St Elizabeth of the Trinity

St Elizabeth of the Trinity

(Feast day, 8th November)

Teacher of Prayer

Elizabeth can rightly be called a “teacher of prayer”, but not in the sense that she spells out for us a method or way of praying. Rather, she shares her own experience with us and invites us to open ourselves to the gift of the Spirit present in our heart. She challenges and encourages: “Let us live with God as with a friend, let us make our faith a living faith in order to be in communion with Him through everything, for that is what makes saints.”

Elizabeth's health was not robust. Her mother worried about her when she entered Carmel. She seemed to be perfectly well after her enterance into Carmel bot in 1905 

Addison's disease was diagnosed. She accepted her condition with peace and grace and prepared to meet her beloved three. During her illness Elizabeth wrote many letters encouraging others and helping them in their spiritual lives. Her "Major" writings were writen in the last months of her illness.

Elizabeth died on the 9th November 1906.

 I think that in Heaven my missin will be to draw souls by helping them to go out themselves in order to cling to God by a wholly simple and loving movement, and to keep them in this great silence within which will allow God to communicate Himself to them and to transform them into Himself.

 

October 28th 1906

Letter 335