Discussion of Ch. 15 - Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila - The Life of Teresa of Jesus

The Life of Holy Mother
       Teresa of Jesus

The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus,
of the Order of Our Lady of Carmel.

Discussion of Chapter 15

- Continuing the same subject,
- she gives certain advice
     how one should behave in the prayer of quiet.
   She shows that many souls advance so far,
     but that few go beyond.
   The matters treated of in this chapter
     are very necessary and profitable.
- Instructions for Those
    Who Have Attained to the Prayer of Quiet.
   Many Advance So Far, But Few Go Farther.
__________________________________

Topics for Discussion:

1a). St. Teresa continues from Chapter 14
         to describe further
         the "second degree of prayer".

      How does St. Teresa further describe
        the "second degree of prayer" ?
          [ Life: Ch. 14 #1, 2 ]
          [ Life: Ch. 15 #1, 6, 7, 23 ]

1b). Is the soul able to obtain or retain the
        'Prayer of Quiet' by its own efforts?
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #1, 6, 15 ]

1c). Are there many souls brought
         into the Second degree of Prayer
       by God?
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #2, 7 ]

      Are there many souls who are
         advanced by God beyond
      the Second Degree of Prayer?
        [ Life: Ch. 15 # 2, 7 ]

      Why don't more souls advance
         beyond the Second Degree of Prayer ?
          [ Life: Ch. 15 #11, 6, 7, 4, 2 ]


2). In the "second degree of prayer",
      while the "Prayer of Quiet" lasts,
     What is the condition of the faculties?
        (The Will, Understanding / Intellect,
                and Memory)
          [ Life: Ch. 14 # 3 ];
                   Ch. 15 # 2, 9, 14 ]

3). Why does St. Teresa say it is important
        to know about this Second Degree of prayer?
          [ Life: Ch. 14 # 6, 7,8 ]
                    Ch. 15 # 6, 7, 4, 23, 10, 22 ]

4). What advise does St. Teresa give
        to those whom God has brought
      to the Second Degree of Prayer?
        [ Life: Ch. 15 # 4,7,6,23,5,21,14,22,20,13,17,
                               18,19,9,12,10,11 ]

5). If a person is brought into the
       Second degree of prayer,
     should they never perform
       mental prayer or "vocal prayer" again ?
        [ Life: Ch. 15 #14 ]

6). If a quiet state is experienced by a soul,
        from where can it arise?
          [ Life: Ch. 15 # 15, 21, 22 ]

    How can the soul know the source ?
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #21, 22, 15 ]

    If it is actually a deceit of the devil,
       will the soul be harmed?
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #16 ]
___________________

1a). St. Teresa continues from Chapter 14
              to describe further
         the "second degree of prayer".

 How does St. Teresa further describe
       the "second degree of prayer" ?
         [ Life: Ch. 14 #1, 2 ]
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #1, 6, 7, 23 ]

Continuing from her description in Chapter 14
      of the Second degree of Prayer:
   St. Teresa defines the Second degree of prayer
       as a state in which:

   - the soul experiences the Prayer of Quiet
       (which is not a continuous state)
          [ Life: Ch. 15 #1 ]

   - "it is now touching on the supernatural"
         [ Life: Ch. 14 #2 ]

During the "Prayer of Quiet", the soul enjoys:
  - a consciousness of the presence of God,
  - peace
  - consolations ( joy, sweetness)

 "This quiet and recollection of the soul (is)
  - felt in the satisfaction and peace,
  - with very great joy and repose
      of the faculties,
  - and most sweet delight"

  - "It thinks...
       there is nothing further to wish for"

    It dares not move nor stir...even breathe"
      for fear the action would result in the
    loss of this temporary consolation.
     [ Life: Ch. 15 #1 ]

  - "is a little spark of the true love of Himself,
      -- which our Lord begins
             to enkindle in the soul;
      -- and His will is that
             the soul should understand
          what this love is
             by the joy it brings.

          and if men do not quench it
             by their faults,
          it is the beginning of the great fire...
             the flames of that most vehement
                love of God
         which His Majesty
            will have perfect souls to possess.
               [ Life: Ch. 15 #6 ]

     - "This little spark is
          a sign or pledge
          -- which God gives to a soul,
               in token of His having
              chosen it for great things,
          -- if it will prepare to receive them.
                 [ Life: Ch. 15 #7 ]

  St. Teresa states that the soul
    - is very conscious of:
       -- the closeness of God
       -- the possibility of advancement in prayer
       -- its own failings and imperfections
            and as a result “fears everything”

    - (But) Love and gratitude
        for this favor from God,
       -- “makes it to turn to God"
               despite all the punishments of hell
             which it can imagine".

       "it is the beginning of all good;
            the flowers have so thriven,
        that they are on the point of budding.

   - And this the soul sees most clearly,
      It is impossible to persuade it now
            that God was not with it,

   - ...(the soul) turns back upon itself,
         and beholds its own failings
             and imperfections.

  - If a soul
     -- loves greatly, and
     -- is thankful naturally,
          the remembrance of the mercies of God
             makes it turn to Him more effectually
          than all the chastisements of hell
            it can ever picture to itself"
             [ Life: Ch. 15 #23 ]

____________________________________

1b). Is the soul able to obtain or retain the
           'Prayer of Quiet' by its own efforts?
              [ Life: Ch. 15 #1, 6, 15 ]

  No.
    God brings those souls into the Second degree
       of Prayer according to His Will.

  The soul can not advance
      into the Second degree of Prayer
   by its own efforts or merits.

   Likewise, the experience of the 'Prayer of Quiet'
     (temporary strong awareness of the closeness
        of God, and its attendant joy)
   can neither be attained or prolonged
        by the soul's efforts or merits.)

   "The poor little soul...of itself ...
      - could do nothing to draw down this blessing
             on itself,
      - it is still less able to retain it
             a moment longer
        than our Lord wills it should remain"
          [ Life: Ch. 15 #1 ]

   "...it is not a thing that can be acquired"

   "... our nature is so greedy of sweetness,
        that it seeks for it in every way.

        But it becomes cold very soon;
          for, however much we try
              to make the fire burn,
        in order to obtain this sweetness,
          it does not appear that we do anything else
              but throw water on it, to put it out"
                 [ Life: Ch. 15 #6 ]

   - "...by endeavours of our own,
        ...we seek of ourselves,
      to pass onwards to this quiet of the will.
         - Then, no effect whatever is produced;
         - it is quickly over, and
         - aridity is the result.
             [ Life: Ch. 15 #15 ]

___________________________

1c). Are there many souls brought
            into the Second degree of Prayer
         by God?
           [ Life: Ch. 15 #2, 7 ]

        Are there many souls who
           advanced by God beyond
        the Second Degree of Prayer?
          [ Life: Ch. 15 # 2, 7 ]

         Why don't more souls advance
           beyond the Second Degree of Prayer ?
            [ Life: Ch. 15 #11, 6, 7, 4, 2 ]
______________________

   Are there many souls brought into the
      the Second degree of Prayer by God?

   St. Teresa said that many souls are brought
      by God to the Second Degree of Prayer.

   "for many are the souls
       who attain to this state"
          [ Life: Ch. 15 #2 ]

  "I know that many souls come thus far"
      [ Life: Ch. 15 #7 ]

    ______________________

   Are there many souls who
      advanced by God
   beyond the Second Degree of Prayer?

   St. Teresa stated (in paragraph #2)
      that few advance
    beyond the 2nd degree of prayer.

      "few are they who go farther"
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #2 ]

   Later, she clarified this by stating that
       in her experience,
   there are few persons that she knew
       who had advanced
  beyond the Second degree of prayer;

  But she thinks that
     "there must be many" in all
  because God is so patient and merciful.

      St. Teresa said that
        "there must be many"
         but from "what I have seen"
         "...those who go farther,
                as they ought to go,
           are so few"

      "...It is a great sorrow to me"
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #7 ]

      "I do not mean
          that they are absolutely few:
       There must be many,
       because God is patient with us,
          for some reasons;
       I speak of what I have seen.
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #7 ]

_______________

   Why don't more souls advance beyond
        the Second Degree of Prayer ?

- God advances souls according to His will.
   He knows what is beneficial for each soul.

      "...there is no reason whatever,
          except His mere goodness,
       why God should grant us
          so great a grace"
            [ Life: Ch. 15 #11]

- Because of the soul's faults

   "This spark...if men
       do not quench it by their faults,
     it is the beginning of the great fire"
       [ Life: Ch. 15 6]

   "This little spark is a...pledge
       which God gives to a soul,
     in token of His having
       chosen it for great things,
        -- if it will prepare to receive them.
             [ Life: Ch. 15 #7 ]

    And it is of great importance for the soul
      that has advanced so far as this
    to understand:
          -- the great dignity of its state,
          -- the great grace given it by our Lord...
              He, of His goodness, seems to make it
                 here, a denizen of heaven (resident),
              unless it be itself in fault.
                [ Life: Ch. 15 #4 ]

    - I know not who is in fault;
        (that the soul does not advance further)
      most certainly it is not God;

      for when His Majesty shows mercy
        unto a soul,
     so that it advances so far,
        I believe that He will not fail
     to be more merciful still,
     if there be no shortcomings on our part.
            [ Life: Ch. 15 #2 ]

____________________

2). In the "second degree of prayer", 
           while the "Prayer of Quiet" lasts,
         What is the condition of the faculties?
          ( The Will, Understanding / Intellect,
                and Memory)
                [ Life: Ch. 14 # 3 ]
                           Ch. 15 # 2, 9, 14 ]

The "Prayer of Quiet" is a time
     when the Will is occupied in God;
It is united with God and
   the soul experiencing peace and contentment.

However, the other faculties,
   the Intellect/Understanding and Memory
are not united in God.
If they are active,
   they may be a distraction to the Will.

In the "Prayer of Quiet",
  "while the recollection lasts,
...the Will abides in union with God,
   so its peace and quiet are not disturbed;

..although two of its powers be distracted"
    ( The Understanding/Intellect and
          Memory/Imagination)
            [ Life: Ch. 15 #2 ]

"The will alone is occupied
       in such a way that,
without knowing how
  it has become a captive,
it gives a simple consent
  to become the prisoner of God;
for it knows well what it is
  to be the captive of Him,
       it loves"
        [ Life: Ch. 14 #3]

"...commotion takes place now, and
   - the understanding comes forward, and
   - the memory is restless,
       and certainly to me these powers
      bring much weariness at times;

      for, though my memory is not strong,
      I cannot control it".
        [ Life: Ch. 15 #9 ]

   "The Will by degrees brings
      the understanding and the memory
     back again;

     for though the Will is not yet
        altogether absorbed,
     it continues still occupied
        without knowing how,
     so that, notwithstanding all the efforts
        of the Memory and the Understanding,
     they cannot rob it of its delight and joy
       [ Life: Ch. 15 #2 ]

 "the Understanding bestirs itself
     to make its thanksgiving
         in phrases well arranged;
  but the Will, in peace,
     not daring to lift up its eyes
        with the publican,
  makes perhaps a better act of thanksgiving
    than the Understanding,
  with all the tropes of its rhetoric".
    [ Life: Ch. 15 #14 ]

_______________________

3). Why does St. Teresa say it is important
      to know about this Second Degree of prayer?
       [ Life: Ch. 14 # 6, 7,8 ]
                  Ch. 15 # 6, 7, 4, 23, 10, 22 ]

St. Teresa say it is important to know
about this Second state of prayer
and other states because:

~ The soul will understand what is happening
     and understand how to cooperate
     with this gift and grace:

    - "His Majesty has begun to
          communicate Himself to this soul
          [ Life: Ch. 14 #6 ]

     - God wants the soul to "comprehend
          that (He) is so near to it,
            [ Life: Ch. 14 #7 ]

    - He means in a special way
         to begin a work in the soul
           [ Life: Ch. 14 #8 ]

    - The prayer of quiet...is a little spark
          of the true love of Himself,
       and His will is that the soul should
         understand what this love is
       by the joy it brings.
        [ Life: Ch. 15 #6 ]

   - This little spark is a sign or pledge
       which God gives to a soul,
      in token of His having
        chosen it for great things,
      -- if it will prepare to receive them.
          [ Life: Ch. 15 #7 ]

   - "This spark...however slight
       ...if men do not quench it
            by their faults,
       it is the beginning of the great fire,

       which sends forth...the flames
           of that most vehement love of God
        which His Majesty
           will have perfect souls to possess."
             [ Life: Ch. 15 #6 ]

     - It is a great gift,
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #7 ]

    - And it is of great importance for the soul
        that has advanced so far as this
       to understand
       -- the great dignity of its state,
       -- the great grace given it by our Lord, and
       -- how in all reason it should not
               belong to earth;
           because He, of His goodness,
               seems to make it here
           a denizen of heaven,
              unless it be itself in fault.
                [ Life: Ch. 15 #4 ]

     - "it is the beginning of all good;
           the flowers have so thriven,
        that they are on the point of budding.
          [ Life: Ch. 15 #23 ]

         -- And miserable will that soul be
                if it turns back;
            it will go down,
               ...even to the abyss,"
                  [ Life: Ch. 15 #4 ]

~ The soul will know how to proceed

    "when our Lord begins to bestow these graces
         upon it, (the soul)
         - does not understand them, and
         - does not know what to do with itself;

            "for I have suffered greatly,
               and lost much time,
             because I did not know
               what to do"
                  [ Life: Ch. 14 #10 ]

     - a great comfort...
          it sees clearly that it is
             travelling on that road"
              [ Life: Ch. 14 #10 ]

    - "The knowledge of what it has to do
           is a great blessing for it,

        so that it may advance forwards
           in every one of
        these degrees of prayer"
          [ Life: Ch. 14 #10 ]

~ Since "The effects on the soul
       ...begin to be supernatural..."
     it is also necessary
       "that men might know...
     whether they come from
        the Spirit of God".

     St. Teresa stated
         that it is also important
     that one understand this state
         so that they are not deluded
     by the devil or by themselves.
          [ Life: Ch. 14 # 22, 23 ]
__________________________

4). What advise does St. Teresa give to those
         whom God has brought to
       the Second Degree of Prayer?
       [ Life: Ch. 15 #  4,7,6,23,5,21,14,22,20,13,
                                 17,18,19,9,12,10,11 ]

~ Recognition and Thanksgiving and
      Cooperation with this grace

    - "it is of great importance for the soul
          that has advanced so far as this
       to understand
       - the great dignity of its state,
       - the great grace given it by our Lord, and"
       - how God seems to be preparing it to be
            a "denizen of heaven" (resident),
         unless the soul, itself, loses its way
            through faults and errors.
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #4 ]

     - "to take care that they
         do not hide their talent"
          [ Life: Ch. 15 #7 ]

     - is a little spark of the true love of Himself,
         which our Lord begins
             to enkindle in the soul;
       and His will is,
         that the soul should understand
            what this love is..

      and if men do not quench it
        by their faults,
      it is the beginning of...
        that most vehement love of God
          [ Life: Ch. 15 #6 ]

     ...a pledge of His having
         chosen it for great things,
    if it will prepare to receive them.
      [ Life: Ch. 15 #7 ]

   - "it is the beginning of all good;
          the flowers have so thriven,
      that they are on the point of budding.
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #23 ]
~ Prayer

      - "What I earnestly advise is this:
            let there be no giving up of prayer;
          It is by prayer they will
            -- understand what they are doing, and
            -- obtain from our Lord
                  the grace to repent, and
                 (the) strength to rise again;

         They must believe and believe again that,
            if they cease from praying,
         they run...into danger".
            [ Life: Ch. 15 #5 ]

        "They...will find it necessary,
            if they would be delivered
         from offending God, and
           from the commission of sin,
         to make use of the first armour of prayer,
         -- to call to mind
             --- how everything is coming to an end,
             --- that there is a heaven and a hell, and
         -- to make use of other reflections
                   of that nature,
             when they find themselves assailed
                   by temptations and persecutions.
                     [Life: Ch. 15 #21 ]

       Even in advanced states of prayer,
          mental prayer is not to be given up;
       and there will be times when the faculties
          are able to perform vocal prayer.
       "...mental prayer is
            not to be abandoned altogether now,
            nor even vocal prayer,
        if at any time we wish, or can...
           make use of either of them;
            [ Life: Ch. 15 #14 ]

~ Humility and Self-Knowledge
     - Always mindful of our faults so we are
           aware of our weaknesses

     - Humility is always important,
           especially if one is receiving special graces.
       They are not acquired by merit.
       Nor are they a guarantee of holiness.

       St. Teresa reminds those
          who have received these graces that
       "of ourselves we have no good in us"
           [ Life: Ch. 15 #22 ]

        "I am not saying that
            they will never offend God,
                         nor fall into sin...
         we are miserable creatures"
            [ Life: Ch. 15 #5 ]

         "I implore those souls to whom His Majesty
             has given so great a grace--
          the attainment of this state
           -- to know (themselves) and"
           -- to conduct themselves
                 "with a humble and holy presumption,
               in order that they may never return
                    to the flesh-pots of Egypt".
                     [ Life: Ch. 15 #5 ]

       "the growth of the soul
            is not like that of the body"
         (St. Tereasa seems to be saying here
              that the soul, after adulthood
           can enlarge through spiritual growth or
           can diminish in size if one is neglectful,
               carelessness, at fault, or falls)

               "It must be in order
                 - to humble us for our greater good, and
                 - to keep us from being careless
                      during our exile...

           ...he who has ascended the higher
              has the more reason
              - to be afraid, and
              - to be less confident in himself.
                   [ Life: Ch. 15 #20 ]

        "...a little striving after humility,
           and a single act thereof,
         are worth more than all the
           (learning) in the world.
              [ Life: Ch. 15 # 13 ]

~ Be Cautious so as not to fall
    - using caution and
       avoiding the occasion of sin

       "those who have received these graces
          should keep themselves carefully
       from sin"
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #5 ]

      "miserable will that soul be
         if it turns back;
       it will go down...even to the abyss,
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #4 ]

~ If fallen, seek Reconciliation and
       Return to prayer

    - "And if ...they should fall...
         let them always
         -- keep in mind
               the good they have lost;
         -- suspect and fear...that,
               if they do not resume their prayer,
             they may go on from bad to worse".
               [ Life: Ch. 15 #5 ]

         "It is by prayer they will...
              obtain from our Lord
          the grace to repent, and
            (the) strength to rise again;
               [ Life: Ch. 15 #5 ]

~ Detachment
      "The great source of our deliverance
          from the cunning devices
       and the sweetness which Satan sends
       - is to begin with a resolution
          -- to walk in the way of the Cross
                from the very first, and
          -- not to desire any sweetness at all,
                seeing that our Lord Himself
              has pointed out to us
                the way of perfection, saying,
             'Take up thy cross and follow Me.'
                [Mt 16:24]

        He is our example;
           and whosoever follows His counsels
        only to please Him
           has nothing to fear"
             [ Life: Ch. 15 #21 ]

       "...the great (aim) of souls is,
           when they begin to pray,
       - to begin also to detach themselves
            from every kind of joy, and
       - to enter on it resolved only on
            helping to carry the cross of Christ
        ...their eyes directed
            to the true and everlasting kingdom"
              [ Life: Ch. 15 #17]

       "labouring to keep in mind
         -- that all things here below
              are of short duration,
         -- that they are all nothing,
         -- that (all) the rest we have here
               is to be accounted as (nothing)"

       St. Teresa goes on to say that those
         who are advanced in love of God
       would feel shame in giving up
          these earthly things
       which are only temporary anyway:

         "they would not be glad
            to give them up for God--
         even if they were to last for ever"

        "the greater also would that joy be
           if the duration of these worldly goods
         were greater."
           [ Life: Ch. 15 #18 ]

      But (for) them
        and also, especially, for beginners,
     "the blessings to be gained
        (from detachment) are great"
          [ Life: Ch. 15 #19 ]
~ Use of the faculties:

- The Understanding:
  When the soul
       "is raised to the prayer of quiet"...
   the understanding (should not be
       supported or encouraged to )
   ...go...about in search
       of words and reflections..."
   to express topics in prayer.
      [ Life: Ch. 15 # 9 ]

   "This is not the time for discussing,
     but for
     - understanding plainly what we are, and
     - presenting ourselves
           in simplicity before God,
       who will have the soul make itself
           as a fool--
           as, indeed, it is-- in His presence,
       seeing that His Majesty
          so humbles Himself
       as to suffer it to be near Him,
          we being what we are.
            [ Life: Ch. 15 # 13 ]

   The understanding can
         "make its thanksgiving
       in ( organized and logical phrases )

   but the will, in peace,
      not daring to lift up its eyes
         with the publican,
   makes perhaps a better act of thanksgiving
      than the understanding,
         with all its ( intellectual ) rhetoric".
           [ Life: Ch. 15 # 14 ]

   St. Teresa seems to say
      that learning is helpful
          before and after prayer
      but during the prayer of quiet
          this is generally the time to
      to quietly repose in God's presence.
         [ Life: Ch. 15 # 12 ]

   "The soul will lose much
        if it be not careful now,
    especially if the understanding
       ( continues ) to make reflections
        and search for reasons",
    when it should be resting quietly
        in the persence of God.
         [ Life: Ch. 15 # 10 ]

 - The only reason
    ( the only work of 
       the Understanding/Intellect)
    that ought to be admitted now is:

     -- to understand clearly that
           there is no reason whatever,
         except His mere goodness,
           why God should grant us
         so great a grace, and

    -- to be aware that we are
           so near Him, and

    -- to pray to His Majesty for mercies,

    -- to make intercession
          for the Church,
          for those who had been
             recommended to us and
          for the souls in purgatory,

    not, however, with noise of words,
    but with a heartfelt desire to be heard.

   This is a prayer that
    -- contains much, and
    -- by it more is obtained than
          by many reflections of
        the understanding"
          [ Life: Ch. 15 # 11 ]

The Will:

   Let the will
   - quietly and wisely understand:

      -- that it is not by...labour on our part
          that we can converse
            to any good purpose with God, and

     -- that our own efforts
          (if) laid on without discretion
              (could)quench this little spark...

   - let it confess this, and in humility say,
     -- O Lord, what can I do here?

  - let it make no account
      of the understanding,
    which is simply tiresome.
      [ Life: Ch. 15 # 9 ]

 - The will should "not...run after
     (the Understanding)"
    to try to "make the understanding recollected
     (because) it shall not succeed;
    for it will often happen
     that the will is in union and at rest,
    while the understanding is
      in extreme disorder".
      [ Life: Ch. 15 # 10 ]

  - Let the will
    -- stir up some of those reasons,
           which proceed from reason itself,
    --to quicken its love,
           such as the fact of
       its being in a better state, and

  - let it make certain acts of love,
      as what it will do for Him
    to whom it owes so much...
      without any noise of the understanding,
   in the search after profound reflections.

  Simple heartfelt prayer,
    "laid on with humility,
  will be more effectual here,
    and will help to kindle a fire
   more than (the)... most learned reasons,
     which...will put it out in a moment.

  This is a prayer that

    -- contains much, and
    -- by it more is obtained than
         by many reflections of the understanding
           [ Life: Ch. 15 # 11 ]

  "So, then, when the soul is
     in the prayer of quiet,
     - let it repose in its rest--
     - let learning be put on one side".
         [ Life: Ch. 15 # 13 ]

______________________________

5). If a person is brought into 
         the Second degree of prayer, 
      should they never perform 
       mental prayer or vocal prayer again ?
         [ Life: Ch. 15 #14 ]

St. Teresa taught
     that in the Second degree of prayer
     and even in more advanced prayers states,
  one should "not...abandon...mental prayer
      nor even vocal prayer,
  if at any time we wish, or can,
    to make use of either of them"

  She stated that the "Prayer of Quiet"
    is not a continuous state.
  At those times when not passively receiving
      this quiet recollection and peace,
  persons should return to active prayer.
  Discursive meditation should be done at those times
     when one is able to meditate.
       [ Life: Ch. 15 #14 ]
______________________

6). If a quiet state experienced by a soul,
         from where can it arise?
           [ Life: Ch. 15 # 15, 21, 22 ]

St. Teresa states that
    the soul can experience quiet
       - according to the will of God.
But we can also be deceived
       - by ourselves and
       - also by the devil.

How can the soul know the source ?
[ Life: Ch. 15 #21, 22, 15 ]

St. Teresa states that one can know
   the source of the experience
   by its fruits or effects:

~ Source: God
    Fruits:
        Growth of virtue and detachment
    - Love of God with the
         beginning of a divestment of all self-interest,
    - Humility
    - longing for solitude and
          perseverance in prayer
    - great desire of advancing in prayer
    - The soul offers to suffer everything.

       "If one is experiencing the grace
         of the Prayer of Quiet,
       the soul can know by:
        -- "the improvement
              which they detect in themselves,
            they who do so will see that
              this is no work of Satan and

            if they fall,
              they have a sign of the
                presence of our Lord
            in their rising again at once".
              Life: Ch. 15 #21 ]

      "When it is the work of the Spirit of God,
          there is no necessity
        for going about searching for reasons,
          on the strength of which we may
               elicit acts of humility and of shame,
        because our Lord Himself supplies them
           in a way very different from that
        by which we could acquire them
            by our own poor reflections,
       which are as nothing in comparison
            with that real humility
                arising out of the light
       which our Lord here gives us, and
            which begets a confusion of face
                that undoes us.

      The knowledge
           with which God supplies us,
       in order that we may know
           that of ourselves we have no good in us,
       is perfectly apprehended--

           and the more perfectly,
                  the greater the graces.

      It fills us with a great desire
        - of advancing in prayer, and
       - of never giving it up,
             whatever troubles may arise.

     The soul offers to suffer everything.

     A certain security,
         joined with humility and fear
             concerning our salvation,
     casts out servile fear at once from the soul,
     and in its place, plants a loyal fear
            of more perfect growth.

    There is a visible beginning of a
      - love of God,
      - utterly divested of all self-interest,
      - together with a longing
           after seasons of solitude,
         in order to obtain a greater fruition
           of this good.
             [ Life: Ch. 15 #22 ]

~ Source: Ourselves
    Effect:
     - aridity
     - no growth of virtue

    If "brought about by endeavours
        of our own,
    in the commencement of devotion
        which God gives;
    and we seek of ourselves,
      to pass onwards to this quiet of the will.

    - Then, no effect whatever is produced;
    - it is quickly over, and
    - aridity is the result"

~ Source: the devil
    Effect:
    - disturbance of peace,
    - The soul is not further disposed for graces
    - scant humility
    - scant steadfastness in the will

   "If it comes from Satan,
      the practised soul, in my opinion,
        will detect it, because
      -- it leaves
           --- trouble behind, and
           --- scant humility and
           --- poor dispositions
                for those effects which are wrought
                  if it comes from God;
     -- it leaves
         --- neither light in the understanding
         --- nor steadiness in the truth.
               [ Life: Ch. 15 #15 ]

      ____________________
    If it is actually a deceit of the devil,
      will the soul be harmed?
      [ Life: Ch. 15 #16 ]

St. Teresa stated that a person who,
  unknowingly experiences a quiet
which arises from a deceit of the devil,
  is not necessarily harmed.

She stated that the soul,
  thinking that the quiet is from God,
can benefit if they:
  - proceed with humility
      and thanksgiving to God
  - do not become attached to the peace
      or joy that they are experiencing
  - persevere in prayer and
  - as a result of the peace,
      gain a desire to pray more.

"Here Satan can do little or no harm,
    -- if the soul directs unto God
          the joy and sweetness it then feels; and
    -- if it fixes the thoughts and desires
         on Him, ...
  the devil can gain nothing whatever--

on the contrary, by the permission of God,
  (the devil) will lose much
by that very joy
  which he causes in the soul,

because that joy will help the soul,
  inasmuch as it thinks
     the joy comes from God,
  to betake itself often to prayer
     in its desire for it.

And if the soul is
  - humble,
  - indifferent to, and detached
      from all joy, however spiritual, and
  - if it loves the cross,
      it will make no account of the sweetness
         which Satan sends.

Now, when Satan sends it,
   as he is nothing but a lie,
and when he sees that
  the soul humbles itself
through that joy and sweetness--

and here, in all things relating
  to prayer and sweetness,
we must be very careful to endeavour
  to make ourselves humble,--
Satan will not often repeat his work,
  when he sees that he loses by it.
  [ Life: Ch. 15 #16 ]
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