“Nade Te Turbe:” The Intra-Carmelite Formation Program Presents Teresa of Avila

Sister Vilma Seelaus, OCD, daily gave indepth presentations of the life and spirituality of Saint Teresa of Avila

By: Brother Edgar Lopez, O.Carm., novice

Even though I have had classes about Teresa of Avila before, I learned a lot more about both her life and spirituality at this year’s ICFP (Intra-Carmelite Formation Program). The program this year was held at the Precious Blood Retreat Center in Columbia, Pennsylvania (near Harrisburg). Sister Vilma Seelaus, OCD, of Barrington Carmel (Rhode Island) gave all the lectures, and Sister Catherine Martin, O.Carm., of the Carmelite Sisters of Louisiana led the students each afternoon in the visual arts.

From Sister Vilma I learned that Teresa’s style of writing is very clear and very descriptive; that she says what she wants to say clearly. I was especially struck by Teresa’s description of the souls in hell. From Sister Catherine I learned that the visual arts can help us understand ourselves, especially our interior selves. Both approaches, Sister Vilma’s lectures and Sister Catherine’s art classes both were good approaches for the spiritual journey.

What struck me even more than the presentations about Teresa of Avila were all the Carmelites that were there—thirty-five attended the program. Most were from women’s communities. It was good to see so many in formation and to learn of their formation programs. Sometimes I can get caught up in my own program and I forget that Carmel is so much bigger than I am and even bigger than our own formation program. It is good to see that Carmel is thriving.