Avila Alexandra Ang

What's behind the name?

First Name: AVILA

We always want to name our daugther with a name that is simple, meaningful, and -if possible- unique. We want a name to remind us how God has done His great work in us. We chose the name 'Avila' as a tribute of one of our favorite saints: St. Teresa from Avila. St. Teresa was a virgin, a holy woman, a woman of prayer, a woman for God. She was well known for her wisdom and the Catholic Church gave her the title: Doctor of The Church. To tell a brief story about St. Teresa, let us start from what we really like about her.

St. Teresa was a woman who stood on her own two feet, even in the man's world of her time. Beautiful, talented, outgoing, adaptable, affectionate, courageous, enthusiastic... those are her characters, at least those are our perspectives on her from some references that we read. Like Jesus, she was a mystery of paradoxes: wise, yet practical; intelligent, yet much in tune with her experience; mystic, yet an energetic reformer.

St. Teresa was a woman of prayer, discipline, and compassion. Her heart belonged to God. She traveled, wrote, fought. Always to renew. In her self, in her prayer, in her life, in her efforts, in all the people she touched, she was a woman who inspired and gave life to others. Her writings on prayer and contemplation are powerful, practical and graceful. Here are some quotes from her writings and prayers:

- All things must come to the soul from its roots, from where it is planted.
- The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruits.
- There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.
- To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.
- We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can - namely, surrender our will and fulfill God's will in us.
- Here is my life, my honor, my will; I give all to You. Do with me what You will.
- I can do little, but approaching You I can do all things...

For more stories about St. Teresa of Avila, please visit: www.catholic.org

Baptismal Name: ALEXANDRA

There are many patrons who are commemorated in August (the month Avila was born) by Catholic Church; one of them is Saint Alexander of Comana. We choose him to be a patron of our daughter because the qualities that we like from him: his great education, his faith, and most importantly, his humility. Those are three qualities that we want our Avila to pursue in her life. St. Alexander is also a man of great capabilities and a very spiritual person. He gave up his life for the Faith. Also, he certainly has a catchy name :).

St. Alexander, the Bishop of Comana, is also recognized as Alexander The Charcoal Burner. Here is why: Alexander was a Greek philosopher and that he possessed great honor and position but he rejected all, humbled himself and made himself a charcoal burner to be a "fool for the sake of Christ" from the time when he had read and understood the Holy Scripture. People in that time were amazed at Alexander's wisdom and words of grace and could hardly recognize in this wise man, a quiet charcoal-burner. By his sanctity, wisdom and goodness, he gained the love of his flock.

In today's world, we have a tendency to judge other people based how the person looks like, the kinds of outer appearance. Sometimes this prejudice keeps us from discovering a person's hidden qualities and even from making friends with those who may have a real treasure in their hearts. The next time we find ourselves making such a judgment, Avila's baptismal name will remind us to bring to mind the life of Saint Alexander of Comana.

Men look upon clothes and the face, but God looks at the soul and the heart.
It is easier to cleanse the skin of a charcoal-burner than the blackened heart of a sinner.
The world judges things that are seen, but God judges heart that is hidden.

For more stories about St. Alexander of Comana, please visit: www.catholic-forum.com

And now, these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love....
but the greatest of these is LOVE.

Last modified: November 26, 2006