« Give us this day our Daily Bread » with Terese of Avila

As we rejoice to celebrate the Body and Blood of Christ,our Daily Bread, we gladly continue the meditations on the Pater Nosterwith our Holy Mother Teresa, inspired by Chapter 33 of The Way of Perfection. (We apologise for the delay in publishing the English version of this French poem!

Thanks to the person who turned it into another poem! And above all: Thanks to the Lord!)

The Master knew the frailty of our frame, How slow the heart to answer Love's pure flame; He knew how often, in its grief and night, The human soul turns from the Father's light.

To give to God alone the heart's full store Demands a labour known to few before; And many a soul, imprisoned by its pride, Withdraws from Him whom deep within it prized.

Tell one who feasts amid abundant gain To share his bread with those who live in pain; A thousand reasons quickly will arise To silence mercy's call and close his eyes.

Tell one consumed by envy to embrace The brother whom he views with cold disgrace; His troubled heart will murmur and resist, Unwilling still to yield to love's request.

And tell the soul that seeks some sweeter way, Content with comforts that too quickly stray, That God desires not words alone or vows, But all the hidden self that to Him bows.

For vows are not mere promises recited, But living flames before the Lord ignited; And holy poverty, in truth confessed, Requires a love that strips the soul of rest.

How few there are who freely choose to live The truth that only self-forgetting gives; Yet every soul that dares to lose its own Will find in God a treasure all unknown.

What would become of our poor hearts today Had Christ not come to bear our weight away? Who would have dared before God's throne to stand And pray: "Your holy will be done in every land"?

Then, seeing how our steps were weak and slow, How frail the love we longed yet failed to show, The Saviour gave the greatest gift above: Our Daily Bread, the sacrament of Love.

O sisters dear, behold this mystery bright: Our offering is small within His sight; Yet what He gives us, day by day anew, Surpasses all the love that we can do.