Thursday, May 26, 2011

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    
                        .