"In an article written by an Augustinian priest, I read the I following sentence: "Focusing only on the eminently human character of her life, that on the other hand belonged all to God, was pervaded totally by God and dedicated wholly to the service of God, St Teresa, without a doubt, is one of the most generous and attractive souls that have come into the world.
What do I want to tell you by sending you this copy? You have guessed, so why say it then? An eminently human character. What do you think of this? If you could see how convinced I am of this! The writings of St Teresa say so; it emerges from reading her works. I want our work to be like that. Do you not think it right that our undertaking carries the name Teresian?
That life belonging totally to God. That must be your life: belonging completely to God. But being wholly of God, you must also stand out with an eminently human character, a character that, being informed by a life belonging totally to God, is perfected without ceasing to be natural. That this is the way St Teresa was, who doubts it? And because of this, she won such universal affection. How could it not be recognized? If that life was fully of God, could she be other than generous? Pervaded by God. Yes, that God who made what is human to perfect it and not to be destroyed. Who better than ourselves knows about these things?
Dedicated fully to the service of God. But in the way in which he wants to be served and as he wants to be served. Are we not in total agreement? When will we see this ideal realized? I think, yes, totally human lives, households where what is human governs. But as I understand that these lives cannot be as we desire them unless they belong to God, I seek to begin by filling with God those who are to live this truly human life by dedicating the members of this family in which true humanism is to reign to God. Will there be an overflowing of generosity? Certainly. Will we find warm appreciation? Most surely. In you I see the prototype of our Work and, in the development of your Teresian identity, the confirmation of my system. Are we aiming to destroy what is human? Never. That is an illusion. Seeking the perfection of what is human by other means? A vain pursuit. Do we dispense with God in order to perfect his work? A fanciful folly. Do you not think that the procedure is simple, the process reasonable, and the result of this system certain? Am I being clear? May God grant that you may all understand me.
God leans towards the human being; the human being tends toward God. Humanity was assumed by the Son of God —God like the Father— never to leave it; and that adorable humanity, in the divine person, was elevated to its greatest perfection. The human was perfected and divinized, because it was filled with God. The Incarnation, well understood, the person of Christ, his nature and his life, provide for those who understand it the sure standard for becoming holy, with the truest holiness, being, at the same time, fully human with true humanism. In being so, we shall be generous and our work will be attractive. Our Model? St Teresa. May we ourselves at least come to know our Saint well, understand her doctrine and practice it according to her teachings and example."