The Soul of a Woman

The soul of a woman must…be expansive

and open to all human beings;

It must be quiet,

so that no small weak flame will be extinguished by stormy

winds;

warm,

so as not to benumb fragile buds;

clear,

so that no vermin will settle in dark corners and recesses;

self-contained,

so that no invasions from without can peril the inner life;

empty of itself,

in order that extraneous life may have room in it;

finally, mistress of itself, and also of its body,

so that the entire person is readily at the disposal of every call.

-St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)