Chapter I.
In which she tells
- how God began to dispose this soul
from childhood for virtue, and
- how she was helped by having virtuous parents.
Chapter 2
- How she lost these virtues and
- how important it is to deal from childhood
with virtuous persons.
Chapter 3
In which she sets forth
- how good company was the means
of her resuming good intentions, and
- in what manner God began to give her some light
on the deception to which she was subjected.
Chapter 4
She explains
- how, with the assistance of God,
she compelled herself
to take the (Religious) habit,
to take the (Religious) habit,
- how His Majesty began
to send her many infirmities.
to send her many infirmities.
Chapter 5
She continues
- to speak of the great infirmities
she suffered and
the patience God gave her to bear them, and
- how He turned evil into good,
as is seen from something that happened
at the place
at the place
where she went for a cure.
Chapter 6
- Of the great debt she owes God
for giving her conformity of her will (with His)
in her trials, and
- how she turned towards the glorious St. Joseph
as her helper and advocate, and
- how much she profited thereby.
Chapter 7
- Of the way whereby she lost the graces
God had granted her, and
- the wretched life she began to lead;
- she also speaks of the danger
arising from the want of a strict enclosure
in convents of nuns.
Chapter 8
- 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.
Chapter 9
- By what means God began to rouse her soul
and give light in the midst of darkness,
and to strengthen her virtues
so that she should not offend Him.
Chapter 10
She begins to explain
- the graces God gave her in prayer, and
- how much we can do for ourselves, and
- of the importance of
understanding God's mercies towards us.
- She requests those to whom this is to be sent
to keep the remainder (of this book) secret,
since they have commanded her
to go into so many details about the graces
God has shown her.
In which she sets forth
- how it is that we do not love God perfectly in
a short time.
- She begins to expound by means of a comparison
four degrees of prayer,
of the first of which she treats here;
this is most profitable for beginners
and for those who find no taste in prayer.
Chapter 12
- Continuation of the first state.
- She declares how far, with the grace of God,
we can proceed by ourselves, and
- speaks of the danger of seeking supernatural
and extraordinary experiences
before God lifts up the soul.
Chapter 13
She continues
- to treat of the first degree, and
- gives advice with respect to certain temptations
sometimes sent by Satan.
This is most profitable.
Chapter 14
She begins to explain
- the second degree of prayer
in which God already gives the soul
special consolations,
which she shows here to be supernatural.
This is most noteworthy.
Chapter 15
- Continuing the same subject,
she gives certain advice
how one should behave in the prayer of quiet.
- She shows that many souls advance so far,
but that few go beyond.
The matters treated of in this chapter
are very necessary and profitable.
- On the third degree of prayer;
she declares things of an elevated nature;
- what the soul that has come so far can do, and
- the effect of such great graces of God.
- This is calculated to greatly animate the spirit
to the praise of God, and
- contains advice for those
who have reached this point.
Chapter 17
- Continues to declare matters concerning
the third degree of prayer and
- completes the explanation of its effects.
- She also treats of the impediment
caused by the imagination and the memory.
Chapter 18
- She treats of the fourth degree of prayer, and
- begins to explain in what high dignity
God holds a soul that has attained this state;
- this should animate those who are given to prayer,
to make an effort to reach so high a state
since it can be obtained in this world,
though not by merit
but only through the goodness of God
Chapter 19
- She continues the same subject, and
- begins to explain the effects on the soul
of this degree of prayer.
- She earnestly exhorts not to turn back
nor to give up prayer
even if, after having received this favour,
one should fall.
- She shows the damage that would result
(from the neglect of this advice).
- This is most noteworthy and
consoling for the weak and for sinners.
Chapter 20
- She speaks of the difference
between Union and Trance, and
- explains what a Trance is;
- she also says something about
the good a soul derives from being,
through God's goodness, led so far.
- She speaks of the effects of Union.
Chapter 21
- She continues and concludes
this last degree of prayer, and
- says what a soul having reached it
feels when obliged to turn back
and live in the world, and
- speaks of the light God gives
concerning the deceits (of the world).
This is good doctrine.
Chapter 22
In which she shows
- that the safest way for contemplatives
is not to lift up the spirit to high things
but to wait for God to lift it up.
- How the Sacred Humanity of Christ
is the medium
for the most exalted contemplation.
for the most exalted contemplation.
- She mentions an error
under which she laboured for some time.
This chapter is most profitable.
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.
Chapter 24
- She continues the same subject and
- tells how her soul improved
since she began to practise obedience, and
- how little she was able to resist God's graces, and
- how His Majesty continued to give them
more and more abundantly.
Chapter 25
- Of the manner in which Locutions of God
are perceived by the soul
without being actually heard; and
- of some deceits that might take place
in this matter,
in this matter,
- and how one is to know which is which.
This is most profitable for those
who are in this degree of prayer,
because it is very well explained,
and contains excellent doctrine.
Chapter 26
- She continues the same subject;
- explains and tells things that have happened to her
which caused her to lose fear
and convinced her that the spirit
which spoke to her was a good one.
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.
Chapter 28
- She treats of the great favours God showed her, and
- how He appeared to her for the first time;
- she explains what an imaginary vision is, and
- speaks of the powerful effects it leaves and
- the signs whether it is from God.
This chapter is most profitable and noteworthy.
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), and
- taught her how to answer contradictors.
Chapter 30
- She continues the history of her life, and
- how God sent her a remedy for all her anxieties
by calling the holy Friar Fray Pedro de Alcantara
of the Order of the glorious St. Francis
to the place where she lived.
- She mentions some great temptations
and interior trials
through which she sometimes had to pass.
Chapter 31
- She speaks of some exterior temptations
and apparitions of Satan,
and how he ill-treated her.
- She mentions, moreover, some very good things
by way of advice to persons
who are walking on the way of perfection.
Chapter 32
- She narrates how it pleased God to put her in spirit
in that place of Hell she had deserved
by her sins.
by her sins.
- She tells a little of what she saw there
compared with what there was besides.
- She begins to speak of the manner and way
of founding the convent of St. Joseph
where she now lives.
Chapter 33
- She continues the subject
of the foundation of the glorious St. Joseph.
- How she was commanded to have nothing
(further) to do with it,
(further) to do with it,
- how she abandoned it,
- also the troubles it brought her and
- how God consoled her in all this.
Chapter 34
- She shows how at that time it happened
that she absented herself from this place and
- how her Superior commanded her to go away
at the request of a very noble lady
who was in great affliction.
- She begins to tell what happened to her there, and
- the great grace God bestowed upon her
in determining through her instrumentality
a person of distinction to serve Him truly; and
- how that person found favour and help in her.
This is noteworthy.
Chapter 35
- Continuation of the foundation of this house
of our glorious Father St. Joseph;
- in what manner our Lord ordained
that holy poverty should be observed there;
- the reason why she left the lady
with whom she had been staying, and
- some other things that happened.
Chapter 36
- She continues the same subject, and
- shows how the foundation of this convent
of the glorious St. Joseph
was finally accomplished,
was finally accomplished,
- and the great contradictions and persecutions
she had to endure
after the Religious had taken the habit,
- and the great trials and temptations
through which she passed,
- and how God led her forth victorious
to His own glory and praise.
Chapter 37
- Of the effects which remained
when God granted her some favour;
- together with other very good doctrine.
- She shows how one ought to strive after
and prize every increase in heavenly glory,
- and that for no trouble whatever
one should neglect a good that is to be perpetual.
Chapter 38
- She treats of some great mercies God showed her,
even making known to her heavenly secrets
by means of visions and revelations
His Majesty vouchsafed to grant her;
- she speaks of the effects they caused and
the great improvement resulting in her soul.
Chapter 39
- She continues the same subject,
- mentioning great graces granted her by God;
- how He promised to hear her requests
on behalf of persons for whom she should pray.
- Some remarkable instances
in which His Majesty thus favoured her.
Chapter 40
- Continuation of the same subject
of great mercies God has shown her.
- From some of these
very good doctrine may be gathered,
and this, as she declares, was,
- besides compliance with obedience,
her principal motive (in writing this book),
namely to enumerate such of these mercies
as would be instructive to souls.
- This chapter brings the history of her Life,
written by herself, to an end.
May it be for the glory of God.
Amen.
