Discussion of CHAPTER 20 - Describes how, in one way or another, we never lack consolation on the road of prayer. - Counsels the sisters to include this subject continually in their conversation. . |
▀ In chapter 20, St. Teresa seems to want
to remove concerns that may result
from her earlier statements about
Contemplatives and Actives.
She wants to reassure one:
- That whatever is Our Lord's will for them
"in one way or another,
we never lack consolation
on the road of prayer"
- That all are called to Contemplation
"I seem to have been contradicting
what I had previously said,
as, in consoling those
who had not reached
the contemplative state,
I told them
that the Lord had different roads
by which they might come to Him"
From Chapter 18 Previously in Chapter 18, Teresa said: - that God's will shall be different for each person and - that everyone's experience will be unique to each, so everyone is not necessarily called to be a contemplative. "The point is that the Lord - knows everyone as he really is and - gives each his work to do-- according to what He sees to be most fitting for his soul, and for His own Self, and for the good of his neighbour". "let us leave everything to the Lord, Who knows us better than we know ourselves" "True humility consists in our being satisfied with what is given us" "Note that I say we must all strive to do this, for we are here for no other purpose" It is well that the Lord should see we are not leaving anything undone. [ Chapter 18 ] . |
Then in chapter 19, she writes: Remember, the Lord invites us all; and, since He is Truth Itself, we cannot doubt Him. If His invitation were not a general one, He would not have said: "I will give you to drink." He might have said: "Come, all of you, for after all you will lose nothing by coming; and I will give drink to those whom I think fit for it." But, as He said we were all to come, without making this condition, I feel sure that none will fail to receive this living water unless they cannot keep to the path. May the Lord, Who promises it, give us grace, for His Majesty's own sake, to seek it as it must be sought. [ Way of Perfection: Chapter 19 ] |
Now in Chapter 20, St. Teresa wants
to re-assert her advice to all:
- to be courageous and
- to persevere in prayer
because:
"His Majesty,
- being Who He is and
- understanding our weakness,
has provided for us"
"But He did not say:
'Some must come
by this way and
others
by that.' "
"His mercy is so great
that He has forbidden none
to strive to come and drink
of this fountain of life"
"it is certain
that He will forbid no one to come:
indeed, He calls us
publicly, and
in a loud voice,
to do so. " [72]
[72] [ John 7:37] Jesus stood and cried, saying: If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink. . |
▀ St. Teresa seems to advocate
both the following two aims
which may seem, at first, mutually exclusive,
( humbly accepting one’s current state,
while striving to advance ):
▲ "True humility consists
in our being satisfied
with what is given us"
- an acceptance and gratitude
of God’s will and
of His plan for oneself
and
▲ "...we must all strive
...not leaving anything undone
...to strive to come and drink
of this fountain of life"
____________________
St. Teresa wants one to strive
"until you die in the attempt"
to dispose ourselves to the graces
of contemplative prayer,
yet
to remain humble and thankful,
to avoid a spiritual avarice
or a pre-occupation with the status
of our "progress".
At least three of her writings (Life, IC, WP)
emphasize the need to progress in prayer,
perhaps trying to give signposts
so that one does not get lost or stagnated
(wasting time, as she said of herself),
yet she does not want the reader
to be distracted with self-assessments
or discouragement
and lose focus on God.
The goal is Union with God.
She writes in Chapter 22: "It is most important that you should realize you are making progress; for if a traveler is told that he has taken the wrong road, and has lost his way, he begins to wander to and fro and the constant search for the right road tires him, wastes his time and delays his arrival" [ WofP: Ch 22 ] . |
▀ St. Teresa teaches
that no matter our experience in prayer,
there will always be benefit and consolation:
"one way or another,
we never lack consolation
on the road of prayer".
"So, although she may never go
any farther along the same road,
the short distance she has progressed
will give her light
and thus
help her to go along other roads,
and
the farther she goes
the more light she will gain"
"one prayer in itself
will bring her something,
and
the more she ....(prays)...
the more she will gain;
"And even if she did
no more
than take one step,
this alone has such virtue
that there is no fear
of her losing it or
of failing to be very well rewarded.
"for the Lord will gradually bring her
nearer to perfection"
"Therefore, sisters,
have no fear
that you will die of thirst on this road;
___________________________
▀ Since Contemplative prayer is
a gift from God
which we can not obtain or merit
by our own efforts,
we can
pray humbly for these graces and
strive to dispose ourselves to these graces.
So she urges one
not to fail to strive to dispose oneself
to these graces
"how the first stage of our journey
is to be begun,
for that is the most important thing"
"He does
not force us to drink,
but enable those
who wish to follow Him
to drink in many ways
so that none may
- lack comfort or
- die of thirst.
"so take my advice and
- do not tarry on the way,
- but strive like strong men
until you die in the attempt,
for you are here for nothing else
than to strive"
_________________________
▀ Regarding the chapter introduction
St. Teresa's Counsel...
(to the) the sisters
to include this subject (of prayer) continually
in their conversation.
She teaches them
not only to pray for others
but to use every opportunity
or conversation,
if possible, to benefit others.
"For the love of God,
I beg you always to see to it
"that your conversation
is benefiting those
is benefiting those
with whom you speak.
For your prayers must be
for the profit of their souls;
and,
since you must always pray to the Lord
for them, sisters,
you would seem to be doing ill
if you did not strive to benefit them
in every possible way.
this is true friendship;
"let any who wish to talk to you
learn your language...(of prayer)
"...you can tell them
what wealth they will gain
by learning it".
"and, if they will not (learn it),
be careful never to learn theirs:
it might lead you to hell"
"for peace and quiet in the soul
are of great importance
on the road
which we are about to tread"
"Our Lord would be doing you
no light favour
if through your agency
He were to arouse some soul
to obtain this blessing"
End of Discussion of Chapter 20 . |
