Excerpts from St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)

[Shin]

'What I shall now speak of was, I believe, the beginning of great harm to me. I often think how wrong it is of parents not to be very careful that their children should always, and in every way, see only that which is good; for though my mother was, as I have just said, so good herself, nevertheless I, when I came to the use of reason, did not derive so much good from her as I ought to have done??almost none at all; and the evil I learned did me much harm. She was very fond of books of chivalry; but this pastime did not hurt her so much as it hurt me, because she never wasted her time on them; only we, her children, were left at liberty to read them; and perhaps she did this to distract her thoughts from her great sufferings, and occupy her children, that they might not go astray in other ways. It annoyed my father so much, that we had to be careful he never saw us. I contracted a habit of reading these books; and this little fault which I observed in my mother was the beginning of lukewarmness in my good desires, and the occasion of my falling away in other respects. I thought there was no harm in it when I wasted many hours night and day in so vain an occupation, even when I kept it a secret from my father. So completely was I mastered by this passion, that I thought I could never be happy without a new book.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

I always keep this quote in mind when I think of the harm of too much entertainment. She perhaps thought there was no harm in it initially -- but there it was, she repeats this about many other matters. So the saints see more clearly in retrospect the sources of harm in their lives, in things that, when we are more worldly seem lighter and inconsequential often enough but actually can do quite serious damage.

Actually, reading from her Life I can see many things that she regarded as unimportant or ignorantly at one time, and later confesses to being wrong about and how harmful this that and the other thing was, and how, years ago reading it I might have put it down to some sort of exaggeration of sanctity, wherein the saints are very sensitive about things and that is what makes them saints, but actually do not have a proper perspective -- but this is not the case I can say today, but in fact it is the opposite, and St. Teresa is comparing what the true convent life should be like for training the soul to what she went through, which was at times a lax and ignorant version thereof which was both because of her own views and the place she was in, and of course the more fundamental prevalent view of all of the world's attitude towards such things in all ways.. And that these missing points, so key towards detaching the soul from the world and sin, if missing -- can put a halt on progress and worse.

She is, through hindsight, trying to warn us.. But how often we have to experience the mistakes ourselves rather than with a little faith trust and go farther! I know this well.. it does not make an impression because we have not experienced it.. and so a more difficult way is taken.

Which makes me think of the little tethers on the birds the saints like St. John of the Cross speak of, if I recall correctly. The bird wishes to fly.. but a tether has it held to earth.. and what is this tether? Something the world thinks is small.. but it is what is keeping the soul from flying to the spiritual heights! And as long as it continues, it will continue to do so, and worse.

Which makes me think how essential it is to think and feel like a saint and not be 'prudent' in the sense worldly people are, as if they were more wise in spiritual matters than the saints themselves. True enough often they have the excuse of prevailing spiritual views by 'spiritual people'.. but the difference between sainthood and that is deep and high at least.

We must have simple faith.

Well, for what it's worth, I've said too much no doubt. Silence is splendid too.

[Shin]

'After Communion, on St. Augustine's Day, I understood, and, as it were, saw, "I cannot tell how, unless it was by an intellectual vision which passed rapidly away," how the Three Persons of the most Holy Trinity, whom I have always imprinted in my soul, are One. This was revealed in a representation so strange, and in a light so clear, that the impression made upon me was very different from that which I have by faith. From that time forth I have never been able to think of One of the Three Divine Persons without thinking of the Three; so that today, when I was considering how, the Three being One, the Son alone took our flesh upon Him, our Lord showed me how, though They are One, They are also distinct. These are marvels which make the soul desire anew to be rid of the hindrances which the body interposes between it and the fruition of them. Though this passes away in a moment, there remains a gain to the soul incomparably greater than any it might have made by meditation during many years; and all without knowing how it happens.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

What a splendid grace to be given.. what a splendid grace.. I keep reading of the unutterable and inexplicable insights and graces given the saints in contemplation and feeling a holy desire for them too, this unutterable knowledge of God.. I pray it comes to us all.. that we become clean enough to be given such graces in this life..

What a barrier not to be able to communicate them to people!

[Shin]

'The Truth of which I am speaking, and which I was given to see, is Truth Itself, in Itself. It has neither beginning nor end. All other truths depend on this Truth, as all other loves depend on this love, and all other grandeurs on this grandeur. I understood it all, notwithstanding that my words are obscure in comparison with that distinctness with which it pleased our Lord to show it to me. What think you must be the power of His Majesty, seeing that in so short a time it leaves so great a blessing and such an impression on the soul? O Grandeur! Majesty of mine! what is it Thou art doing, O my Lord Almighty! Consider who it is to whom Thou givest blessings so great! Dost Thou not remember that this my soul has been an abyss of lies and a sea of vanities, and all my fault? Though Thou hadst given me a natural hatred of lying yet I did involve myself in many lying ways. How is this, O my God? how can it be that mercies and graces so great should fall to the lot of one who has so ill deserved them at Thy hands?'

St. Teresa of Jesus

[Shin]

'Once, when I was with the whole community reciting the Office, my soul became suddenly recollected, and seemed to me all bright as a mirror, clear behind, sideways, upwards, and downwards; and in the centre of it I saw Christ our Lord, as I usually see Him. It seemed to me that I saw Him distinctly in every part of my soul, as in a mirror, and at the same time the mirror was all sculptured -- I cannot explain it -- in our Lord Himself by a most loving communication which I can never describe. I know that this vision was a great blessing to me, and is still whenever I remember it, particularly after Communion.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

[Shin]

'Of this divine truth, which was put before me I know not how, there remains imprinted within me a truth -- I cannot give it a name -- which fills me with a new reverence for God; it gives me a notion of His Majesty and power in a way which I cannot explain. I can understand that it is something very high. I had a very great desire never to speak of anything but of those deep truths which far surpass all that is spoken of here in the world, -- and so the living in it began to be painful to me.'

St. Teresa of Jesus

[eschator83]

My Foley Saint of The Day 4th Edition calls today a Memorial for St Teresa, and says that in 1970 she and St Catherine of Sienna were the first women acknowledged as Doctors of the Church.  St Teresa please pray for us.