Special Treasure

A painting of unknown origin of the Transverberation of
Saint Teresa was a gift to the monastery from the St.Mary's
Cathedral Parish in Natches, Mississippi. During the
American Civil War, communicants of St.Mary's Parish
entrusted their treasures to Bishop Elder to be stored on the
Church property. Many paintings were stashed away in the
Cathedral rafters.

In the 1960's, approximately 30 art treasures were discovered still hidden away in the Cathedral loft. When they were pictured in the daily paper, the Carmelite nuns recognized a scene which was unidentifiable to the art critic. It was a painting of Saint Teresa's Transverberation.

A local artist, Mr.Jerry McWilliams, restored the painting which is now venerated at the Monastery.