https://www.thetimes.com/world/euro...recreated-510-years-after-her-birth-jwg7rwz5j Face of beloved Spanish saint recreated 510 years after her birth St Teresa of Avila has long been celebrated in art but now science has given Catholic devotees a glimpse of how she may have looked
https://aleteia.org/2025/03/28/teresa-of-avila-study-brings-reconstructed-image-of-her-face Professor Jennifer Mann, an expert in forensic medicine from Australia, was in charge of reconstructing the face of the saint. Now, on Teresa's 510th birthday, we see her again. as part of the ongoing research into the remains of St. Teresa of Avila, a famous Spanish Carmelite and Doctor of the Church, this March 28, the team revealed a reconstruction of the saint's face. Today is the 510th anniversary of the birth of the saint in 1515. The face reconstruction is based both on forensics and historical testimonies. It depicts Teresa at age 50, when she lived in the Monastery of St. Joseph in Avila The research team has been led by an Italian professor, but the project of reconstructing the face was entrusted to an Australian professor: Jennifer Mann, from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine at Monash University. “Professor Ruggero D'Anastasio, from the Italian team, contacted me to lead this facial reconstruction,” explains Mann. ”They provided me with exceptional data: detailed anthropomorphic measurements and X-rays taken from multiple angles.” In addition, Mann was able to use a portrait painted by Friar Juan de la Miseria as well as a detailed description by Mother María de San José, who lived with the saint and highlighted details such as her arched eyebrows and three distinctive moles.
I think she must have looked like this. People who met her tended to love her. Such a very,very beautiful face. Beautiful because it is full of love.
Incredibly beautiful! I have always been so close to St Theresa, the Little Flower and I still am, but I hAve been reading St Teresa of Avila's writings and they are incredible, especially on meditation.
I am keen to practice Christian meditation but am unsure how it is done and how it differentiates from other forms of meditation.
I was taught as a child a very formal way to set up a meditation. But it never worked for me. But i find when I am in front of the Blessed Sacrament the mysteries of the Rosary are a good place to start. So I just contemplate them in a kind of dialogue with Jesus. Yesterday I spent almost the whole hour thinking about His temptation in the desert and His agony in the garden. I read both passages in scripture and" talked" to Our Lord about it. Nothing dramatic. Just what I saw and thought about it and what I understood. It became a kind of prayer. I don't know if this helps or not but it certainly seems like meditation. Our Lady told St Catherine Laboure that when she is in front of the Blessed Sacrament to " tell Him your joys. Tell Him your sorrows. And then listen. If He speaks to you thank Him. If He doesn't speak to you thank Him for we do not deserve that He should speak to us." I can attest to the power of this "prayer" Our Lady advised. I hope this helps.
Thanks Ann. I was trying to practice something like mindfulness but I'm not sure if that is compatible with Catholicism
Sounds like beautiful mental prayer time and a close conversation with a friend. We complicate prayer often. Sometimes, we forget He wants to be heard too and we need to stop talking and listen with our heart.
I have had arguments with Jesus when in front of the Blessed Sacrament and on occasion have heard a response. They are usually about decisions I am wrestling with and I get direction in some way .
I would suggest that the Catholic equivalent of mindfulness is keeping a clean consciousness/mind/spirit/heart (all previously mentioned are one single entity) while obeying the Commands of Jesus. There are many many saints who go into detail regarding this throughout time since Christ came. The desert Fathers in particular. I would recommend reading St. Isaac the Syrian. However this kind of thing doesn't come via the intellect. The Holy Spirit will reveal it to you over time as you read and practice. The very fact you are interested is a good sign.
I should also mention that much of this kind of practice has been lost over the centuries so there aren't many, if any, in the way of teachers in the Catholic church currently. I would argue that the tradition of "mindfulness" was better held in the Orthodox church. That being said, St. Seraphim of Sarov became a great saint without any teacher and simply read books by other saints on the matter. Of course he was very devoted.
Not to beat a dead horse but here is an excellent audio book on Christian mindfulness. For me, this book gives a very unique and beautiful perspective in regards to the practice of Christian mindfulness. I have listened to it several times because of this.
I am new at this meditation but I do know that St Teresa of Avila talked about quiet prayer. When we have no words, just stare at the crucifix...in silence. Sometimes there are no words for us to say because things can be rough...I hope to do some online Eucharistic Adoration tonight and I will also try that. No words are needed.
If you read her book, “Way Of Perfection” she goes into great detail on mental prayer. She teaches her Nuns how to do it. It’s easier for some people. But when you practice it and do it faithfully it will open a whole spiritual world for you. First is meditation, then contemplation.
