Discussion of Chapter 11
St. Teresa discusses the importance of mortification
pertaining to the complaining
of minor aliments and discomfort.
We know it is important
since she dedicated the whole of chapter 11 to it:
She said:
since she dedicated the whole of chapter 11 to it:
She said:
"this resolution (of mortification)
is much more important
than we may think;
for, if we continually make it, day by day,
by the grace of the Lord,
by the grace of the Lord,
we shall gain dominion over the body".
"To conquer such an enemy
is a great achievement in the battle of life".
is a great achievement in the battle of life".
"No one will regret having gone through trials
in order to attain
this tranquillity and self-mastery".
this tranquillity and self-mastery".
_______
St. Teresa discusses
how our complaints of discomfort
affect us spiritually:
how our complaints of discomfort
affect us spiritually:
She warns it is a "sign
of imperfection" and self-love
of imperfection" and self-love
which, if indulged, will
◊ preoccupy "the poor soul...and
◊ prevent...(it) from making progress".
- "the devil sometimes makes you imagine them"
- Minor ailments and discomforts
-- focus our attention on ourselves and
-- focus our attention on ourselves and
-- often cascade into a habitual preoccupation,
leaving little time for God.
leaving little time for God.
Complaining reinforces our own self-attachment.
________
St. Teresa discusses
how one's complaints of discomfort
affect others.
◊ The adverse effects of complaining of minor ailments
can be that:
can be that:
▫▫▫ some suffer on account of others, and
▫▫▫ nobody who says she is ill
will be believed,
however serious her ailment
will be believed,
however serious her ailment
- Silence regarding our bodily complaints is
-- in addition to an act of mortification and love of God,
--it is also an act of charity toward others.
- "if one of you gets into this habit,
she will worry all the rest"
she will worry all the rest"
- "...worrying everybody else to death over them"
- It makes claim
on the emotion, time, attention, and action of others.
________
on the emotion, time, attention, and action of others.
________
She advises: Prayer, Self-detachment, Attachment to God
◊ "if one of you is really ill,
she should say so and take the necessary remedies"
Even with "serious illnesses…
to observe moderation and to have patience"
to observe moderation and to have patience"
◊ "if you can bear a thing, say nothing about it"
◊ Pray and Strive to get rid of your self-love,
then "you will so much regret
having to indulge yourselves in any way"
having to indulge yourselves in any way"
◊ "For this body of ours has one fault:
▫▫▫ the more you indulge it,
▫▫▫ the more things it discovers to be essential to it".
◊ The minor ailments "come and go"
□ "Unless you get rid of the habit of
▫▫▫ talking about them and
▫▫▫ complaining of everything (except to God)
you will never come to the end of them".
□ "once we begin to subdue
these miserable bodies of ours,
these miserable bodies of ours,
they give us much less trouble"
◊ Learn to suffer a little for the love of God
without telling everyone
without telling everyone
◊ Through "the ailments
which He sends us because of our sins",
which He sends us because of our sins",
perhaps we can come closer to God.
▫▫▫ to offer any discomfort and worry to God.
▫▫▫ to pray to accept suffering
as His will and
as interior mortification,
as His will and
as interior mortification,
using the saints as our model.
◊ Try not to fear these…
commit yourselves wholly to God,
come what may
commit yourselves wholly to God,
come what may