Carmelite Calendar

Today the Carmelite Order honours St Teresa Margaret [Redi] of the Most Sacred Heartof Jesus, an 18th century nun who reached the heights of mystical contemplation. Her sanctity was recognized immediately aided by the miraculous preservation of her body from corruption. But she was not canonized until 1934.

From her Decree of Canonisation:

BRIEF as it was, Teresa Margaret's whole life may be regarded as one continual raising up of her guiltless soul to God. . . .

. . . .The fires of her love were fed principally by the Eucharist, and she looked forward with longing to her communions. She was also especially devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion which did much to curb the advances of Jansenism at that time in Tuscany. She was utterly devoted to Our Lady, whom she regarded as the model and protectress of her own virginal purity. She was endowed to a high degree with the gift of contemplative prayer, and daily grew closer to God, as though reflecting the glories of the eternity she was fast approaching.

This year her feast day falls on the first Friday of the month which is dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The original collect for her feast day:

Deus, qui beatæ Teresiæ Margaritæ Virgini de fontibus Salvatoris inæstimabiles dedisti puritatis et caritatis haurire, thesauros : da nobis, quæsumus; ut, ipsa interveniente, iisdem mereamur donis cælesitibus abundare. Per eumdem Dominum. Amen.

O God, Who didst grant to the virgin blessed Teresa Margaret, to draw from the wounds of Our Saviour the pricelss treasures of purity and love, grant to us also that through her intercession we may abound in these same heavenly gifts: through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Her collect in the Pauline Rite:

Father, you enabled Saint Teresa Margaret Redi to draw untold resources of humility and charity from the fountain-head, our Savior. Through her prayers may we never be separated from the love of Christ. Grant this through our Lord. Amen.

There is a wonderful collection of material on St Teresa Margaret at this website, including a contemporary portrait.