Saints of the Week

Saint Teresa of Avila 

Virtue: Obedience 

Feast Day: 15th October

Teresa was the daughter of noble parents in Spain. When she was only seven years of age she and her little brother liked to read stories from the lives of saints. One of their games was playing "hermit" in their father's garden.

When Teresa was still quite young she became crippled by disease and was unable to walk. She prayed to St Joseph, who cured her.

Teresa lost her mother when she was twelve. She begged the Mother of God to be her mother. five years after her mother's death she joined the Carmelite Order. She built many new convents.

By a life of prayer, work and sacrifice Teresa brought many souls to Jesus. Her many writings show her great love of God. She wrote: "Let nothing trouble you, let nothing make you afraid. All things pass away. God never changes. Patience obtains everything. God alone is enough." She died on October 4th, 1582 after she had a vision of Jesus and many saints.

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

Feast Day: 16 October

Virtue: Mercy

Margaret Mary was born in 1647 in France. She was a cripple, but the Blessed Virgin Mary

 cured her. In thanksgiving, she promised to give her life to God. She entered the Order of the Visitation.

Sister Margaret Mary loved our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament very much. He showed her His Sacred Heart in four visions. The flames that came forth from His Sacred Heart were a sign of His burning love for us and His desire that we love Him in return. The crown of thorns around His Heart was a sign of sacrifice and penance to make up for sin.

Jesus said to her: “Look at his Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love me in return. Through you, I wish to spread devotion to my Scared Heart everywhere on earth.”

Jesus made at least twelve promises to her. One of these promises is that he would bless those who honour His Sacred Heart and give them the graces they need in life and in death.