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 27
- Of another way
in which God teaches a soul,
- and, without speaking,
makes His Will known
in an admirable manner.
- She goes on to explain a vision,
though not an imaginary one,
and a great grace
with which God favoured her.
This chapter is noteworthy.
- The Saint Prays to Be Directed
by a Different Way.
- Intellectual Visions.
________________________
Topics/ Questions
1). St. Teresa states that others were
concerned regarding her prayer
experiences.
"and many prayers...
were made on my behalf,
that our Lord would lead me
by another and
a safer way;
for this, they told me,
was so suspicious"
How did St. Teresa describe her response
to their concerns, as well as,
her own concerns?
[ Life: Ch 27: #1,2,3 ]
2). On "the feast of the glorious St. Peter...
I saw Christ close by me".
2a). How did St. Teresa describe
this experience?
[ Life: Ch 27: #3,4,5,7,8,12 ]
2b). What was the reaction of St. Teresa
to this experience?
[ Life: Ch 27: #3,4 ]
3). How did this feeling
of the presence of God
of the presence of God
differ from that consciousness
of the presence of God
which is frequently felt by those
who have attained to the Prayer
of Union and Quiet?
[ Life: Ch 27: #6 ]
4). How does St. Teresa describe the
state of the faculties and senses
during this "vision"?
during this "vision"?
[ Life: Ch 27: # 8,9 ]
5). What did St. Teresa mean
when she said,
"God is not an accepter of persons..."
[ Life: Ch 27: # 13 ]
6). St. Teresa talks about detachment.
6a). What does St. Teresa say in regard to:
one who has received special graces
from God?
[ Life: Ch 27: # 13, 14, 16, 23 ]
6b). What does St. Teresa say in regard to:
One who has persevered in their
effort to be detached from
possessions, honors, and comforts?
[ Life: Ch 27: #15]
6c). St Teresa said, "what an excellent
likeness (of Christ and the Apostles)
in the person of that blessed friar,
Peter of Alcantara..."
What did she say about
St Peter of Alcantra ?
[ Life: Ch 27: # 16,17,18,19,20,21,22]
________________________________
1). St. Teresa states that others were
concerned regarding her prayer
experiences.
"and many prayers...
were made on my behalf,
that our Lord would lead me
by another and
a safer way;
for this, they told me,
was so suspicious"
How did St. Teresa
describe her response
describe her response
to their concerns, as well as,
her own concerns?
[ Life: Ch 27: #1,2,3 ]
St. Teresa said:
- "I was praying to God" to be led
on a safe path.
- But she didn't have a desire
for a different way
"wished I had a desire
for another way"
"I was unable really
to desire a change,
though I always prayed for it"
- because she saw the fruits of her prayer:
"...I saw the progress
I was making"
[ Life: Ch 27: #1 ]
"I felt that I was wholly changed"
"I saw that by this way
I was directed heavenwards,
and that formerly I was going
down to hell.
I could not force myself
to desire a change,
nor believe that I was under
the influence of Satan.
Though I was doing all I could
to believe the one and
to desire the other,
it was not in my power to do so"
[ Life: Ch 27: #2 ]
- So, in obedience to God
and her Spiritual Directors and Confessors,
she resigned herself to follow God's will:
she resigned herself to follow God's will:
"I could do nothing
but put myself
in the hands of God"
"He knew what was expedient
for me
Let Him do with me
according to His will
in all things".
[ Life: Ch 27: #2 ]
...two years spent in prayer
by myself and others...
that our Lord would
either lead me by another way,
or show the truth of this..."
[ Life: Ch 27: #3 ]
_______________________
2). On "the feast of the glorious St. Peter...
I saw Christ close by me".
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2a). How did St. Teresa describe
this experience?
[ Life: Ch 27: #3,4,5,7,8,12 ]
2b). What was the reaction of St. Teresa
to this experience?
[ Life: Ch 27: #3,4 ]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2a). How did St. Teresa describe
this experience?
[ Life: Ch 27: #3,4,5,7,8,12 ]
St. Teresa said:
"I was in prayer one day,
it was the feast
of the glorious St. Peter,
when I saw Christ close by me,
or, to speak more correctly,
felt Him;
For I saw
nothing with the eyes of the body,
nothing with the eyes of the soul.
He seemed to me
to be close beside me;
and I saw, too, as I believe,
that it was He
who was speaking to me.
Jesus Christ seemed to be
by my side continually, and,
as the vision was not imaginary,
I saw no form;
but I had a most distinct feeling
that He was always
on my right hand,
a witness of all I did;
and never at any time,
if I was but slightly recollected,
or not too much distracted,
could I be ignorant
of His near presence".
[ Life: Ch 27: #3 ]
I did not know how I knew it;
but I could not help knowing
- that He was close beside me,
- that I saw Him distinctly,
and felt His presence"
[ Life: Ch 27: #4 ]
"...I see Him
neither with the eyes of the body,
nor with those of the soul,
because it was not an imaginary vision"
[ Life: Ch 27: #5 ]
"...it was Jesus Christ...
He often told me so Himself;
but, even before He told me so,
there was an impression
on my understanding that it was He;
and before this
He used to tell me so,
and I saw Him not".
[ Life: Ch 27: #7 ]
"...God teaches the soul
in another way, and
speaks to it without speaking,
[ Life: Ch 27: #7 ]
"Our Lord impresses
in the innermost soul
that which He wills that soul
to understand;
and He manifests it there
without images or formal words,
...this way in which God works,
in order that the soul
may understand
what He means
His great truths and mysteries"
[ Life: Ch 27: #8 ]
Regarding the effects, she said:
- that the recollectedness of my soul
was deeper in the prayer of quiet,
and more continuous,
"that when in the Prayer of Quiet my soul was now much more deeply and continuously recollected" - Peers "y que el recogimiento del alma era muy mayor, en oración de quietud y muy continua..." - La Vida de la Madre Teresa de Jesús Ch27: #3 And that, the concentration /recollection of the soul was much greater in the prayer of quietude and very constant /continuous…" |
- that the effects thereof
were very different from
what I had hitherto experienced...
[ Life: Ch 27: #4 ]
-- Knowledge
"He renders Himself present
to the soul
by a certain knowledge
of Himself
which is more clear than the sun
I do not mean that we now see
either a sun or any brightness,
only that there is a light not seen,
which illumines
the understanding
so that the soul may have
the fruition
of so great a good".
[ Life: Ch 27: #5 ]
"Our Lord impresses
in the innermost soul
that which He wills that soul
to understand;
and He manifests it there
without images or formal words,
after the manner of the vision
I am speaking of".
"this way in which God works,
in order that the soul
may understand
what He means--
His great truths and mysteries"
[ Life: Ch 27: #8 ]
"..this way of understanding,
what it is seems...to be this:
it is our Lord's will in every way
that the soul should have
some knowledge
of what passes in heaven;
...as the blessed there
understand one another,
without speech
...our Lord of His goodness
made me see it;
God and the soul understand
one another, merely
because His Majesty so wills it,
without the help of other means,
to express the love
there is between them both.
In the same way on earth,
two persons of sound sense,
if they love each other much,
can even,
without any signs,
understand one another
only by their looks.
[ Life: Ch 27: #12 ]
-- "This vision brings with it
great blessings".
[ Life: Ch 27: #5 ]
"one of these graces is enough to
- change it utterly, and
- make it love nothing but Him
Who, without waiting for anything
(the soul) might do,
- renders it fit for blessings so high,
- communicates to it His secrets, and
- treats it
with so much affection and love."
[ Life: Ch 27: #11 ]
-- that it was most certain.
[ Life: Ch 27: #4 ]
"how is it that I can
understand and maintain
that He stands beside me, and
be more certain of it
than if I saw Him?"
[ Life: Ch 27: #5 ]
"so clear a knowledge
is impressed on the soul
that all doubt seems impossible,
though He is not seen.
Our Lord wills
that this knowledge be so graven
on the understanding,
that we can
no more question
His presence
than we can question
that which we see with our eyes...
but here,
though there may be a suspicion
in the first instant,
there remains a certainty so great,
that the doubt has no force whatever.
[ Life: Ch 27: #7 ]
_____________________________
2b). What was the reaction of St. Teresa
to this experience?
[ Life: Ch 27: #3,4 ]
St. Teresa stated that initially she was
fearful at first because she had no
experience or knowledge that such a
"vision" was possible.
She wept but Our Lord reassured her.
She also discussed it with her Confessor.
"As I was utterly ignorant
that such a vision was possible,
I was extremely afraid at first,
and did nothing but weep;
however, when He spoke to me
but one word
to reassure me,
I recovered myself, and was,
as usual, calm and comforted,
without any fear whatever.
[ Life: Ch 27: #3 ]
"I went at once to my confessor,
in great distress,
to tell him of it".
[ Life: Ch 27: #4 ]
______________________
3). How did this feeling
of the presence of God
of the presence of God
differ from that consciousness
of the presence of God
of the presence of God
which is frequently felt by those
who have attained to the Prayer
of Union and Quiet?
[ Life: Ch 27: #6 ]
In the Prayer of Union and Quiet:
"God is understood to be present there
by the effects He works in the soul
that is the way His Majesty
makes His presence felt;
This is a great grace from God;
and let him to whom He has given it
esteem it much,
because it is a very high degree
of prayer;
but it is not vision"
In the prayer of union and of quiet,
certain inflowings of the Godhead
are present;
[ Life: Ch 27: #6 ]
In this "Vision":
"but here, in this vision,
it is seen clearly
that Jesus Christ is present,
the Son of the Virgin"
but in the vision,
the Sacred Humanity also,
together with them,
is pleased to be our visible companion,
and to do us good.
[ Life: Ch 27: #6 ]
__________________________
4). How does St. Teresa describe the
faculties and senses during this "vision"?
[ Life: Ch 27: # 8,9 ]
St. Teresa said:
"The vision and the language are matters
of such pure spirituality,
that there is no toil
of the faculties, or
of the senses"
[ Life: Ch 27: # 8 ]
"...that we do nothing whatever ourselves
no work of ours is then possible...
...all that is done is apparently
the work of our Lord.
"It (the vision) is only
at intervals, and
for an instant,
that this occurs;
for generally, so I think,
the senses are not taken away, and
the faculties are not suspended:
they preserve their ordinary state.
It is not always so in contemplation;
on the contrary, it is very rarely so"
[ Life: Ch 27: # 9 ]
_____________________
5). What did St. Teresa mean
when she said,
"God is not an accepter of persons..."
[ Life: Ch 27: # 13 ]
St. Teresa wrote:
"Consider, and it is true,
that God gives Himself to those
who give up everything for Him.
"God is not an accepter of persons.
He loves all"
there is no excuse for any one,
however wicked he may be,
seeing that He hath thus dealt with me,
raising me to the state I am in"
She was explaining that God loves
everyone without exception or
preference for some over others.
If one has sinned, they are still not
excluded from His love.
She gives, as an example, herself
who, despite her own faults,
received great graces from God
when she returned to prayer and
had striven to detach herself
from worldly affairs and things
in order to make room for God
and give her attention to Him.
So, there is no excuse for anyone
not to be open to the love of God
and seek His presence.
[ Life: Ch 27: # 13 ]
He is not a respecter of persons. He loves us all: no one, however wicked, can be excluded from His love since He has dealt in such a way with me and brought me to so high a state. - Peers translation Footnote: "accepter" (acetador), but the context suggests a reference to Acts 10: 34. (D.V.: "God is not a respecter of persons.") Acts 10: 33-35 "Now, therefore, all we are present in thy sight, to hear all things whatsoever are commanded thee by the Lord. And Peter opening his mouth, said: 'In very deed I perceive, that God is not a respecter of persons. But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh justice, is acceptable to him' ". |
"Mirad que es asà cierto, que se da Dios a Sà (31) a los que todo lo dejan por El. No es aceptador de personas; (32) a todos ama. No tiene nadie excusa por ruin que sea, pues asà lo hace conmigo trayéndome a tal estado" Footnotes: 31 Fray Luis editó: "que se da Dios asÃ" (p. 324). 32 Palabra bÃblica: Mt 22, 16; Rom 2, 11. Citada de nuevo en C. 16, 12. - "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" - Ch27 #12 Rom 2:11 "For there is no respect of persons with God." Mt 22, 16: Then the Pharisees going, consulted among themselves how to ensnare him in his speech. And they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying: Master, we know that thou art a true speaker, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou dost not regard the person of men. Tell us therefore what dost thou think, is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? But Jesus knowing their wickedness, said: Why do you tempt me, ye hypocrites? Blogger's poor translation: "Look / Consider that it is so true that God gives Himself to those who leave everything for Him. He is not an accepter/respecter of persons; (He is not an excepter -make exceptions he does not regard/prefer some over others) He loves everyone. No one can have an excuse for ruin (to be lost) because of what He did/accomplished in this way with me, in bringing me to this state. |
See also Eph 6:9 "…you have a Master in heaven, and that with Him, there is no partiality" |
_____________________
6). St. Teresa talks about detachment.
6a). What does St. Teresa say in regard to:
one who has received special graces
from God?
[ Life: Ch 27: # 13, 14, 16, 23 ]
6b). What does St. Teresa say in regard to:
One who has persevered in their
effort to be detached from
possessions, honors, and comforts?
[ Life: Ch 27: #15]
6c). St Teresa said, "what an excellent
likeness (of Christ and the Apostles)
in the person of that blessed friar,
Peter of Alcantara..."
What did she say about
St Peter of Alcantra ?
[ Life: Ch 27: # 16,17,18,19,20,21,22]
________________________________
6a). What does St. Teresa say in regard to:
one who has received special graces
from God?
[ Life: Ch 27: # 13, 14, 16, 23 ]
St. Teresa emphasizes the importance
of detachment:
"May they never accustom themselves,
after looking on Thee,
to look upon vile things again!
and may they have pleasure in nothing
but in Thee, O Lord!
Oh, ingratitude of men,
how far will it go!"
"what can you be in search of
even in this life,
let alone that which is for ever,
that is comparable to the least
of these graces?"
"God gives Himself to those
who give up everything for Him.
"The joy of (His graces) is
so far above all conceivable joys,
that it may well make us loathe
all the joys of earth;
for they are all but dross;
and it is an odious thing
to make them enter
into the comparison,
even if we might have them for ever"
[ Life: Ch 27: #13 ]
"Why do we seek
blessings and joys so great,
bliss without end, and
all at the cost of our good Jesus?
Is it by pleasure and idle amusements
that we can attain to the fruition
of what He purchased
with so much blood?
Can we think that we can,
by preserving our honour,
which is vanity,
recompense Him
for the sufferings He endured,
that we might reign with Him
for ever?
we are going by the wrong road utterly,
and we shall never arrive there".
[ Life: Ch 27: # 14 ]
"we should have before us
some likeness of that
which our Lord
and His Apostles endured"
[ Life: Ch 27: # 16 ]
"But how I have been talking
in order to stir you up
never to esteem anything
in this life!
[ Life: Ch 27: # 23 ]
__________________
6b). What does St. Teresa say in regard to:
One who has persevered in their
effort to be detached from
possessions, honors, and comforts?
[ Life: Ch 27: #15]
"what will be
the accidental glory and
the joy of the blessed
who have entered on it,
when they see that,
though they were late,
yet they left nothing
which it was possible for them
to do for God,
who kept nothing back
they could give Him, and
who gave what they gave
in every way they could,
according to
their strength and
their measure,
they who had more
gave more.
How rich will he be
who gave up all his riches for Christ!
How honourable will he be
who, for His sake,
sought no honours whatever,
but rather took pleasure
in seeing himself abased!
How wise he will be
who rejoiced when men
accounted him as mad!--
they did so of Wisdom Itself!
...whom people regarded as mad,
because they saw them
perform heroic acts,
as true lovers of Christ."
[ Life: Ch 27: # 15 ]
__________________________
6c). St Teresa said, "what an excellent
likeness (of Christ and the Apostles)
in the person of that blessed friar,
Peter of Alcantara..."
What did she say about
St Peter of Alcantra ?
[ Life: Ch 27: # 16,17,18,19,20,21,22]
St. Teresa said:
"...we should have before us
some likeness of that
which our Lord
and His Apostles endured;
for we have need of it now
more than ever.
[ Life: Ch 27: # 16 ]
And what an excellent likeness
in the person of that blessed friar,
Peter of Alcantara...
he had a spirit strong...
and so he trampled on the world.
How great was the courage
with which His Majesty
filled the Saint I am speaking of!
He did penance...
for seven-and-forty years
[ Life: Ch 27: # 17 ]
it was our Lord's will
that he should
undertake my defense, and
encourage me, at a time
when I was in great straits,
He told me, I think,
that for forty years
he slept but an hour and a half
out of the twenty-four, and
that the most laborious penance
he underwent, when he began,
was this of overcoming sleep.
For that purpose, he was always
either kneeling or standing.
When he slept,
he sat down,
his head resting against a piece
of wood driven into the wall.
Lie down he could not,
if he wished it;
for his cell,
as every one knows,
was only four feet and a half
in length.
In all these years,
he never covered his head
with his hood,
even when the sun was hottest,
or the rain heaviest.
He never covered his feet:
the only garment he wore
was made of sackcloth, and
that was as tight as it could be,
with nothing between it and his flesh;
over this, he wore a cloak
of the same stuff.
He told me
that, in the severe cold,
he used to
take off his cloak, and
open the door and the window
of his cell,
in order that when he put
his cloak on again,
after shutting
the door and the window,
he might give some satisfaction
to his body
in the pleasure it might have
in the increased warmth.
His ordinary practice was to eat
but once in three days.
He said to me,
"Why are you astonished at it?
it is very possible for any one
who is used to it."
One of his companions told me
that he would be occasionally
eight days without eating:
that must have been
when he was in prayer;
for he was subject
to trances, and
to the impetuosities
of the love of God,
of which I was once
a witness myself.
[ Life: Ch 27: #18]
His poverty was extreme;
and his mortification,
from his youth...
With all his sanctity,
he was very agreeable;
though his words were few,
unless when he was asked questions;
he was very pleasant to speak to,
for he had a most clear understanding.
[ Life: Ch 27: # 19 ]
that his last end was like his life
preaching to, and
exhorting,
his brethren.
When he saw that the end was comes
he repeated the Psalm,
"Laetatus sum in his quae
dicta sunt mihi;"
[ ‘I rejoiced with those who said to me”
and Psalm 122 continues
“Let us go into the house of the Lord’.]
and then, kneeling down,
he died.
[ Life: Ch 27: # 20 ]
Since then, it has pleased our Lord
that I should find more help
from him than during his life.
He advises me in many matters.
I have often seen him in great glory.
The first time he appeared to me,
he said:
"O blessed penance,
which has merited so great a reward!"
[ Life: Ch 27: # 21 ]
Behold here, then,
how that life of sharp penance
is perfected in such great glory:
and now he is a greater comfort to me...
than he was on earth.
Our Lord said to me on one occasion,
that persons could not ask Him
anything in his name,
(in St. Peter of Alcantara's name)
(in St. Peter of Alcantara's name)
and He not hear them.
I have recommended many things
to him
that he was to ask of our Lord,
and I have seen my petitions granted.
[ Life: Ch 27: # 22 ]
____________________________
