Discussion of Ch. 8 - The Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila - The Life of Teresa of Jesus

THE LIFE OF HOLY MOTHER
TERESA OF JESUS

The Life of St. Teresa of Avila

The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus,
of the Order of Our Lady of Carmel.

CHAPTER 8

Describes:
- Of the great advantage she derived
   from not entirely abandoning prayer
   so as not to lose her soul;
- and what an excellent remedy this is
  in order to win back what one has lost.
- She exhorts everybody to practise prayer,
   and shows what a gain it is,
   even if one should have given it up for a time,
   to make use of so great a good.

- The Saint Ceases Not to Pray.
- Prayer the Way to Recover What Is Lost.
- All Exhorted to Pray.
- The Great Advantage of Prayer,
   even to Those Who May Have
   ceased from It.

Discussion Questions:

1). St. Teresa stated that she,
     "spent nearly twenty years on that stormy sea,
       ...falling and...rising...".

1a). What was the "strife and contention"
       that she suffered 
       for "nearly twenty years" ?
        [ Life: Ch. 8:  # 2, 4 ]

1b). How did she "trace distinctly
          the great mercy of our Lord to me"?
          [ Life: Ch. 8: # 2, 5 ]

2a). How does St. Teresa define, "Mental Prayer" ?
        [ Life: Ch. 8: # 7]

2b). What does St. Teresa say are
         the blessings possessed by
        "he, who gives himself to (mental) prayer" ?
         [ Life: Ch. 8: # 5, 6, 7, 9 ]

3a). If love is to be true and "lasting friendship",
         what "certain dispositions are necessary" ?
         [ Life: Ch. 8:  # 5 ]

3b). What does St. Teresa say is
          the obstacle to this love and friendship?
        [ Life: Ch. 8: # 7 ]

3c). What , then, does St. Teresa advise the soul
          regarding its limitation in loving God?
         [ Life: Ch. 8: # 7 ]

4). What advise does St. Teresa give regarding prayer?
      [ Life: Ch. 8: # 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18 ]

5a). For what does St Teresa "wish"?
        [ Life: Ch. 8: # 8 ]

5b). How does St. Teresa describe
         the merciful and patient love
         that God has for the soul?
         [ Life: Ch. 8: # 8, 13, 14 ]

6). What advise does St. Teresa give
        regarding occasions of sin?
       [ Life: Ch. 8: # 14, 15, 16]
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1). St. Teresa stated that she,
      "spent nearly twenty years on that stormy sea,
       often falling...and...rising...".

1a). What was the "strife and contention"
          that she suffered
          for "nearly twenty years" ?
           [ Life: Ch. 8: # 2, 4 ]

St. Teresa stated that
    her attention was mixed
    between spiritual and worldly objects.

Although devoted to God,
  she remained attached to worldly things.

"When I was in the midst
   of the pleasures of the world,
     - the remembrance of what I owed to God

  and when I was praying to God,
     - my worldly affections disturbed me.

it was the most painful life
... because I had
     - no sweetness in God, and
     - no pleasure in the world.

I scarcely made any account
   whatever of venial sins;

and though of mortal sins I was afraid,
  I was not so afraid of them
     as I ought to have been,

     because I did not avoid
     the perilous occasions of them. 

She goes on to describe her state as:
   "while thus immersed in the world,"
    ...I had still the courage to pray.
    - plotting treason against the King,
    - knowing that He knows it,
      and yet never withdrawing
             from His presence;
             ...[ Life: Ch. 8:  # 2 ]

"I spent more than eighteen (years)
   in that strife and contention
      which arose out of
      my attempts to reconcile
       - God and
       - the world.
          ...[ Life: Ch. 8:  # 4 ]

1b). How did she "trace distinctly
         the great mercy of our Lord to me"?
         [ Life: Ch. 8: # 2, 5 ]

St. Teresa stated that,
  "I can trace distinctly
      the great mercy of our Lord to me,
   while thus immersed in the world,
     in that I had still the courage to pray.

"those who pray are in His presence
    for they...see
 that He is looking upon them"
  ...[Life: Ch. 8: # 2 ]

how great is the good
  which God works in a soul
when He gives it a disposition
  to pray in earnest,
though it may not be so well prepared
  as it ought to be.
...Life: Ch. 8: # 5]
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2a). How does St. Teresa define,
             "Mental Prayer" ?
             [ Life: Ch. 8: # 7 ]

St Teresa stated:
   "...mental prayer is nothing else...
     (than) being on terms of friendship with God,
      frequently conversing in secret with Him
          Who, we know, loves us.
           ...[ Life: Ch. 8: # 7 ]
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2b). What does St. Teresa say are
        the blessings possessed by "he,
         who gives himself to (mental) prayer ?
          [ Life: Ch. 8: # 5, 6, 7, 9 ]

St. Teresa said that the blessings possessed by
   he, who gives himself to (mental) prayer, include:

- "Be his life ever so wicked;
     ...prayer is the way to amend it,

     and without prayer
         such amendment will be much more difficult.

   Even if, "...one does not advance,
      nor make an effort...
            as to merit the joys and consolations
            which the perfect receive from God,
     yet he will by little and little
       attain to a knowledge of the road
     which leads to heaven.

   And if he perseveres,
   ... no one ever took (God) for his friend
          that was not amply rewarded;
          ...[ Life: Ch. 8: # 7 ]

- in spite of sins, temptations, and relapses...
      Our Lord will bring it at last...
          to the harbour of salvation,
           ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #5 ]

  if we truly repent,
      and resolve never to offend Him,
 He will take us into His favour again,
     give us the graces He gave us before,
     ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #6 ]

 In return for this ( effort, struggle, and sacrifice)
    which they offer...
      for the purpose of remaining in (God's) company
    Thou, O Lord,
      defendest them against the assaults of evil spirits,
      giving to them the victory over these their enemies.

- Spiritual Sustenance and bodily health:
  Those who
     "put their trust in Thee, and
      seek Thy friendship
  Thou sustainest their bodily life
      in greater vigour,
      and makest their soul to live.
      ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #9 ]
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3a). If love is to be true and "lasting friendship",
          what "certain dispositions are necessary" ?
          [ Life: Ch. 8: # 5 ]

St. Teresa stated that,
   "true love and lasting friendship
    require certain dispositions".

It is necessary that both love each other
- without reservation and
- without self-love.
   ...[ Life: Ch. 8: # 5 ]

3b). What does St. Teresa say is
        the obstacle to this love and friendship?
       [ Life: Ch. 8: # 7 ]

St. Teresa states that
    any obstacle to true love and friendship
    between God and the soul,
        is on our side since
        - the Lord's love "is absolutely perfect;
        - "ours (is) vicious, sensual, and thankless"

  "you cannot therefore...
      love Him as He loves you,
   because you have not the disposition to do so"
   ...[ Life: Ch. 8: # 7 ]

3c). What , then, does St. Teresa advise the soul
          regarding its limitation in loving God?
          [ Life: Ch. 8: # 7 ]
 St. Teresa advises:
  In order to try to increase the love of God,
     one should reflect on:
        - How greatly He loves you
        - What a blessing it is
               to have His friendship

    "and if you do not love Him,
      yet, seeing how much it concerns you
      - to have His friendship,
      - and how great is His love for you,
      rise above that pain you feel
            at being much with Him
           Who is so different from you".
            ...[ Life: Ch. 8: # 7 ]

    (One suffers when they are aware
       of their own selfishness and
       their own limited ability to love God
        Who loves us greatly).
_________________________
4). What advise does St. Teresa give
         regarding prayer?
      [ Life: Ch. 8: # 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18 ]

St. Teresa advises that:

~ Prayer is the path to God

    "prayer is the door to those great graces
       which our Lord bestow(s)".
   "If this door be shut,
     I do not see how He can bestow them;

     for even if He entered into a soul
       to take His delight therein,and
       to make that soul also delight in Him,
     there is no way by which He can do so;

    for His will is, that
      such a soul should be
      - lonely and pure,
      - with a great desire to receive His graces.

  If we put many hindrances in the way,
    and take no pains whatever to remove them,
  how can He come to us,
  ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #13 ]

~ never cease to pray

   "that no one "who has once begun this practice,
      never cease from prayer
      ...be his life ever so wicked;

   "to him who has not begun to pray,
       I implore him by the love of our Lord
    not to deprive himself of so great a good."
    ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #6 ]

~ It is not humility or virtue
     to refrain from praying
     even if one, knowingly sins

   "Let him not be tempted by Satan,
      as I was,
    to give it up, on the pretence of humility"
    ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #6 ]

~ Prayer is vital to all, especially sinners

   "let him rather believe...His words,
     'if we truly repent, and resolve never to offend Him,
     He will
     - take us into His favour again,
     - give us the graces He gave us before...' "
                [ Ezech. 18; 21, 28 ]

       'But if the wicked
         do penance for all his sins
       which he hath committed, and
         keep all my commandments,
          and do judgment, and justice,
         living he shall live, and shall not die.

        I will not remember all his iniquities
           that he hath done:
        in his justice which he hath wrought,
           he shall live.    [ Ezech. 18; 21, 28 ]
           ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #6 ]

   "The wicked...ought to (pray)
       in order that Thou mayest make them good,

    and for that purpose
      should permit Thee to remain with them
    at least for two hours daily,

   even though they may not remain with Thee
      but, as I used to do,
   with a thousand distractions, and
      with worldly thoughts.
      ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #9 ]

    "...It was by prayer
         all my evil was corrected

        why should any one,
             how wicked soever he may be,
         have any fear?

    Let him be ever so wicked,
       he will not remain in his wickedness
    so many years as I did,
       after receiving so many graces
           from our Lord.
           ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #11 ]

~ That they should not be
     "afraid to begin mental prayer".

   The devil does well to bring this fear upon us,
    ...by putting me in fear,
       he can make me cease from thinking
       - of my offences against God,
       - of the great debt I owe Him,
       - of the existence of heaven and hell, and
       - of the great sorrows and trials
            (which) He underwent for me.
            ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #10 ]

~ Pray regularly and Persevere, despite aridity

    - That they should persevere
         in each prayer period,
          -- even when distracted
          -- feeling dry, lack of devotion
          -- or when the prayer time seems endless

    "In the end, our Lord came to my help;
        and then, when I had done this (sacrifice)
     I found greater peace and joy
        than I sometimes had
     when I had a desire to pray.
     ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #10 ]

~ Trust in God, not in ourselves

   "...One should
     - put one's whole trust in His Majesty and
     - have a thorough distrust in oneself.

   " how all is of little profit
     -if we do not root out all confidence
          in ourselves, and
     - place it wholly in God"
        ... [ Life: Ch. 8: # 18 ]

~ Seek solitude and quiet for prayer

   "I desired and contrived to find
     - some place and
     - some opportunities for Him
          to be alone with me
      and that very often against my will

     ( she admits that she forced herself to pray,
       and afterwards,
         it seemed that despite her own weakness,
            the Lord led her.)
            ...[ Life: Ch. 8: # 11 ]
___________________________
5a). For what does St Teresa "wish"?
          [ Life: Ch. 8:   # 8 ]

St. Teresa wished
    "I could wholly die of love for" God.

"O Joy of the angels!
    I wish I could wholly die of love!"
    ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #8 ]

5b). How does St. Teresa describe
         the merciful and patient love
         that God has for the soul?
          [ Life: Ch. 8: # 8, 13, 14 ]

St. Teresa describes the merciful and patient love
       that God has for the soul:

St. Teresa spoke of what a "good friend"
   God is to the soul because:
   - even when neglected,
        He comforts the soul
        and patiently awaits the soul
   - He wants to make the soul like Him,
        to grow in love and virtue
   - He remembers those occasions
       when we do pray to Him and
       when we do repent

"how Thou comfortest and endurest,
   and also waitest for them
to make themselves like unto Thee,
  and yet, in the meanwhile,
art Thyself so patient
   of the state they are in!

Thou takest into account
   the occasions during which
      they seek Thee,
   and for a moment of penitence
      forget their offences against Thyself.

How true it is that
  Thou endurest those
     who will not endure Thee!
      ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #8 ]

for, of those who pray,
  God Himself defrays the charges,

for (their) little trouble
    He gives sweetness,
in order that, by the help it supplies,
    they may bear their trials.
    ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #13 ]

- She emphasized that
   it's very important to understand
    -- of the assaults
          which Satan directs against a soul
          and
    -- of the contrivances and compassion
          wherewith our Lord labours
        to convert (the soul back) to Himself,
        in order that men may behold His mercy
        ...[ Life: Ch. 8: #14 ]
___________________________

6). What advise does St. Teresa give
         regarding occasions of sin?
          [ Life: Ch. 8: # 14, 15, 16]

St. Teresa advised:
  - to to beware of the occasions of sin"
        (even if praying regularly,
                    having good intentions, or
         even having experienced contemplation)

  "for once placed therein,
      - we have no ground to rest on
      - so many enemies then assail us,
      - and our own weakness is such,
         that we cannot defend ourselves.
          ...[ Life: Ch. 8: # 14 ]

...towards the end,
when, by the grace of God,
  I was withdrawing more and more
from those great dangers,
  but not wholly from the occasions of them.

She experienced
  "the captivity of my soul in those days!
I understood perfectly that I was in captivity"
...[ Life: Ch. 8: # 15 ]

She emphasized this,
  by relating what she felt
      was incorrect advise
  from her Confessors:

  - "those things my confessors
     did not make so much of
          were so wrong
     as I, in my soul,
           felt them to be.

   - and said that
      "even if I were raised
           to high contemplation,
       those occasions and conversations
           were not unfitting for me. "
           ...[ Life: Ch. 8: # 15 ]

"...for the wide door
     that man opened for it,
  that it might go forth
      to its pastimes and pleasures,
  when they said
       that these things were lawful."
       ...[ Life: Ch. 8: # 16 ]
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