Discussion of Chapter 8 The Way of Perfection . |
In Chapter 8, St. Teresa extolls the virtue of detachment
because, "it includes everything else".
She counsels her nuns
to "labour to the best of our abilities, day by day" to
- "care nothing for any created things,
- but embrace the Creator alone...".
"By many prayers" and with the help of God
this striving for detachment:
- helps us to withdraw our attention
from ourselves and other worldly things
so we can be more receptive to God,
"giving ourselves wholly to Him, and
keeping nothing for ourselves".
- will dispose us to growth of virtue
"His Majesty will infuse the virtues into us".
- will help us avoid temptations and vices
"the Lord will take our defence in hand
against the devils and
against the whole world".
- supports freedom of spirit or perfect peace
But she while she urges "self-detachment,
both interior and exterior"
she reminds us to be thankful
for all our wordly and spiritual blessings,
since "all blessings are in Him".
Further on, she speaks
of her thankfulness for her Carmelite Vocation,
"yet the Lord has granted it to me who so ill deserve it!"
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Regarding this, a commentator wrote:
Likewise, we can also praise and thank God
for His loving mercy and blessings
in having brought us to our respective vocations.
We also benefit from St. Teresa's counsel
regarding our social pastimes
by trying
to observe ourselves and
to gain self-knowledge
as to whether our conversations provide
compassion, love, and assistance
or do they contribute to
distraction, lack of peace,
or increased inappropriate attachment.
.
.
End of Discussion of Chapter 8 . |
