The Way of Perfection - Discussion of Chapter 40 - St. Teresa of Avila - Teresa of Jesus

.            Discussion of              CHAPTER 40          The Way of Perfection    Describes    - how, by striving always to walk               in the Love and Fear of God,      we shall travel safely          amid all these temptations.                              .

█ St. Teresa teaches that one should 

           - pray for 

                and 

           - strive to cultivate 

       the two great virtues:

           Love of God 

                  and 

         Fear of the Lord 

      in order to proceed daily toward God.

          "The best way

            that we can...travel safely 

                amid all these temptations...  

            is to use the Love and Fear 

                given us by His Majesty."

          "if we have these two things 

               we shall certainly not be deceived".

           "These are two strong castles 

               whence we can wage war 

                  on the world 

                       and 

                  on the devils".

          "For love will make us 

               quicken our steps, 

           While fear will make us 

              look where we are setting our feet 

           so that we shall not fall on a road 

             where there are so many obstacles"

.   ▓  St. Teresa discusses:           "How you can tell              if you really have           these two very, very great virtues?"              "Love and Fear of God"             She said:           "...we can never be              quite definite and certain about it;          But...  there are some indications…                               .  █   Love of God  St. Teresa describes true Love of God  Those who really love God      ◦  love all good,      ◦  seek all good,      ◦  help forward all good,     ◦  praise all good,              and     ◦  invariably join forces with good men             and     ◦  help and defend them.      ◦ love only truth and things worthy of love"          ◦ "his only desire              is to please the Beloved"      ◦ "die with longing              for Him to love them"      ◦ "give their lives to learn             how they may please Him better"      ◦ Do..."not love vanities, riches,             worldly pleasures or honours"      ◦ Does "not... engage in strife or feel envy"  ■  St. Teresa advises:        ►"If they have not much love,        they should          • proceed with many misgivings                and          • realize that they have great cause for fear;               and   ► they should:          • try to find out what is wrong with them,          • say their prayers,          • walk in humility               and          • beseech the Lord not to lead them              into temptation...             • strive to discover the truth and          • do as their confessor bids them               and             tell him the plain truth,         then the Lord is faithful"  ► "If they submit to the teaching of the Church,           they need not fear;         whatever fantasies and illusions           the devil may invent"        "if you feel          this Love for God...                 and          the Fear          you may go on your way            with happiness and tranquillity"   ► St. Teresa speaks of  God's  Love for us           which is the reward         for our striving to Love God           wholly without attachments to objects       "As to the reality of this reward           there can be no doubt,        for it is manifest in Our Lord's           great sorrows,           His trials,           the shedding of His blood and          even the loss of His life.        Certainly, then,          there is no doubt as to this love.        For this Love of His,           besides its other properties,        is better than all earthly affection          in that, if we love Him,       we are quite sure that He loves us too".        She urges one           to pray and strive for detachment and sacrifice         in order to cultivate one's Love for God                     "For there are degrees of love for God,                   which shows itself              in proportion to its strength"             "Let us                   • praise God and                   • strive to do penance in this life".        She offers the examples of great lovers of God,          St. Paul and St. Mary Magdalen,        who "were sick of Love" for God.        "Being a great fire,            it cannot fail to give out a very bright light"                                        .                                                                         .    █  Fear of the Lord     St. Teresa describes  the virtue of  Fear          ◦ the dread of displeasing him        ◦ the fear of losing God        ◦ the fear of failing to withstand temptations        ◦ the dread of sin        ◦ She associates this virtue with Humility,                 knowing oneself as "so miserable a creature",        ◦ yet relying of the mercy and goodness of God.                "...that He is so good that                  He will hold intimate converse with sinners".        ◦ Beseeching God in prayer to                 "Lead us not into temptation                 But deliver  us from evil"          ►    She especially reminds us and urges this Fear          when there is a deficit of Love of God:                 [ lov(ing  instead) vanities, riches,                   worldly pleasures or honours?                 engag(ing) in strife or feel envy? ]         "If they have not much love,          they should              • proceed with many misgivings                     and              • realize that they have great cause for fear...                         they should...              • beseech the Lord                   not to lead them                      into temptation,                      into which, I fear, they will certainly fall..."  ►  Being mindful of His mercies:           "...that He is so good that             He will hold intimate converse with sinners"            St. Teresa spoke of the benefits:                        "...inspired in this way (those)               who began the habit of prayer             and in a short time                became truly devout and               received great favours from the Lord.                ►    She also urges fear for even those           whom God is granting special graces and favors:          "when you see someone               to whom the Lord is granting these favours,                - praise Him fervently,                 - yet do not imagine that she is safe,               but aid her with more prayer,                    for no one can be safe in this life              amid the engulfing dangers                    of this stormy sea"                        and               amid "the deceptions and illusions                    practiced against contemplatives by the devil".               ► False Fears         She teaches regarding         "false fears" which are a temptation:         "In order to                - disturb the soul and               - keep it from enjoying these great blessings,           the devil                - will suggest to it, a thousand false fears                         and                - will persuade other people to do the same;            for if he cannot win souls                he will at least try            to make them lose something,            and among the losers will be those                who might have gained greatly            had they believed                - that such great favours, bestowed                      upon so miserable a creature,                  come from God, and                - that it is possible for them                      to be thus bestowed,           for sometimes we seem to forget                 His past mercies".         "There are two well-known ways           in which he can make use of this means                to harm us,                to say nothing of  others.         First, he can make those who listen to him               fearful of engaging in prayer,           because they think that they will be deceived.         Secondly, he can dissuade many                 from approaching God                                                                                        .                                         .

     

.        End of Discussion           of Chapter 40     The Way of Perfection                             .