Teresa of Jesus
The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus,
of the Order of Our Lady of Carmel.
Discussion of CHAPTER 16
- On the third degree of prayer;
- she declares things of an elevated nature;
- what the soul that has come so far can do, and
- the effect of such great graces of God.
- This is calculated to greatly animate the spirit
to the praise of God, and
- contains advice for those who have reached this point.
- The Third State of Prayer.
Deep Matters.
- What the Soul Can Do That Has Reached It.
- Effects of the Great Graces of Our Lord.
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Discussion Topics:
1). How does St. Teresa describe
the 3rd Degree of Prayer ?
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,13 ]
2). What does she say about
the Preachers of her time ?
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 12 ]
3). What does "much of this fire
...of the love of God" consist?
[ Life: Ch. 16: #12 ]
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1). How does St. Teresa describe
the 3rd Degree of Prayer ?
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,13 ]
St. Teresa describes the 3rd Degree of Prayer as:
- "the third water... (by which) this
garden (of the soul) is watered".
The third method of watering is by:
"water running
from a river or from a brook"
~ A more Passive Prayer
than the 2nd degree of prayer
God is active;
The soul passively receives graces.
- God is now so close to the garden of the soul.
"the waters of grace have risen up
to the neck of the soul"
God is providing.
The soul does not have to work actively
in prayer.
"In this state Our Lord
-- will help the gardener, and (is)
--- ...the Gardener Himself,
--- doing all the work."
"...the garden is watered (now)
-- with very much less trouble,
-- although there is some (trouble)
in directing the water. "
~ More consolations than that
of the 2nd degree of prayer
- "The pleasure, sweetness, and delight
are incomparably greater
than in the former state of prayer"
"the reason is,
that the waters of grace have risen up
to the neck of the soul"
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 1 ]
"and to the soul a kind of fruition
most full of delight."
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 1 ]
- The soul in this state
would have all men
-- behold and know of its bliss,
to the praise of God...
-- to be partakers of its joy;
for its joy is greater
than it can bear.
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 5 ]
Yet, the soul experiences a pain of exile,
the separation from God
"to regard it as a captivity
to be obliged
to live...(in) the world"
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 13 ]
"It is rejoicing in this agony
with unutterable joy"
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 1 ]
"...bliss which so sweet a pain
occasioned her,
she complained of it...to God"
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 6 ]
"This Thy servant, O my God,
is no longer able to endure sufferings
so great as those are
which she must bear
when she sees herself without Thee"
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 8 ]
"there is no comfort for it now
but in Thee;
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 8 ]
~ All the faculties are all occupied in God
to a great extent
(not just the Will, as in the 2nd degree of prayer)
- "The faculties are
almost all completely in union (with God)
yet not so absorbed that they do not act.
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 3 ]
- "it was not altogether the union
of all the faculties, and
yet most certainly
-- it was higher
than the previous state of prayer;
but I confess that
I could not determine and
understand the difference.
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 2 ]
"The faculties of the soul now
- retain only the power of
occupying themselves wholly with God"
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 4 ]
~ Activity of the Faculties
- "not one of them ventures to stir,
- neither can we move one of them
without making great efforts
to distract ourselves..."
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 4 ]
"It is a
- sleep of the powers of the soul,
- which are not wholly lost,
- nor yet understanding
how they are at work".
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 1 ]
- "yet not so absorbed
that they do not act".
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 3 ]
The Understanding:
"At least, the understanding
is utterly powerless here;
the soul longs to send forth words of praise,
but it has no control over itself,--
it is in a state of sweet restlessness".
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 4 ]
- "it can neither advance nor retreat--
- nor does it know how to do so"
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 1 ]
The Receiving of Holy Wisdom:
"It is a glorious folly, a heavenly madness,
wherein true wisdom is acquired;
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 1 ]
~ The Growth of Love of God
and the desire that all would
thoroughly partake of this Love
- "The flowers are already opening;
they are beginning to send forth
their fragrance".
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 4 ]
- "Many words are then uttered
in praise of God--
the soul longs to send forth words of praise"
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 4 ]
- "The soul in this state
would have all men
-- behold and know of its bliss,
to the praise of God, and
-- help it to praise Him.
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 5 ]
- "It wishes it were all tongue,
in order that it may praise our Lord.
...striving continually to please Him
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 6 ]
~ Detachment
"a death, as it were,
to all the things of this world,
and a fruition of God".
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 1 ]
"to regard it as a captivity
to be obliged
to live and converse with men
according to the laws of the world!"
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 13 ]
"it seems to be living contrary to nature--
for now, it desires to live not in itself,
but in Thee."
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 8 ]
The soul "knows not what to desire;
but it clearly understands
that it desires nothing else but Thee".
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 9 ]
"as this is the true road,
there is no reason why
we should linger;
for we shall never effectually gain
a treasure so great,
so long as this life is not ended.
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 13 ]
~ Desire to suffer for the Lord
"...what torments...she...would not...endure
for her Lord?
... the soul is well aware
that its strength is derived
from another source".
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 6 ]
"what a cross hast Thou prepared
for those who attain to this state!--
and yet the soul never wishes
to be delivered from it,
unless it be that it may come to Thee".
"When the soul remembers
that it has never served Thee at all, and
that by living on,
it may do Thee some service,
- it longs
-- for a still heavier cross, and
-- never to die before the end of the world.
- Its own repose it counts as nothing
in comparison with doing
a slight service to Thee.
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 9 ]
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2). What does she say about
the Preachers of her time ?
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 12 ]
Regarding Preachers, St. Teresa stressed
the importance of providing sermons that
- guide and correct the church members,
- rather than "arranging their sermons
so as to displease no one."
She regretted the fact that
as a result of sermons
that were subtle, tactful, or
circumvented principles or admonitions,
there were few people that "amended their lives"
"even preachers go about
arranging their sermons
so as to displease no one.
They have a good intention, and
their work is good;
yet still few amend their lives.
But how is it that they are not many
who, in consequence of these sermons,
abstain from public sins?"
She said that correction could be done
"with the eyes of love" and
"the wish to do (persons) good"
in order to help them
improve themselves
so they that might please God more.
She, herself, wished for regular reviews
with those whom she knew
"who now love one another in our Lord
- "to undeceive one another,
- to tell each other wherein we might
-- improve ourselves, and
-- be more pleasing unto God;
for there is no one that knows himself
as well as he is known of others
who see him,
if it be with
-- eyes of love and the
-- wish to do him good."
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 12 ]
She seemed to think that
the preachers' cautiousness
in the "arranging (of) their sermons"
was impelled by
their sensitivity to others and "worldly prudence".
But, she taught that they should be inspired
- by the love of God,
- not worldly considerations or human sensibilities.
"Well, I think it is because
the preachers are highly sensible men.
They are not burning
with the great fire of the love of God,
as the Apostles were,
casting worldly prudence aside;
and so their fire throws out but little heat.
"...I do wish it were a stronger fire
than I see it is.
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 12 ]
To her own Confessor, she asked:
"disperse my delusions
by telling the truth;
for truths of this sort
are very rarely told"
[Life: Ch16: #11 ]
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3). What does "much of this fire
...of the love of God" consist?
[ Life: Ch. 16: #12 ]
Regarding "the great fire of the love of God"
St. Teresa advises:
~ Detachment:
"much of this fire consists
- In the hatred of this life,
- in the desertion of its honours,
- in being utterly indifferent
whether we lose or gain
anything or everything,
provided the truth be told and maintained
for the glory of God;
For he who is courageously
in earnest for God,
looks upon loss or gain indifferently.
[ Life: Ch. 16: # 12 ]
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