Meditations and Prayers for young People

When SAINt Teresa of Jesus of the Andes lived in Santiago Chile, her perfect qualities related to virtue were shown in everything she did, and for this reason she was loved by many. Her perfect qualities came as a result of her relationship with Jesus and His Mother. Today she has left us an example of perfect qualities for young people to follow. Being gifted in this way by Jesus, it gives everyone who invites her into their lives a real feeling of confidence. A confidence, in whom young people can put their trust which gives them a real sense of security. In this way young people today are attracted to Saint Teresa of Jesus who becomes for them: mother, friend, confidant, companion, and advocator before Jesus. When she was a young girl, she benefited greatly from spending time with Jesus and Mary. During the time she spent with them, she unburdened herself, and also put into practice everything they taught her. Today she wants to help young people in the same way. She invites young people to befriend her, and unburden themselves to her. She in turn takes each child under her wing, and powerfully intercedes for them. From her intercession, her adopted children will receive streams of grace which will elevate them, and give them an understanding that is from God. Furthermore, it is through her intercession that her children will also receive the grace to unburden themselves to Jesus and Mary. Saint Teresa of Jesus will accompany each young person, when they spend time with Jesus and Mary in prayer and meditation. She invites all young people spend time on the following meditations with her as her companion.

Why these Meditations are Important

It is supremely beneficial for young people to have an experience of Jesus in their lives at an early age, and also that they come to know His Holy Mother. The world today unfortuately makes it difficult for this to happen. Regardless of the difficulties and pressures of modern trends, a relationship with Jesus and His Mother is the most important thing in our life, and they must take first place. As part of being in relationship with them, they will help us to be successful in everything we do that pleases them. The joy of having their friendship will give us much strength to bear all our daily difficulties well. Jesus and Mary bring their Love, and the quality of Life that is happiest. In our relationship with them we will discover true friendship. And, in a wonderful way their true friendship with us will seep into every aspect of our lives, including our other relationships that we have.

       The essential way to get to know Jesus and Mary is through reading Holy Scripture, and spending much time in prayer and meditation. In addition to this, it is through prayer, holy reading, and meditation that we stay in contact with them which is an absolute necessity.  By doing this, which is very pleasing to them, we will be aided by them tremendously. Jesus and Mary will be the best friends that you will ever have, and in their Love you will receive blessing, protection, and goodness. 

       When Jesus and Mary are not first in our lives we bring much pain and sorrow into the world. When we live our lives apart from God, we assume harmful lifestyles and pick up bad practices that result in injuring others and ourselves. We do things that we are not proud of, and we become displeased with ourselves. The result of this, is that over time, we end up carrying a lot of things inside of us that make ourselves feel sad, lonely, afraid, and filled with anxiety. When Jesus and His Mother become part of our lives, we can anticipate a complete reversal of this trend. What makes the difference is Jesus’s Healing Love. For many of us His Healing Love is the greatest thing that happens to us in our Lives. His fiery Love enters into the recesses of our heart and soul and He fills our burdens, wounds, and brokeness with His Beautiful Self. Jesus and His Love are never separate from one another. When His Love enters—where there was once anxiety, fear, and sadness—warmth, love, peace, and joy now takes its place. He affirms us and loves us, and this is how we are rebuilt in His Love. To help you to experience His Healing Love, read the meditation that is provided below.

       Before you read one or both of the meditations below. Find a quiet place that will remain quiet for at least an hour. Put away anything that can become a distraction, like your cell phone. All music and videos must be turned off. Try to bring yourself to a place where you are calm on the inside, and say the The Invitation prayer to Saint Teresa of the Andes below as part of your preparation:

The Invitation Prayer

Saint Teresa of Jesus of the Andes,

be with me as my close friend from Heaven,

to pray for me, and to assist me,

when I do meditation, read, or pray,

in togetherness with Jesus and Mary. Amen.

      Then begin reading and thinking carefully about the words of the meditation below. It is a wonderful thing to talk to Jesus and Mary as though they are your friends. You will notice right away the happiness because you are carefully spending time with these meditations. It is recommended that you say these meditations often.

Meditation: ON THE CHAPEL GROUNDS

Imagine yourself on this particular day visiting a famous chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are a few other visitors attending the chapel, but behind the chapel there is a large, attractive, spacious area that is called “the chapel grounds.” As you gaze upon it, the thought that comes to mind is: “there is no other place on earth I’d would rather be; this place is magnificent.” The walkway of inlaid brick in front of you appears to be leading the way to a comfortable park bench that is insisting that you approach and recline. After reclining on the bench, you find yourself in full view of a very large statue of Our Lady holding in her Hands her beautiful Immaculate Heart. The chapel grounds themselves are luxurious and well kept, with towering pines and maples amidst lush green grass. While pulling your rosary out of your coat pocket to pray, you happen to observe a small breeze wisping some fallen leaves into a miniature whirlpool on the walkway. Looking down the walkway you see a woman that looks like the Blessed Virgin Mary walking toward you. She is dressed in a full length, white gown and veil that is very elegant. And, she has a delightful expression on her face of someone who knows you, and wants to speak with you. When she arrives she asks if the place next to you on the bench has been taken, and after taking the vacant space, she shows that she is feeling at home with you, and puts her left arm around you. Her beautiful facial features and warm smile reveals her identity, and excitedly you realize that it is Mary, Jesus’s Mother, who has put her arm around you. She is aware that you are in need of a friend, and she knows that you are feeling lonely and downcast. In a loving way she says, “I am sorry that you are anguishing about some troubles that you are having.” Then in a soft, sympathetic voice she asks, “Would like to say something about what is making you feel this way?” As you begin to speak, you are surprised at the ease with which you are able to express what is burdening you. With Mary’s help you are able describe to her your fears, anxieties, loneliness, grief, rejection, and other hurts to the last detail. Mary, in reply shows with an embrace that she cares, and that she is pleased with you for having shared this part of yourself with her.

       Mary in return shares some everyday stories about family life with Jesus and Joseph that are consoling, and they also make you smile. Then she asks you if you want to hold Jesus for a few moments. Mystified because He is nowhere in sight, you remain silent. Mary then extends her right hand in the direction of her Immaculate Heart on the statue in front of you. Large shafts of beautiful red and blue light streams downward, and in front of you. Then suddenly the Child Jesus appears, and then slides down the beams of light and lands in front of you. Seeing you He smiles, and leaps up on your lap.

       You feel his warmth as he rests on your lap, and looks at you with soft, loving eyes. Mary then says, “Repeat everything you said to me to Jesus.” Following her advice, you begin slowly and carefully, informing Him of everything that you had spoken about to Mary.

       Jesus’s beautiful eyes, become eyes of approval, and you begin to experience the warmth of His Love. Then he says, “I know all of this about you, and I want you to know that I was with you, and loved you in the midst of everything that had happened to you.” Then he says, “I want you to know that you are loved very much.” 

       Then again he explains that he knows everything, including the things that are hidden and buried deep inside. And, then he continues by saying, “My dear one, I was with you then, and I am with you now, and always. I love you, and I want you to feel My Healing Love profoundly within your heart.” Moved by this request you respond, “Oh please, Jesus. Yes.”

       “Then,” he says, “surrender everything to me.” “Give me everything that makes you, fearful, ashamed, alone, weary, and rejected. Pour out to me your sorrows, your anxieties, your doubts, and all the things that make you sad, and in its place I want to give you My love, light, joy, and My peace. Give me the poor image that you have of yourself and others, and in return I will give you a new way of seeing, that you may love yourself and others with My Love. I want to give you My Mother as your new companion, so in giving your heart to Her she will fill it with Her Love and My Love.” Emotionally softened  by Jesus’s words and experiencing the warmth of His Healing Love, your heart is overwhelmed. You surrender it completely, letting Jesus touch every hurt, negative feeling, and sorrow. Responding to Jesus’s Love, tears begin to flow amidst sobbing. While remaining in His love you begin to thank Jesus from your heart and you tell Him that you love Him.

       Then he says, “You are very special to Me, and I give myself to you completely. I want you to remain with Me forever.” Resting in silence, you continue to experience Jesus’s gentle love seeping into the deepest parts of yourself, touching every hurt, and negative feeling. Mary sits with you while you let His words, and the power of His healing love impress itself upon every particle of your heart, spirit, mind, and body. With tears streaming from your eyes, you show Jesus how grateful you are by embracing Him. He returns your embrace and says, “I love you my child.” 

       Then Jesus concludes by saying, “Do not hesitate to pour out your troubles to my Mother every day.” 

       Then Mary smiles and says, “It’s time to go.” You give Jesus another hug, and then present Him to His Mother with a happy reluctance. She smiles and gives you a hug, and then she quietly walks away with Jesus while holding His hand.

Meditation: Finding Rest in the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Mary’s Immaculate Heart has no doors; it’s a walk-in from every direction. There are no lines of people, and no noise from a busy world. When you arrive, even unexpectedly, you find that you are the only one here.

       Inside Mary’s Immaculate Heart you can clearly see that there is plenty of room. Though it is exhilarating to be in Mary’s heart, the ambiance is exceptionally pleasing, soothing, and peaceful. Feeling a little tense upon arrival, the first thought that comes to mind is, where can I make myself comfortable. Upon scanning the room, what pops into view is a huge red cushion near the sidewall. The appearance of the cushion is a pleading invitation for you to draw near and make yourself at home. Finding it hard to resist you cast yourself upon it, but, as chance would have it, this cushion happens to be the most incredibly soft, and comfortable cushion you have ever experienced. Immediately you find yourself saying: “Wow, what is it about this cushion that makes me feel like: all I want to do right now is relax.” After stretching and making yourself comfortable with much delight, you catch sight of a beautifully scripted sign on the opposite wall that reads: LEARN FROM ME AND YOU WILL FIND REST (Mt 11:29). “How does Mary know, that the thing I need most right now is rest.”

       Then without understanding why, every sense of the word relaxation begins to seep into your body—one muscle at a time—from the red cushion that has now formed itself around you. Every bone, every tense muscle, and nerve is inclining itself toward being flexible. Every tension, and every negative feeling is wanting to unwind, and leave your mind and body—no deadlines, no worries to resolve, and no tasks to undertake. The only thing to do is relax. 

       As you lie there in tranquil repose, you suddenly realize that Jesus is very near. The ultimately satisfying cushion wrapped around you, begins to feel like His loving arms. Realizing this with much delight, you begin to allow relaxation from His loving arms to seep into the last remaining tense areas. Now, you are completely at ease—resting the utmost rest. Like a child at rest in the arms of his loving father, you are now at rest in the strength of the arms of Jesus. Slowly you take into your heart His peace, and His affirming love.

       This experience is so satisfying, that a strong desire to part with every remaining thread of tension, even to the slightest degree, emerges. The result is that you let it all go, and freefall into the Love of Jesus. In the state of perfect rest and resignation, He begins to fill you with His Healing Love. Overwhelmed, you allow His healing love to seep into the very center of your being and every fiber of your body. If a worry or a care finds its way in, say to yourself, “It’s OK to leave the pressing things in my life unfinished, this is far more important right now.” Rest, unwind, and relax, continue to let every tension, anxiety, fear, self-condemnation, and other negative feelings go. Let His marvelous Love take their place. 

       This experience of Jesus is so powerfully affirming that you say to yourself, “Jesus loves me for me being who I am, how wonderful.” This new thought resonates in your mind and fills you with much delight and peace. And then you find yourself saying over and over, “Jesus loves me for me being who I am, thank you Jesus.”

       While continuing to receive His healing love and letting go of every possible negative tension, you sense that your stay has now come to an end. Slowly you open your eyes, and to your surprise you see exit-only doors in every direction. Your responsibilities are making themselves heard. And, after a heartfelt utterance of love and thank you to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and her Son, you make a slow stride to your exit.