Who am I and why am I posting online? Simple answer, I am a human and a Catholic, of course! But you probably want more info than that. After all, we all of us like knowing about the lives of people whose works we read and if you’re like me, you feel far more comfortable reading whatever it is if you can place some sort of confidence in the author. Forthwith, I shall endeavor to satisfy your curiosity. 🙂
I am a Roman Catholic lay woman striving to live the married vocation to the best of her ability. Raised Catholic in a small farm town where it was a badge of honor that we had all of three stop lights, I was home schooled through all 12 years. Being able to boast of having employed my time in an exemplary fashion, studied with alacrity and made the most of those years of free education, is unfortunately not mine to claim. Not until years later did I realize what exactly had been given to me at that time and sorely do I wish I had cherished it more and learned and retained everything instead of just having studied. Ah, the follies of youth.
Three months shy of my 19th birthday I entered the sacred confines of the glorious Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel according to the primitive observance and reform of St Teresa of Avila, Our Holy Mother. I remained there for four and a half years before returning home. How grateful I am for those years and the training I received! I continued to pursue the religious life for two years, but nothing worked. I actually became severely ill. My health was not restored until I not only realized I was called to marriage instead of the cloister, but accepted this as God’s will and embraced it.
In between the cloister and my realization of what my true vocation was, I adopted some very radical far right views of the modern Church. These included some very Jansenistic beliefs about things as simple as recreation, family life and drinking beer. I am happy to say I can now enjoy a beer without a scruple! After all, who am I to condemn St Brigid and her heavenly ‘lake of beer’?
Having entered the married state with a wonderful and understanding Catholic man who has also helped me towards my goal of adhering to the middle road, I have felt that women on both sides of the spectrum within the Church could use encouragement and a good dose of feisty middle of the road, traditional (in the actual sense of the word) Catholicism. [As an aside and knowing the danger of causing people to turn away, I will admit that I attend an Ordinary Form parish. I also attend a Latin Mass parish at times.]
This little venture is dedicated to the patronage of St Teresa of Avila who lived in turbulent times rife with errors of doctrine and of practice. Great Carmelite reformer that she was, she not only succeeded in executing a true reform, but remained steadfastly faithful and obedient to the Church in a time when many flaunted their disobedience and supposed personal knowledge. This was not the extent of her accomplishments, however. Through her perseverance and obedience, St Teresa became a great saint and gained many graces for the beloved souls of Our Lord and His Church.
In beginning a blog, this Catholic lay woman wishes to emulate that great saint by imitating her obedience to and reverence for the Church, while also endeavoring to employ her sense of humor. I am not a theologian, nor am I a professional writer. Quite the contrary! What I am is a lay woman who has seen radical views from within and without the Church. Views that come from the far left along with the far right and some of which I have held at times in my past. My hope is to offer a haven of sorts, where women can find refreshment; a place that brings some sanity to a world that yells contrary things at us constantly. If I may be allowed the analogy, perhaps this blog will be for some a haven of peace as Rivendell and Lothlorien were for the Fellowship; a place safe from the far Left voices of Mordor as well as the far Right voices of Saruman and Isengard.
I do not promise perfection, nor do I promise any theses of excellence. Merely posts on differing topics that may or may not pertain to each individual soul. I simply hope to help a few find comfort and strength on their path to holiness as they become heroic women. And even, if I may borrow the oh so medieval and not at all modern view of Teresa of Jesus of Avila, women who are not only heroic, but manly and strong.
May the Sanity and Sanctity of St Teresa prevail!
In the words of the Discalced Carmelites “Our Holy Mother Saint Teresa, pray for us!”
Sanity and Sanctity 