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 37
She speaks 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 Effects of the Divine Graces in the Soul.
- The Inestimable Greatness of
One Degree of Glory.
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Discussion Topics/ Questions
1). What did St. Teresa say
regarding graces
[ Life: Ch.37: # 2,3 ]
2). What blessings does St. Teresa
describe from Visions of God?
[ Life: Ch.37: #4 ,5,7,9,10 ]
3). How does St. Teresa describe
the state of her soul?
[ Life: Ch.37: # 10,11,12 ]
4). How does st. Teresa describe
the complications
of social discourse and conventions?
of social discourse and conventions?
[ Life: Ch.37: # 15, 16,17, 18 ]
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1). What did St. Teresa say
regarding graces
[ Life: Ch.37: # 2,3 ]
St. Teresa advises:
~ That among the various graces,
there are
diverse difference in their degrees
of joy, fruition, and glory
"in those graces
which God bestows on the soul,
there are diverse degrees of joy:
for in some visions
the joy and sweetness
and comfort
of them
so far exceed those
of others,
that I am amazed
at the different degrees
of fruition
even in this life;
for it happens
that the joy and consolation
which God gives in
a vision or
a trance
are so different,
that it seems impossible
for the soul to be able
to desire anything
more in this world:
our Lord
has made me understand
how great a difference
there is in heaven itself
between the fruition
of one
and that
of another"
~ God grants graces
as He wills,
"I see clearly enough that here also,
when our Lord wills,
He gives not by measure"
~ If she could, she would suffer
every possible trial
if it would help her to receive
even a slight additional degree of grace
because this increase in
knowledge of God
would greatly enable
her love for God.
"and so I wish that
I myself observed no measure
- in serving His Majesty, and
- in using my whole
life and strength and health...
I would not have any fault of mine
rob me of the slightest degree
of fruition".
[ Life: Ch.37: # 2 ]
"if I were asked
which I preferred,
◊ to endure all the trials
of the world
until the end of it, and
then receive
one slight degree
of glory additional,
or
◊ to enter into glory
of a slightly lower degree,
without any suffering
of any kind
I would accept...all those trials
for one slight degree
of fruition
in the contemplation
of the greatness of God;
for I know
that he who
understands Him best,
loves Him and
praises Him
best.
[ Life: Ch.37: # 3 ]
"I (would)
be satisfied, and
consider myself most blessed,
to be in heaven,
even if ...in the lowest place;
it would be a great mercy
of our Lord
to admit me at all...
and take away His eyes
from beholding
my grievous sins.
What I mean is this, --
if it were in my power, even
if it cost me everything,
and our Lord gave me
the grace to endure
much affliction,
I would not through
any fault of mine
lose one degree of glory.
Ah, wretched that I am,
who by so many faults
had forfeited all!"
[ Life: Ch.37: # 3 ]
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2). What blessings does St. Teresa
describe from her Visions of God?
[ Life: Ch.37: #4,5,7,9,10 ]
St. Teresa said that the visions of God
produce effects or fruits
that abide in the soul
Such as,
an increase in virtue, faith and
love toward God,
an impression of the closeness
and love of God,
an improvement in her faults, and
a dread of offending God.
"in every vision or revelation
which our Lord in His mercy sent me,
a great gain accrued to my soul,
and that in some of the visions
this gain was very great.
The vision of Christ
left behind an impression
of His exceeding beauty, and
it remains with me to this day.
One vision alone of Him
is enough to effect this;
what, then, must all those visions
have done,
which our Lord in His mercy sent me?
One exceedingly great blessing
has resulted therefrom,
and it is this,
-- I had one very grievous fault,
which was the source of much evil;
namely, whenever I found anybody
well disposed towards myself,
and I liked him,
I used tohave such an affection
for him as compelled me always
to remember and think of him,
though I had no intention
of offending God:
however, I was pleased to see him,
to think of him and
of his good qualities.
All this was so hurtful,
that it brought my soul
to the very verge of destruction.
[ Life: Ch.37: # 4 ]
But ever since I saw
the great beauty of our Lord,
I never saw any one
who in comparison with Him
seemed even endurable,
or that could occupy my thoughts.
For if I but turn mine eyes inwardly
for a moment
to the contemplation of the image
which I have within me,
I find myself so free,
that from that instant
everything I see is loathsome
in comparison with
the excellences and graces
of which I had a vision in our Lord.
Neither is there any sweetness,
nor any kind of pleasure,
which I can make any account of,
compared with that
which comes from hearing
but one word from His divine mouth.
[ Life: Ch.37: # 5 ]
My love of, and trust in, our Lord,
after I had seen Him in a vision,
began to grow,
for my converse with Him
was so continual.
I saw
- that, though He was God,
He was man also;
- that He is not surprised
at the frailties of men,
- that He understands
our miserable nature,
liable to fall continually,
because of the first sin,
for the reparation of which
He had come.
I could speak to Him as to a friend,
though He is my Lord,
[ Life: Ch.37: # 7 ]
But I am filled with greater awe,
O my Lord,
when I consider
Thy humility, and
the love Thou hast for such as I am
We can converse and speak with Thee
about everything whenever we will;
...when we lose our first fear and awe
at the vision of Thy Majesty,
we have a greater dread
of offending Thee,
not arising out
of the fear of punishment,
O my Lord, for that is as nothing
in comparison with
the loss of Thee!
[ Life: Ch.37: # 9 ]
If it be from God,
the fruits thereof show it,
when the soul receives light;
[ Life: Ch.37: # 10 ]
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3). How does St. Teresa describe
the state of her soul?
[ Life: Ch.37: # 10,11,12 ]
St. Teresa said:
"the will of our Lord is
that the soul
should be in darkness, and
not see this light.
It is...nothing to be wondered at,
that I, knowing myself
to be so wicked as I am,
should be afraid.
[ Life: Ch.37: # 10 ]
"I was so incapable
of good thoughts,
that I was laughing at myself,
and even rejoicing
to see how mean a soul can be
if God is not always working in it.
The soul sees clearly
that God is not away from it
in this state, and
Though it
heaps up fuel, and
does the little it can do of itself,
it cannot make
the fire of the love of God burn:
it is a great mercy
that even the smoke is visible,
showing that it is not
altogether quenched.
Our Lord will return and kindle it;
and until then the soul
though it may lose its breath
in blowing and arranging the fuel
seems to be doing nothing
but putting it out more and more.
[ Life: Ch.37: # 11 ]
...the best course is to be
- absolutely resigned,
- confessing
that we can do nothing, and so
- apply ourselves to something else
which is meritorious.
Our Lord, it may be,
takes away from the soul
the power of praying,
that it may
betake itself to something else,
and learn by experience
how little it can do
in its own strength.
[ Life: Ch.37: # 12 ]
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4). How does st. Teresa describe
the complications
of social discourse and conventions?
of social discourse and conventions?
[ Life: Ch.37: # 15, 16,17, 18 ]
St. Teresa said;
"The world is now come
to such a state,
that men's lives ought to be longer
than they are
if we are to learn
all the new customs and ceremonies
of good breeding, and
yet spend any time
in the service of God.
Any negligence in being...
more ceremonious with people
than they deserve
is not taken as a jest;
on the contrary,
they look upon it as an insult
deliberately offered;
so that it becomes necessary for you
to satisfy them
of your good intentions,
if there happens,
to have been any negligence;
and even then,
God grant they may believe you.
[ Life: Ch.37: # 15 ]
(The soul) is told to employ
all its thoughts always on God, and
that it is necessary to do so
if it would avoid many dangers.
On the other hand,
it finds it will not do to fail
in any one point of the world's law,
under the penalty of affronting those
who look upon these things
as touching their honour.
I was worn out in unceasingly
giving satisfaction to people;
for, though I tried my utmost,
I could not help failing
in many ways in matters
which, as I have said,
are not slightly thought of
in the world.
[ Life: Ch.37: # 16 ]
Is it true that in religious houses
no explanations are necessary,
for it is only reasonable
we should be excused these observances?
...for if a man be careful
to please God continually, and
to hate the world,
as he ought to do,
I do not see
how he can be equally careful
to please those who live in the world
in these matters
which are continually changing.
If they could be learnt once for all,
it might be borne with:
...there ought to be
a professor's chair founded,
from which lectures should be given,
...teaching us how to do it;
[ Life: Ch.37: # 17 ]
I know not where this will stop:
I am not yet fifty, and
yet I have seen so many changes
during my life,
that I do not know how to live.
What will they do
who are only just born, and
who may live many years?
Certainly I am sorry
for those spiritual people
who, for certain holy purposes,
are obliged to live in the world;
the cross they have to carry
is a dreadful one.
[ Life: Ch.37: # 18 ]
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End of Discussion of Chapter 37 |