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 23
She returns to
- the history of her life,
- how she began to practise
greater perfection.
- This is profitable for those
who have to direct souls practising prayer
that they may know
how to deal with beginners, and
she speaks of
- the profit she derived from such knowledge.
The Saint Resumes
- the History of Her Life.
- Aiming at Perfection.
- Means Whereby It May Be Gained.
- Instructions for Confessors.
________________________
Topics/ Questions
1). St. Teresa wrote:
"I shall now return
to that point in my life
where I broke off, [331]
having made...a longer digression...
in order that what is still to come
may be more clearly understood".
What was this digression ?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #1, Footnote #1 ]
2). Describe what led up to
St. Teresa's desire to
"seek diligently for spiritual persons
with whom (she) might
...(discuss her)…state".
[ Life: Ch. 23: #1,2,3,5,6 ]
3). St. Teresa said that she
was aware that the Jesuit Fathers
were in her local.
She was "greatly attracted by them...
because...of their way
of life and of prayer.
Why had she not requested
Spiritual Direction from them
up to that time ?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #4]
4). Later, she writes that
she consulted with the ecclesiastic
( Fr. Gaspar Daza ).
She made his acquaintance
through a holy layman
(Don Francisco de Salcedo)
who was distantly related to her
through marriage.
What concerns did she experience
from this encounter?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #8, 9 ]
5). Later, she writes that
she confered with the holy layman
(Don Francisco de Salcedo)
who was distantly related to her
through marriage.
5a). How did he encourage her?
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 10, 11 ]
5b). What concerns did she experience
from this encounter?
How was she eventually led to the
Jesuits for Spiritual Direction?
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 12,14,15,16,17]
6a). What book did St. Teresa
show to her Spiritual Directors ?
( Fr. Gaspar Daza and
Don Francisco de Salcedo,
a holy layman )
[ Life: Ch. 23: #13,
Foot Note 340 ]
6b). Why did she show it?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #13 ]
7). What consoled her
while she prepared to confer
with the Jesuit Father ?
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 17,
Footnote 346 ]
8). How did St. Teresa prepare
for her general Confession
and how did it affect her?
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 17]
9a). What did the Jesuit Father
tell her regarding
her prayer state?
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 18 ]
9b) What recommendations
did he give to St. Teresa?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #18,
Footnote 347 ]
10). What was her impression
of this Jesuit father?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #18, 19 ]
11). Who was this Jesuit Father
to whom St. Teresa was referred
and who greatly benefited
St. Teresa?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #19
Foot Note 347 ]
_____________________________________
1). St. Teresa wrote:
"I shall now return
to that point in my life
where I broke off, [331]
having made...a longer digression...
in order that what is still to come
may be more clearly understood".
What was this digression ?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #1, Footnote #1 ]
St Teresa states she will now resume
the story from where she left off.
She stated she had digressed
from the chronological account
of her life and her progress in prayer,
in order to provide information
regarding prayer states and methods
for her readers.
She felt that this information
would be needed in order
to understand the
various stages of prayer, the
terminology, and recommendations
that she would be discussing as she described
her advancement in prayer.
The footnote [331] of ch23 indicates:
"At the end of ch. 9.
The thirteen chapters interposed
between that and this
the twenty-third (chapter)
are a treatise on mystical theology".
Also, a brief review shows that:
In Ch9 St. Teresa described how she prayed.
In Ch10 she defines "Mystical Theology"
and talks about prayer.
In Ch 11 she describe the 4 degrees of prayer and
begins to define the 1st degree of prayer.
In Ch14 she begins the 2nd degree
In Ch16 she begins the 3rd degree.
She discusses the 4th degree of prayer
in chapters 18 through 21.
In Chapter 22, she emphasizes the importance
of meditating on the Sacred Humanity of Christ.
She also teaches "not to lift up the spirit to high things
but to wait for God to lift it up".
__________________________
2). Describe what led up to
St. Teresa's desire to
"seek diligently for spiritual persons
with whom (she) might
...(discuss her)…state".
[ Life: Ch. 23: #1,2,3,5,6 ]
St, Teresa talked of the graces
which God bestowed on her.
She cooperated with these graces and
avoided "the occasions of sin"
and persevered in prayer.
As she advanced in the prayer states,
(Prayer of Quiet and of Union)
she experienced a
suspension of the understanding
and great joy and sweetness.
Because she heard of others who
had fallen into great delusions
and the deceits of Satan,
she began to fear that
"Satan suspended my understanding...
in order to
- withdraw me from mental prayer,
and
- hinder my meditation
on the Passion".
As "this fear so grew upon (her)",
she sought out a spiritual director
who would be her Confessor and
who would understand her state
and make recommendations
for her improvement.
- - - - - - -
St. Teresa said:
"Hitherto,
my life was my own"
(But) "since I began to explain
these methods of prayer,
my life is the life,
which God lived in me"
which God lived in me"
[ Life: Ch. 23: #1 ]
"When... I began
- to avoid the occasions of sin,
- to give myself more unto prayer,
our Lord also began
to bestow His graces upon me"
[ Life: Ch. 23: #2 ]
She "escaped in so short a time
from ways and works
that were so wicked."
May our Lord be praised,
who has delivered me from myself!"
[ Life: Ch. 23: #1 ]
"His Majesty began to give me
most frequently
the grace of the Prayer of Quiet,
and very often the Prayer of Union,
which lasted some time.
[ Life: Ch. 23: #2 ]
"I felt in myself
a very deep conviction
that God was with me,
especially when I was in prayer"
"I grew better and stronger hereby"
[ Life: Ch. 23: #2 ]
I began
to be afraid, and
to imagine
that perhaps it was Satan that
suspended my understanding,
making me think it to be good,
in order to
- withdraw me
from mental prayer,
- hinder my meditation
on the Passion, and
- debar me the use
of my understanding:
[ Life: Ch. 23: #2 ]
"But as...women have fallen
into great delusions
and deceits of Satan,
I began to be afraid,
because the joy and sweetness
which I felt were so great, and
very often beyond
my power to avoid"
[ Life: Ch. 23: #2 ]
"When I saw that my fear
was going so far,
it struck me
because I was making
progress in prayer
that this must be
a great blessing,
or
a very great evil;
for I understood perfectly
that what had happened
was something supernatural"
[ Life: Ch. 23: #5 ]
"This fear so grew upon me,
that it made me seek diligently
for spiritual persons
with whom I might treat of my state"
[ Life: Ch. 23: #3 ]
"...my soul had not strength
to go forth alone
to a perfection so great.
I had certain attachments to trifles,
which, though not very wrong
in themselves,
were yet enough to ruin all.
[ Life: Ch. 23: #6 ]
_________________________
3). St. Teresa said that she was aware
that the Jesuit Fathers were in her locale.
She was "greatly attracted by them...
because...of their way
of life and of prayer.
Why had she not requested
Spiritual Direction from them
up to that time ?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #4]
St. Teresa said she did not
approach them for direction because:
"I did not think myself
- fit to speak to them, or
- strong enough to obey them;
and this made me still more afraid;
for to converse with them,
and (then) remain what I was,
seemed to me somewhat rude"
[ Life: Ch. 23: #4 ]
"Was there ever delusion
so great as mine,
when I withdrew from good
in order to become good!
The devil must lay much stress
on this in the beginning
of a course of virtue;
for I could not overcome
my repugnance.
"...no time was fixed in which
I should resolve to do this.
I waited
to grow better first,
as I did before
when I ceased to pray
Blessed be Thou, O Lord!
for the first hand outstretched to me
was Thine.
[ Life: Ch. 23: #4 ]
______________________________
4). Later, she writes that
she consulted with the ecclesiastic
( Fr. Gaspar Daza ).
She made his acquaintance
through a holy layman
(Don Francisco de Salcedo)
who was distantly related to her
through marriage.
What concerns did she experience
from this encounter?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #8,9 ]
St. Teresa said:
"I was distressed...when I saw:
- that he was resolved to make me
break off at once
with the petty ways
- that I had not the courage
to go forth at once
in the perfection
he required of me,
- that he ordered the affairs
of my soul
as if I ought to be perfect at once,
-- I saw that much more care
was necessary in my case".
[ Life: Ch. 23: #8 ]
- "that the means he...employed
were not those by which
my soul could be helped onwards;
-- for they were fitted for a soul
more perfect than mine; and
-- though the graces
I had received from God
were very many,
I was still at the very beginning
in the matter
of virtue and
of mortification".
[ Life: Ch. 23: #8 ]
- "I believe certainly,
if I had only had this ecclesiastic
( Fr. Gaspar Daza )
to confer with,
that my soul would have made
no progress;
for the pain it gave me
to see that I
- was not doing and
- could not do
what he told me,
was enough to
destroy all hope, and
make me abandon the matter
altogether".
By this summing up of her concerns,
she seems to show how
it was God's will
that she be eventually led
to the Jesuits;
she said:
"I wonder at times how it was
that he,
being one
who had a particular grace
for the direction of beginners
in the way of God,
was not permitted
to understand my case, or
to undertake the care of my soul.
I see it was all
for my greater good,
in order that I might
know and converse
with persons so holy as the
members of the Society of Jesus"
[ Life: Ch. 23: #9 ]
__________________________
5). Later, she writes that
she consulted with a holy layman
(Don Francisco de Salcedo)
who was distantly related to her
through marriage.
5a). How did he encourage her?
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 10, 11 ]
St. Teresa said:
"...He encouraged me,
and told me that
- I ought not to suppose (that)
I could give up everything
in one day;
- God would bring it about
by degrees"
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 10]
My whole salvation depended
on his knowing how to treat me,
on his humility,
on the charity with
which he conversed with me,
on his patient endurance of me
when he saw that I
did not mend my ways at once.
He went on discreetly,
by degrees showing me
how to overcome Satan.
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 11]
5b). What concerns did she experience
from this encounter?
and
How was she eventually led to the
Jesuits for Spiritual Direction?
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 12,14,15,16,17]
St. Teresa was troubled because:
~ He told her
- that the graces and favors
which she received
were given to holy persons and
were not consistent with the
her faults and errors.
- that he was afraid that the devil
might be deluding her
"when I recounted to him...
the great graces
which God had bestowed
upon me
he told me
-- that these things
were inconsistent
one with another;
-- that these consolations were
given to people who had
made great progress and
led mortified lives;
-- that he could not help being
very much afraid
-- he thought that the evil spirit
might have something to do
in my case"
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 12]
~ He said that he
(Don Francisco de Salcedo )
and the ecclesiastic
( Fr. Gaspar Daza)
- would consider this question and
- would review the book
which St. Teresa showed him
that described the favors/signs
which she was experiencing.
- But her personal report
was not kept secret
"...did not keep my secret,
but, making inquiries...
for a good purpose,
did me much harm;
for they made things known
which might well have
remained secret,
because not intended
for every one and
it seemed as if
I had made them public myself"
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 14]
"I believe that our Lord
permitted this to be done
without sin on their part,
in order that I might suffer.
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 15]
Referred to the Jesuits
for Spiritual Direction
~ "those two servants of God,
( Fr. Gaspar Daza
Don Francisco de Salcedo )
with great charity and affection,
considered what was best for me"
"the nobleman...
(Don Francisco de Salcedo) said
- that, in the opinion of both,
I was deluded by an evil spirit;
- that the best thing for me to do
was to apply to a certain father
of the Society of Jesus...
-- that I ought,
in a general confession,
to give him an account
of my whole life, and
of the state I was in"
-- "...God would, in virtue
of the Sacrament of
Confession,
give him more light
concerning me;
for those fathers
were very experienced men
in matters of spirituality.
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 16]
This answer so alarmed and
distressed me,
that I knew not what to do
I did nothing but cry.
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 17]
_____________________________
6a). What book did St. Teresa
show to her Spiritual Directors
( Fr. Gaspar Daza and
Don Francisco de Salcedo,
a holy layman )
[ Life: Ch. 23: #13,
Foot Note 340 ]
St. Teresa showed the book,
"The Ascent of the Mount"
("Ascent of Mount Zion"
Subida del Monte Sion",
by a Franciscan friar,
Bernardino de Laredo)
[Ch 23: Foot Note 340]
6b). Why did she show it?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #13 ]
St. Teresa showed this book
because:
- it described what she was
experiencing in prayer
(e.g. suspension of the
understanding and thought)
- it described these signs
as a grace from God
in the prayer state,
the Union of the soul
with God.
- she wanted her spiritual advisors
to consider her experiences
in the context
of her faults and errors and
in the context
of this book on prayer states
so that they could advise her
of what to do and
of whether to continue her
current method of prayer.
"Looking into books
to see if I could
find anything there
by which I might recognise
the prayer I practised,
I found
in one...called
"the Ascent of the Mount"
in that part of it
which relates
to the Union of the soul
with God,
-- all those marks (signs)
which I had in myself,
in that I could not
think of anything.
This is what I most dwelt on
-- that I could think
of nothing
when I was in prayer.
I marked that passage,
and gave him the book
that he,
(Don Francisco de Salcedo )
and the ecclesiastic...
( Fr. Gaspar Daza)
-- might consider it, and
-- tell me what I should do.
If they thought it right,
I would give up
that method of prayer
altogether;
for why should I expose
myself to danger"
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 13]
___________________________
7). What consoled her
while she prepared to confer
with the Jesuit Father ?
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 17,
Footnote 346 ]
St. Teresa found consolation
in the writings of St. Paul:
"God is faithful;
that He will never permit Satan
to deceive those who love Him."
(1 Cor. Ch10 v. 13)
"I read in a book
it seemed as if our Lord
had put it into my hands
that St. Paul said,
God is faithful;
that He will never permit
Satan to deceive those
who love (God).
This gave me great consolation.
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 17]
____________________________
8). How did St. Teresa prepare
for her general Confession
and how did it affect her?
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 17]
St. Teresa said:
I began
to prepare
for my general confession
to write out
all the evil and
all the good:
a history of my life,
as clearly as I
understood it, and
knew how to make it,
omitting nothing whatever.
when I saw I had written
so much evil, and
scarcely anything
that was good...
I was exceedingly
distressed and sorrowful.
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 17]
______________________
9a). What did the Jesuit Father
tell her regarding
her prayer state?
[ Life: Ch. 23: # 18 ]
Regarding her current state,
St Teresa stated that he told her:
- "that all was very evidently
the work of the Spirit of God;
- God had bestowed on me
such special graces"
- that I should be very much to blame
if I did not correspond
with the graces
which God bestowed
upon me.
[ Life: Ch. 23: #18 ]
9b) What recommendations
did he give to St. Teresa?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #18,
Footnote 347 ]
St Teresa stated that he advised her:
- "that it was necessary for me
to go back again to my prayer,
because
-- I was not well grounded and
-- had not begun to understand
what mortification meant,
- that I was by no means
to give up prayer;
on the contrary,
I was to do violence to myself
(force myself)
in order to practise it,
because
-- God had bestowed on me
such special graces
as made it impossible to say
whether it was, or was not,
the will of our Lord
to do good to many
through me.
-- that I should be
very much to blame
if I did not correspond
with the graces
which God bestowed
upon me.
- to make my prayer every day
on some mystery of the Passion,
and that I should profit by it, and
-- to fix my thoughts
on the Sacred Humanity
(of Christ) only,
(Footnote 347 states that one
researcher thought that
"Fr. Juan de Padranos
gave in part
the Exercises of St. Ignatius
to the Saint".
-- resisting to the utmost
of my power
those recollections and delights,
to which I was not to yield
in any way
till he gave me further directions
in the matter.
[ Life: Ch. 23: #18 ]
__________________________
10). What was her impression
of this Jesuit father?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #18, 19 ]
St. Teresa stated:
"He understood all I told him,
explained it to me, and
encouraged me greatly...
"What a grand thing it is
to understand a soul!"
"It seems to me that
the Holy Ghost was speaking
by his mouth
in order to heal my soul,
so deep was the impression
he made.
He made me very much
ashamed of myself,
and directed me by a way
which seemed to change me
altogether".
[ Life: Ch. 23: #18 ]
"He left me consoled and fortified:
our Lord came to my succour
and to his,
so that he might understand
- the state I was in, and
- how he was to direct me.
I made a firm resolution
not to swerve from anything
he might command me,
and to this day I have kept it.
Our Lord be praised,
who has given me grace
to be obedient
to my confessors,
however imperfectly!
and they have almost always
been those blessed men
of the Society of Jesus
...My soul began
to improve visibly...
[ Life: Ch. 23: #19 ]
_______________________________
11). Who was this Jesuit Father
to whom St. Teresa was referred
and who greatly benefited
St. Teresa?
[ Life: Ch. 23: #19
Foot Note 347 ]
In this version of her life,
Foot note 347 was inserted
which indicates:
Father Juan de Padranos *
(*The Peers translation also
indicates Fr Juan de Padrano
by foot note. )
(*The ICS version footnotes say
Fr. Diego de Cetina S.J.)
(* A spanish text version of
La Vida de la
Madre Teresa de Jesús
indicates by foot note
Fr. Diego de Cetina S.J
El Jesuita, Diego de Cetina
"La Vida de la
Madre Teresa de Jesús
escrita de su misma mano,
con una aprobación del
P. Maestro Fr. Domingo Báñez
su confesor y cathedrático
de prima en Salamanca".
"The Life of
Mother Teresa of Jesus
written in her same hand
with the approval of
....Fr Domingo Banez,
her confessor…." )
Both the ICS and Peers translation versions
state that the Jesuit Father
was her Confessor
for 2 months/summer in 1555)
________________________________
