Discussion of Ch. 29 - The Life of Teresa of Jesus - Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila

 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  29


She continues and tells 
- of some great mercies God showed her, and 
- what His Majesty said to her 
   in order to assure her (of the truth of these visions), 
- taught her how to answer contradictors.


- Of Visions. 
- The Graces Our Lord Bestowed on the Saint. 
- The Answers Our Lord Gave Her 
    for Those Who Tried Her.
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Topics/ Questions


1). Can one produce an imaginary vision
          through their own efforts? 
              [ Life: Ch29: #1, 3 ]


2). What, according to St. Teresa, 
       does God  regard in those 
          to whom He grants graces ?
             [ Life: Ch.30: #3 ] 


3a). What distress did St. Teresa's 
         experience because of the report 
              of her visions?
                 [ Life: Ch.30: #4, 5 ] 


3b). What was St. Teresa's reaction?
            [ Life: Ch.30: #5 ] 


4). What did God advise her to do
         when her Confessor advised her
           "to make a show of contempt"
         whenever she had a vision ?
            [ Life: Ch.30: #7 ] 


5). St Teresa said "His Majesty began...
      to make it clear  that it was He Himself  
      who appeared" in the vision.


       How was it made clear?
              [ Life: Ch.30: #10  ] 


6). St Teresa discusses "Certain great 
      impetuosities of love; loving impulses.

6a). How does she describe
          those impetuosities of love
           to which  "nature itself 
         may be contributing "?
             [ Life: Ch.30: #11, 12 ] 


6b). How does she describe
             those impulses which are
          beyond human capability?
            [ Life: Ch.30: #13, 14, 15  ] 


7). Continuing in her discussion of the
        great impetuosities of love, 
      she talks of her vision of angels 
        and the piercing of  the heart.


7a). How did St. Teresa describe her 
           visions of the Angels ?
                  [ Life: Ch.30: # 16  ] 


7b). How did she describe 
         the transverberation, 
        "the piercing of the heart"?
           [ Life: Ch.30: # 17, 18, 19, 13 ]


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1). Can one produce an imaginary vision
          through their own efforts? 
              [ Life: Ch29: #1,  3 ]


St Teresa said:


- that "the vision was no work 
           of the imagination"


- While, "certainly, the imagination 
            may be able to picture it...and 
         gradually make it more perfect, and 
            so lay up that image in his memory. 
    But as to the vision 
            of which I am speaking,
         there are no means 
            of bringing it about; 


         only we must behold it 
            when our Lord is pleased
                 to present it before us, 
            as He wills and what He wills; 


        and there is no possibility 
           of  taking anything away from it, or 
           of  adding anything to it;
        nor is there any way of effecting it, 
           whatever we may do,
        nor of seeing it when we like, 
        nor of abstaining from seeing;   
                   [ Life: Ch29: #1 ]


- This is true of all visions 
         without exception: 
   -- we can contribute nothing 
               towards them 
   -- we cannot add to them, 
   -- nor can we take from them; 
   -- our own efforts can 
              neither make 
              nor unmake them. 


Our Lord would have us see most clearly
  that it is 
           - no work of ours, 
           - but of His Divine Majesty;
                [ Life: Ch.30: #3 ] 


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2). What, according to St. Teresa, 
       does God  regard in those 
          to whom He grants graces ?
             [ Life: Ch.30: #3 ] 


St. Teresa  stated:


"Our Lord clearly regards nothing but
     - humility and 
     - confusion of face, 
     - the acceptance of what 
             He wishes to give, and 
     - the praise of Himself, the Giver".


"Our Lord would have us see most clearly
      that it is 
           - no work of ours, 
           - but of His Divine Majesty; 


      we are therefore the less able 
             to be proud of it: 
       on the contrary, 
       it makes us  humble and afraid; 
                [ Life: Ch.30: #3 ] 


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3a). What distress did St. Teresa's 
         experience because of the report 
              of her visions?
                 [ Life: Ch.30: #4, 5  ] 


3b). What was St. Teresa's reaction?
                [ Life: Ch.30: #5 ] 


         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


3a). What distress did St. Teresa's 
           experience because of the report 
              of her visions?
                 [ Life: Ch.30: #4, 5 ] 


St. Teresa stated she experienced 
 "Many reproaches, ...many suspicions and 
           much persecution".


      "I felt it bitterly when I saw 
     that my confessors were afraid 
            to hear me..."
           [ Life: Ch.30: #4 ] 


It seems that when she did try to explain,
   it may have been taken as 
        contradicting others. 
She saw that her attempts made her appear
 to be lacking in  humility 
   
      "I did not dare to contradict those 
            who were trying me; 
      for I saw that it made matters worse,
            because they looked on my doing so 
                as a failure in humility".
                 [ Life: Ch.30: #5 ] 
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3b). What was St. Teresa's reaction?
                  [ Life: Ch.30: #5 ] 


St. Teresa said:


 "Notwithstanding all this, 
-   I never could be sorry 
          that I had had these heavenly visions; 
       nor would I exchange 
                even one of them for
          all the wealth and
         all the pleasures of the world. 


- I always regarded them 
    as a great mercy from our Lord; 


   and to me
     they were the very greatest treasure, 
   of this our Lord assured me often. 

- Prayer
   I used to go to Him 
      to complain of all these hardships; 
   and I came away from prayer consoled, 
      and with renewed strength.


- Counseling / Confession
     I spoke of it to my confessor; 
         he always consoled me greatly 
      when he saw me in distress.
              [ Life: Ch.30: #5 ]


____________________________ 


4). What did God advise her to do
           when her Confessor advised her
            "to make a show of contempt"
           whenever she had a vision?
                [ Life: Ch.30: #7 ] 


St. Teresa said that:
"I prayed (to God)  to forgive me, 
      ( for  the show of contempt to the vision)
        seeing that I did so in obedience to him 
            who stood in His stead, and
     not to lay the blame on me, 
          seeing that he was one of  those 
      whom He had placed 
           as His ministers in His Church. 


  He said to me 
         that I was not to distress myself
         that I did well to obey; 
    but He would make them see the truth 
         of the matter".
             [ Life: Ch.30: #7 ] 
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5). St Teresa said "His Majesty began...
      to make it clear  that it was He Himself  
      who appeared" in the vision.


       How was it made clear?
              [ Life: Ch.30: #10  ] 


St. Teresa said: 
   "His Majesty began, 
          according to His promise,
        to make it clear 
         that it was He Himself  who appeared, 
     by the growth in me 
         of the love of God so strong,


      that I knew not 
                   who could have infused it;
          for it was most supernatural, 


      and I had not attained to it 
             by any efforts of my own".


       "I saw myself dying 
            with a desire to see God" 
                 [ Life: Ch.30: #10  ] 


_____________________________


6). St Teresa discusses "Certain great 
      impetuosities of love; loving impulses.

6a). How does she describe
             those impetuosities of love
           to which  "nature itself 
             may be contributing "?
               [ Life: Ch.30: #11, 12   ] 


6b). How does she describe
             those impulses which are
          beyond human capability?
              [ Life: Ch.30: #13, 14, 15  ] 


          - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - -
6a). How does she describe
                those impetuosities of love
               to which  "nature itself 
                 may be contributing "?
                   [ Life: Ch.30: #11, 12  ] 


~ Those impulses to which "nature itself 
         may be contributing":


St. Teresa describes these in this way:


They are: 


- "... prayer ...of a much lower order; 

- "...an upheaving of the breast,
    ....devotional sensations,  
      which seem on the point 
            of causing suffocation, 
            and are beyond control"


- "This prayer is like the sobbing 
           of little children, 
    who seem on the point of choking, and 
    whose disordered senses are soothed 
           by giving them to drink"
                [ Life: Ch.30: #11  ] 


- "In the beginning, 
         I had tears of this kind"
              [ Life: Ch.30: #12  ] 


Her Advice;
- "those agitations should be avoided 
    by gently endeavouring to be recollected;   
    and the soul should be kept in quiet. 


- "...here reason should draw in the reins,   
    because 
    --nature itself  may be contributing to it 
    -- we should consider with fear 
         that all this may not be perfect, and 
         that much sensuality may be involved in it.


    The infant soul should be soothed 
         by the caresses of love, 
            which shall draw forth its love 
                 in a gentle way, and 
        not, as they say, by force of blows. 


  This love should be inwardly 
         under control, and 
     not as a caldron, 
          fiercely boiling 
     because too much fuel 
          has been applied to it, and
     out of which everything is lost.


 The source of the fire
         must be kept under control, and 
  the flame must be quenched 
     in sweet tears, and 
     not with those painful tears 
        which come out of these emotions, and   
       which do so much harm.
               [ Life: Ch.30: #11  ] 


  Great discretion, therefore, 
      is necessary at first, 
    in order 
      that everything may proceed gently, and 
      that the operations of the spirit 
               may be within; 


      all outward manifestations should 
                be carefully avoided"
                    [ Life: Ch.30: #12  ] 


After Effects:  


    They left me with 
         a disordered head and 
         a wearied spirit, 
     and for a day or two afterwards 
         unable to resume my prayer. 
             [ Life: Ch.30: #12  ] 


________________________


6b). How does she describe
                 those impulses which are
               beyond human capability
                 [ Life: Ch.30: #13, 14, 15  ] 


~ Those impulses which are
         beyond human capability


 - It is not we 
        who apply the fuel;


        the fire is already kindled, 
           and we are thrown into it 
                 in a moment 
           to be consumed. 


   - It is by no efforts of the soul 
             that it sorrows over the wound
       which the absence of our Lord 
             has inflicted on it; 
                  [ Life: Ch.30: # 13    ] 


     - A spark seems to have fallen 
                 suddenly upon it, 
           that has set it all on fire. 


        Oh, how often do I remember, 
                 when in this state, 
         those words of David: 
         "Quemadmodum desiderat cervus 
           ad fontes aquarum"!


          Psalm 41. 2: 
          "As the longing of the hart 
                for the fountains of waters,
           so is the longing of my soul for Thee, 
               O my God." 
                 [ Life: Ch.30: # 14    ] 


Effects:
    - an arrow is driven...       
          into the heart at times, 
       so that the soul knows 
           not what is the matter with it, 
           nor what it wishes for. 


       It understands clearly enough 
          that it wishes for God, and 


       that the arrow...
          which makes the soul 
                   -- hate itself 
                         for the love of our Lord, and 
                   -- willingly lose its life for Him".


        "...God wounds the soul, 


          ...very grievous pain inflicted, 
              which deprives it 
             of all self-consciousness;   


          yet this pain is so sweet, 
             that there is no joy in the world 
          which gives greater delight. 


           ...the soul would wish to be 
              always dying of this wound"
                   [ Life: Ch.30: # 13 ] 


           "This pain and bliss together 
                carried me out of myself 


            ...a wounded soul...so conscious...  
            that it is wounded 
                 for so good a cause; 


            and seeing distinctly 
                that it never did anything
            whereby this love should come to it,  


              that it does come 
                     from that exceeding love 
              which our Lord bears it. 
                     [ Life: Ch.30: # 14    ] 


              The soul seeks for ways and means 
                 to do something that may be felt, 
              for the love of God...


              but the first pain is so great... 


              the pain may pass away a little...
                  by praying God 
               to relieve its sufferings... 
       
               At other times, these impetuosities 
                   are so violent,
                that the soul can do 
                   neither this 
                   nor anything else; 
                the whole body is contracted, and 
                   neither hand nor foot 
                      can be moved: 


                if the body be upright at the time, 
                   it falls down, 
                as a thing that has no control 
                   over itself. 


                It cannot even breathe; 
                   all it does is to moan,
                       not loudly, 
                   because it cannot:
                its moaning, however, comes 
                   from a keen sense of pain.
                      [ Life: Ch.30: # 15  ] 


________________________
7). Continuing in her discussion of the
      great impetuosities of love, 
      she talks of her vision of angels 
       and the piercing of  the heart.


7a). How did St. Teresa describe her 
           visions of the Angels ?
                  [ Life: Ch.30: # 16  ] 


7b). How did she describe 
            the transverberation, 
         "the piercing of the heart"?
           [ Life: Ch.30: # 17, 18, 19, 13   ] 
        - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


7a). How did St. Teresa describe her 
           visions of the Angels ?
                  [ Life: Ch.30: # 16, 17  ] 


St. Teresa stated regarding  her visions of angels:


- that at first theses were Intellectual visions.


           "I have visions of angels frequently, 
                      yet I see them 
             only by an intellectual vision"
                    [ Life: Ch.30: # 16 ] 


- Later, she received the grace of a 
    receiving an image of an angel.


            "Our Lord was pleased 
                    that I should have at times 
             a vision of this kind:


               I saw an angel close by me, 
                        on my left side, 
                  in bodily form. 


               This I am not accustomed to see, 
                              unless very rarely. 


                He was not large, 
                     but small of stature,
                  and most beautiful, 
                     his face burning, 
                   as if he were 
                      one of the highest angels,
                   who seem to be all of fire...


                    they must be those 
                       whom we call cherubim".
                         [ Life: Ch.30: # 16 ] 


______________________________


7b). How did she describe 
               the transverberation, 
           "the piercing of the heart"?
              [ Life: Ch.30: # 17, 18, 19, 13   ] 


St.Teresa described 
       "the piercing of the heart" in this way: 


 "I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, 
   and at the iron's point there
          seemed to be a little fire. 


He appeared to me 
     to be thrusting it 
            at times into my heart,  and
     to pierce my very entrails; 


     when he drew it out, 
        he seemed 
           - to draw them out also, and 
          -  to leave me all on fire 
                with a great love of God. 


   The pain was so great, 
        that it made me moan; and 


    yet so surpassing was the sweetness 
        of this excessive pain,
    that I could not wish to be rid of it. 


    The soul is satisfied now 
           with nothing less than God. 


      The pain is not bodily, but spiritual; 
           though the body has its share in it, 
                  even a large one. 


       It is a caressing of love so sweet 
              which now takes place 
            between the soul and God"
                  [ Life: Ch.30: # 17   ] 


       "During the days that this lasted, 
                I went about as if beside myself. 


        I wished to see, or speak with, no one, 
             but only to cherish my pain, 
         which was to me a greater bliss 
         than all created things could give me. 
                [ Life: Ch.30: # 18  ] 


      I was in this state from time to time, 
           whenever it was our Lord's pleasure
        to throw me into those deep trances,    
           which I could not prevent 
       even when I was in the company 
                      of others,
            and which, to my deep vexation, 
              came to be publicly known. 


       Since then, 
          I do not feel that pain so much...
           
       On the other hand, 
        when this painbegins, 
           our Lord seems 
               to lay hold of the soul, and 
               to throw it into a trance, 
           so that there is no time for me 
           to have any sense of pain or suffering, 
                because fruition ensues at once".
                    [ Life: Ch.30: # 19 ]  


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