Born in Turin in 1661, she entered the Discalced Carmelite convent of St Christiana in 1675. She was elected prioress and novice mistress of the convent several times and was subject of continuing spiritual trials, but was constant in her ardent love of God. She was known for her devotion to St Joseph and her outstanding faithfulness to prayer. She founded a convent in honour of St Joseph at Moncalieri.
True love of God cannot be hidden (a reading from The Way of Perfection, by StTeresa of Avila)
Anyone who really loves God, loves everything good, wants everything good, stands up for everything good, praises everything good, always sides with good people and supports them and defends them. People like this only love what is geniune and things that deserves to be loved.
Do you think anyone who really and truly loves God could love anything worthless? Of course not – things like money or wordly trinkets or pleasures or honours: they are not going to fight about things like that, or to be envious over them! Why? Because all they bother about is pleasing their Beloved. They are dying for his love, so their whole lives are devoted to finding out how to please him more. And as for concealing the fact – why, if genuine, love for God is impossible to hide! All you need to do is at St Paul or the Magdalen. One of them, St Paul, only took three days to realize he was ill with love; the Magdalen knew the first day. And how well the understood it!
But there’s this about it: there can be more, or less love. And the way to tell how strong it is, is this: if there is not much it will not be very obvious, but it will if there is a lot. But however much there is, the love of God will always show itself. (After Disclaced Carmelite Proper Offices, picture after ‘AnaStPaul Breathing Catholic’ blog)
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