided to go together to the country of the Moors, begging God

that we might there be beheaded. Our Lord, I believe,

had given us courage even at so tender an age."

       Love touch’d her heart, and lo it beats

High, and burns with such brave heats,

Such thirsts to die, as dares drink up

A thousand cold deaths in one cup.

Good reason, for she breathes all fire;

Her weak breast heaves with strong desire

Of what she may with fruitless wishes

Seek for amongst her mother’s kisses.

Adriaen Collaert. St. Teresa and Her Brother Rodrigo
 in Their Way to the Land of the Moors

       Since ’tis not to be had at home,

She’ll travel to a martyrdom.

No home for hers confesses she

But where she may a martyr be.

         She’ll to the Moors, and trade with them

For this unvalued diadem.

She’ll offer them her dearest breath,

With Christ’s name in ’t, in change for death.

She’ll bargain with them, and will give

Them God; teach them how to live

In him; or, if they this deny,

For him she’ll teach them how to die.

So shall she leave amongst them sown

Her Lord’s blood, or at least her own.

       Farewell then, all the world, adieu!

Teresa is no more for you.

Farewell, all pleasures, sports, and joys,

(Never till now esteemed toys)

Farewell, whatever dear may be,

Mother’s arms or father’s knee,

Farewell house and farewell home,

She’s for the Moors, and martyrdom!

"...together (accompanied by her brother Antonio) set out one day

early in the morning for the monastery"

~Life, IV. Trans. D. Lewis

       Sweet, not so fast! lo, thy fair spouse,

Whom thou seek’st with so swift vows,

Calls thee back, and bids thee come

T’ embrace a milder martyrdom.

Adriaen Collaert and Cornelis Galle. St. Teresa accompanied by
her brother Antonio, enters the convent. Monastery of Incarnation, Avila

"I remember perfectly well,and it is quite true, that

the pain I felt when I left my father's house was so great, that

I do not believe the pain of dying will be greater--for it seemed

to me as if every bone in my body were wrenched asunder..."

       

Blest powers forbid thy tender life

Should bleed upon a barbarous knife;

Or some base hand have power to rase

Thy breast’s chaste cabinet, and uncase

A soul kept there so sweet; oh no,

Wise Heav’n will never have it so;

Thou art Love’s victim, and must die

A death more mystical and high;

Into Love’s arms thou shalt let fall

A still-surviving funeral.

He is the dart must make the death

Whose stroke shall taste thy hallow’d breath;

A dart thrice dipp’d in that rich flame

Which writes thy spouse’s radiant name

Upon the roof of heav’n, where aye

It shines, and with a sovereign ray

Beats bright upon the burning faces

Of souls, which in that name’s sweet graces

Find everlasting smiles. So rare,

So spiritual, pure, and fair

Must be th’ immortal instrument

Upon whose choice point shall be sent

A life so lov’d; and that there be

Fit executioners for thee,

The fair’st and first-born sons of fire,

Blest Seraphim, shall leave their quire

And turn Love’s soldiers, upon thee

To exercise their archery.

"Although God would permit to suffer for a little, yet He would 

also console me in such a way that I now even long for troubles"

       Oh, how oft shalt thou complain

Of a sweet and subtle pain,

Of intolerable joys,

Of a death in which who dies

Loves his death, and dies again,

And would forever so be slain,

And lives and dies, and knows not why

To live, but that he thus may never leave to die.

       How kindly will thy gentle heart

Kiss the sweetly-killing dart!

And close in his embraces keep

Those delicious wounds, that weep

Balsam to heal themselves with. Thus

When these thy deaths, so numerous,

Shall all at last die into one,

And melt thy soul’s sweet mansion

Like a soft lump of incense, hasted

By too hot a fire, and wasted

Into perfuming clouds, so fast

Shalt thou exhale to Heav’n at last

In a resolving sigh; and then,

O what? Ask not the tongues of men;

Angels cannot tell; suffice,

Thyself shall feel thine own full joys

And hold them fast forever. There

So soon as thou shalt first appear,

The moon of maiden stars, thy white

Mistress, attended by such bright

Souls as thy shining self, shall come

And in her first ranks make thee room;

Where ’mongst her snowy family

Immortal welcomes wait for thee.

The Transverberation

       O what delight, when reveal’d Life shall stand

And teach thy lips heav’n with his hand,

On which thou now mayst to thy wishes

Heap up thy consecrated kisses.

What joys shall seize thy soul when she,

Bending her blessed eyes on thee,

(Those second smiles of heav’n) shall dart

Her mild rays through thy melting heart!

Angels, thy old friends, there shall greet thee,

Glad at their own home now to meet thee.

       All thy good works which went before

And waited for thee, at the door,

Shall own thee there, and all in one

Weave a constellation

Of crowns, with which the King, thy spouse,

Shall build up thy triumphant brows.

" O Lord, I ask of You nothing else than to die or to suffer!

I ask nothing else for myself."

All thy old woes shall now smile on thee,

And thy pains sit bright upon thee;

All thy sorrows here shall shine,

All thy suff’rings be divine;

Tears shall take comfort and turn gems,

And wrongs repent to diadems.

Ev’n thy deaths shall live, and new

Dress the soul that erst they slew;

Thy wounds shall blush to such bright scars

As keep account of the Lamb’s wars.

"When I was thus distresses, our Lord appeared to me. He comforted me

greatly and told me I must accept this affliction for His sake,

and bear it for the love of Him."

       Those rare works where thou shalt leave writ

Love’s noble history, with wit

Taught thee by none but him, while here

They feed our souls, shall clothe thine there.

Each heav’nly word by whose hid flame

Our hard hearts shall strike fire, the same

Shall flourish on thy brows, and be

Both fire to us and flame to thee,

Whose light shall live bright in thy face

By glory, in our hearts by grace.

       Thou shalt look round about and see

Thousands of crown’d souls throng to be

Themselves thy crown; sons of thy vows,

The virgin-births with which thy sovereign spouse

Made fruitful thy fair soul, go now

And with them all about thee, bow

To him. “Put on,” he’ll say, “put on,

My rosy love, that thy rich zone

Sparkling with the sacred flames

Of thousand souls whose happy names

Heav’n keeps upon thy score. Thy bright

Life brought them first to kiss the light

That kindled them to stars.” And so

Thou with the Lamb, thy Lord, shalt go,

And wheresoe’er he sets his white

Steps, walk with him those ways of light

Which who in death would live to see

Must learn in life to die like thee.

Death of Teresa