. Discussion of CHAPTER 39 The Way of Perfection - Continues the same subject and - Gives counsels concerning different kinds of temptation. - Suggests two remedies by which we may be freed from temptations. [135] . |
▀ St. Teresa describes:
False Humility and Genuine Humility
♦ False Humility
- "the devil inculcates in us
...the gravity of our past sins.
and which make us very uneasy"
- "so that in time we
withdraw from Communion and
give up our private prayer,
because the devil suggests to us
that we are not worthy to engage in it".
- "a soul can be made to believe
that, through being what it is,
it has been forsaken by God,
and thus it almost doubts His mercy".
- "and all the service she renders,
however good it may be,
seems to her fruitless".
- "She loses confidence and
sits with her hands in her lap
because she thinks she can do nothing well"
"...disturbs and upsets the mind
and
troubles the soul,
so grievous is it"
Regarding this, St. Teresa advises:
"thinking yourselves so wicked,
may be
- humility and virtue and
- humility and virtue and
(but) at other times
- a very great temptation."
I think the devil is anxious for us
to believe that we are humble,
and,
if he can,
to lead us to distrust God.
♦ True Humility
"Humility,
however deep it be,
neither disquiets
nor troubles
nor disturbs the soul;
it is accompanied
by peace, joy and tranquillity."
"Although, on realizing
how wicked we are,
how wicked we are,
we
- can see clearly that we deserve
to be in hell,
and
- are distressed by our sinfulness,
and
- rightly think that everyone
should hate us,
yet, if our humility is true,
this distress is accompanied
by an interior peace and joy
of which we should not like
to be deprived".
"Far from disturbing or depressing the soul,
it
• enlarges it and
• makes it fit to serve God better".
▀ St. Teresa's advice:
► "When you find yourselves in this state,
• cease thinking,
so far as you can,
of your own wretchedness,
and
• think
of the mercy of God and
of His love and His sufferings for us."
► "If your state of mind
is the result of temptation,
you will be unable to do even this,
for it will not allow you
to quiet your thoughts
or
to fix them on anything
but will only weary you the more:
it will be a great thing
if you can recognize it
as a temptation".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
▀ Obedience
"Always try to obey,
however much it may hurt you to do so,
for that is the greatest possible perfection".
St. Teresa gives an example:
"This is what happens
when we perform excessive penances
in order to make ourselves believe that,
because of what we are doing,
we are more penitent than others".
"If we conceal our penances
from our confessor or superior,
or
if we are told to give them up
and do not obey,
that is a clear case of temptation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
▀ Temptation:
An Overbold Presumption of Security
An Overbold Presumption of Security
( a reliance solely on one's strength )
St. Teresa seems to describe
a temptation by which
- a hidden pride and overconfidence
from one's past successes may
incline one to take liberties and risks;
- instead of striving to cultivate
-- Hope and Fear of the Lord,
-- a desire to please the Lord,
and
-- a dread of displeasing Him.
"There is another very dangerous kind
of temptation:
a feeling of security
caused by the belief
that we shall never again return
to our past faults and
to the pleasures of the world".
"If this temptation comes to beginners
it is very serious;
for, having this sense of security,
they think nothing of running once more
into occasions of sin"
. In Chapter 37, St. Teresa spoke of the caution needed to be taken, even by those whom God has led into advanced prayer: "The Lord, then, saw that it was necessary to awaken such souls and to remind them - that they have enemies, and - how much greater danger they are in if they are unprepared, and, - since if they fall it will be from a greater height, - how much more help they need from the Eternal Father. . |
♦ Regarding this temptation of overconfidence
St. Teresa said:
"However many consolations and pledges of love
the Lord may give you,
► You must never be so sure of yourselves
that you cease to be afraid
of falling back again,
and
► You must keep yourselves
from occasions of sin".
◙ Regarding those who have received favors from God:
► Spiritual Direction, Confession, Consultation
"Do all you can
- to discuss these graces and favours
with someone who can give you light
- and have no secrets from him".
► Self-examination
"However sublime your contemplation may be,
take great care both
to begin and to end every period of prayer
with self-examination".
"Show us, Lord, some way of
- recognizing them (temptations)
and
and
- guarding against them".
► Strive to cultivate Gratitude and Humility
for His mercies, graces, and helps;
mindful that we, of ourselves,
can do nothing without Him.
"If these favours come from God,
for His mercies, graces, and helps;
mindful that we, of ourselves,
can do nothing without Him.
"If these favours come from God,
you will do this more frequently...
for such favours bring humility with them
and
always leave us with more light by which
we may see our own unworthiness".
► Prayer
"What, then, Eternal Father,
can we do but
- flee to Thee and
- beg Thee not to allow
these enemies of ours
to lead us into temptations?"
"O Lord, lead us not into temptation"
"We need constantly to pray for Thy help"
"for very few
who say the Paternoster
in the way
that has been described
are deceived by the devil"
"This road (of Prayer) is a safe one
and
you will the more readily escape
from temptation
if you are near the Lord
than
if you are far away from Him".
"Do not be afraid
to walk on these roads, sisters,
for there are many of them
in the life of prayer"
"Beseech and entreat this of Him,
as you do so many times each day
in the Paternoster."
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| . End of Discussion of Chapter 39 The Way of Perfection . |
