Discussion of Chapter 9
- Treats of the great blessing that shunning their relatives brings to those who have left the world and - Shows how by doing so they will find truer friends |
The term, "Shunning their relatives", seems harsh to us. But, in its proper context, St. Teresa was advising the nuns not to spend so much time in the parlor, receiving visits from relatives which not only took time and attachment away from their vocation, but also, kept them distracted and involved in gossip and trivial news. With respect to the visits of relatives to the cloister, St. Teresa reminds the Sisters that: - They have left the world and everything for God's sake - So spending too much time with visitors can intrude on their "obligations to God" and on their "peace or tranquility." "We must keep them [relatives] out of our minds as much as we can." …as it is natural that our desires should be attached to them more than to other people. "For we cannot take part in their recreations, as it is not lawful for us to do so... - But that, they should help their relatives, especially parents, when they are in need. "we can certainly share their troubles", "… it is right that when they need our comfort we should not refuse it them…" |
In this chapter St. Teresa is not recommending
an avoidance of relatives
but is, rather, counseling regarding detachment.
St. Teresa might have given us advice
similar to that which she gave to her Nuns:
~ that spending too much time
with visitors (or any pastime)
can intrude
on one's prayer time and
on one's prayer time and
on one's "peace or tranquility".
So, as to time spent with pastimes,
it seems prudent to continue only as long as
"we find our main purpose is not harmed
by our so doing"
"For I do not think we are helped so much
by fleeing from any place in a physical sense
as by resolutely embracing the good Jesus,
Our Lord, with the soul.
Just as we find everything in Him,
so for His sake we forget everything"
~ Regarding love toward others, she advises:
… " to be most careful to commend
(pray for them) to God,…
… certainly share their troubles" and
… when they need our comfort,
we should not refuse it them"
~ Regarding those who pray for us:
St. Teresa stated
that one should be thankful to God for:
that one should be thankful to God for:
"whom His Majesty sends you"
"who love you for His sake alone
"For these
-- help us and
-- look for their reward only from God".
~ To practice detachment, Teresa advises,
- "By resolutely embracing the good Jesus"
since
-- in Him, everything is found,
-- in Him, everything is forgotten.
- One may need to withdraw physically
from the distraction
from the distraction
until the soul is able to embrace Our Lord
with this determination.
To avoid activities or spending too much time in activities
which intrude on prayer time and thoughts.
- To be mindful that
the more comforts that one derives from attachments,
the more one's attachment to those objects will increase.
the more comforts that one derives from attachments,
the more one's attachment to those objects will increase.
"...there is no doubt that our spiritual life...will pay for it".
- She reminds us, too, that we should be watchful
that we, ourselves, don't add to the distraction of others.
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~ End of Discussion of Chapter 9 ~ |
