Mastodawn

Quote of the day, 16 April: St. Teresa Margaret

She who is silent everywhere finds peace.

Saint Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart

Sister Teresa Margaret’s veiling ceremony was April 7, 1766, almost a month after her profession. She still wore the white veil of a novice, which meant that the final seal remained, to complete officially—at least in outward appearance—her consecration.

The black veil, symbol of sacrifice and complete dedication, is placed on her head by the officiating priest, in the presence of her friends and relatives in the chapel, and once more Sister Teresa Margaret knelt before the open grille as Mass was celebrated.

On the altar lay the veil ready to be blessed during the ceremony, while the community sang the words Amo Christum: “I love Christ, into whose bridal chamber I will go….” Now the celebrant was moving toward the grille. “Veni Sponsa Christi,” he intoned, and the choir took up the words, singing the antiphon: “Come, bride of Christ, receive the crown which the Lord has prepared for you from all eternity.”

Sister Teresa Margaret rose from her knees and, standing in the middle of the choir, made her response: “Receive me, O Lord, according to thy word, and let not my expectations be confounded.”

Mother Victoria led her to the small Communion grille which stood open, and again she knelt. The priest approached, then extending his hands through the grating, placed the veil on her head, saying: “Receive the sacred veil, the emblem of holy reverence and continence; carry it before the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ to gain eternal life and to live forever.”

Enveloped now in the large black veil which completely covered her face, Sister Teresa Margaret returned to the middle of the choir, standing before the large grating, and replied: “He has set His seal upon my countenance, so that I allow no other love but Him.”

Margaret Rowe

Chapter 13, Her profession

Rowe M 2003, God Is Love: Saint Teresa Margaret , Her Life, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Featured image: This detail of the portrait of St. Teresa Margaret was painted by Florentine artist Anna Bacherini Piattoli. She captured the image of the incorrupt saint during the weeks between her death and burial. St. Teresa Margaret was not yet 23 years old at the time of her death. The painting is venerated at the Monastery of St. Teresa of the Discalced Carmelite nuns in Florence, Italy. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

#blackVeil #brideOfChrist #DiscalcedCarmelite #solemnProfession #StTeresaMargaretOfTheSacredHeart

Spirituality & Religious Studies Oct 9, 2025

St. Dorothy/Dorothea of Caesarea

St. Dorothy is a 4th century virgin martyr who was executed at Caesarea Mazaca. She’s called a martyr of the late Diocletianic Persecution. Although her death happened after the resignation of Diocletian himself.

Dorothea & her companion, Theophilus, are mentioned in the Roman Martyrology as martyrs of Caesarea in Cappadocia. Her feast day is on February 6. She’s officially recognized as a virgin martyr.

She was removed from the General Roman Calendar by Pope Paul VI’s motu proprio Mysterii Paschalis, being judged as not having “universal significance.” Her feast day does still remain in some regional calendars & the Tridentine Calendar.

Her early life is unknown. The first record of her, Martyrologium Hieronymianum, only has 3 basic facts: her day of martyrdom, the place where it happened, & her name & Theophilus’ name.

Dorothea of Caesarea, virgin & martyr, was persecuted during the persecution of Diocletian on February 6, 311 at Caesarea in Cappadocia. She was brought before the prefect Sapricius, tried, tortured, & sentenced to death. On the way to the place of execution, the pagan lawyer, Theophilus said, mockingly, “Bride of Christ, send me some fruits from your bridegroom’s garden.”

Before she was executed, she sent him, by a 6 year old boy, her headdress which was found to be filled with a heavenly fragrance of roses & fruits. Theophilus at once confessed himself a Christian, was put on the rack, & suffered death. This is the oldest version of the legend.

In the Western church, Dorothy of Caesarea has been venerated since the 7th century. In the late medieval Sweden, St. Dorothy was considered to be the 15th of the Holy Helpers.

In art, she’s accompanied with Saints Barbara, Catherine, & Margaret. They form a quartet of female virgin martyrs called Quattuor Virgines Capitales, meaning, “The Four Capital Virgins.”

She’s the patroness of gardeners. Because of her virginal attribute of a wreath of roses. On her feast day (February 6), trees are blessed. She’s also the patroness of brewers, brides, florists, midwives, newlyweds, & the village of Pescia, Italy. The Sisters of St. Dorothy is a congregation of sisters/nuns, who are occupied with teaching.

St. Dorothy is often pictured as a virgin carrying a basket of flowers, sometimes with fruit, & also wearing a crown of roses. She has also been pictured as being surrounded by stars as she kneels before an executioner; crowned with palm, referring to the martyr’s palm; in an enclosed garden or an orchard with the Christ Child in an apple tree; leading the Christ Child by the hand; veiled with flowers in her lap; & holding apples from Heaven.

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#4thCentury #6February311 #7thCentury #AppleTree #Brewers #BrideOfChrist #Bridegroom #Brides #Caesarea #CaesareaMazarca #Cappadocia #ChristChild #Christian #DiocletianicPersecution #DorotheaOfCaesarea #EmperorDiocletian #February6 #Florists #FourCapitalVirgins #Gardeners #GeneralRomanCalendar #Heaven #HolyHelpers #Italy #Martyr #MartyrSPalm #Martyrdom #MartyrologiumHieronymianum #Midwives #MotuProprio #MysteriiPaschalis #Newlyweds #Nuns #Pescia #PopePaulVI #QuattuorVirginesCapitales #RomanMartyrology #Roses #Sapricius #SistersOfStDorothy #StBarbara #StCatherine #StDorothy #StMargaret #Sweden #Theophilus #TridentineCalendar #Virgin #VirginMartyr #WesternChurch #WreathOfRoses

Carmelite Quotes Apr 20, 2025

Quote of the day, 21 April: St. Edith Stein

A few months previously a young Cologne girl had entered the small novitiate at Lindenthal. Wide-eyed, she had observed Sr. Benedicta and all the happenings on her special day. Now she clung to Sr. Benedicta like a small trusting child and asked, “How does Your Charity feel?”

Sr. Benedicta answered in a tone that cannot be imitated: “Like the Bride of the Lamb.”

Sr. Teresia Renata Posselt, O.C.D.

Recalling Edith Stein’s profession on Easter Sunday, 1935
Carmel of Cologne-Lindenthal

Note: To her good friend Mother Petra Bruning, OSU, Edith wrote:

The Bridegroom sends you the little wreath of myrtle with which your love decorated him, him as well as the bridal candle, the candles on the table, the napkin, cutlery, etc. [from Edith’s temporary profession, 21 April 1935]. The Bride wore a wreath of white roses. I was very happy to hear where the adornments came from. Heartfelt thanks for them.

Temporary Profession, 21 April 1935

Posselt, T 2005, Edith Stein: The Life of a Philosopher and Carmelite, translated from the German by Batzdorff S, Koeppel J, and Sullivan J, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Featured image: A simple wreath of white flowers rests on rustic wooden planks, evoking the bridal crown worn by Edith Stein on the day of her temporary profession. Image credit: tab62 / Adobe Stock. Asset ID# 102178876. Licensed under Adobe Stock standard terms.

⬦ Reflection Question ⬦
Do I allow myself to be claimed by Christ with the joyful trust of a bride, wholly His and wholly loved?
⬦ Join the conversation in the comments.

#brideOfChrist #CarmelOfCologne #LambOfGod #novitiate #religiousProfession #StEdithStein #StTeresaBenedictaOfTheCross #TeresiaRenataPosselt