Carmelite Book Studies ~ The Interior Castle or The Mansions: Discussion: Mansion 3 - Ch 2: "The Interior Castle" or "The Mansions" - St. Teresa of Avila

The Interior Castle or The Mansions

of S. Teresa of Jesus

of the Order of our Lady of Carmel

Discussion of Mansion 3 - Chapter 2

Discussion

▀ The Inhabitants of the Third Mansions

■ Fruits

▪ Prayer;
Striving for virtue;

Moderation of senses, appetites

▪ Detachment

■ Faults

▪ Failure to conform to the Will of God

Failure to embrace the Cross

Failure to accept trials

Unwarranted Disturbance of Peace

due to "slight earthly trials"

▪ Lack of Self-Knowledge

▪ Overcautiousness which often

rationalizes or disguises

their attachment to their own will

▀ The Benefits of These Trials

▪ Teaches Humility

▪ Teaches Self-Knowledge

■ St. Teresa offers examples of trials

and common reactions of those

who inhabit the Third Mansions

▀ Progression to the 4th Mansions:

■ Conformity to the Will of God

Acceptance of God's Will

▪ Patience

■ Humility

■ Self-Knowledge

■ Love

■ Obedience and
Detachment from one's own Will
Seek a Spiritual Director

■ Avoidance of temptations and

the occasions of sin

■ Warns against an excess of caution

▀ Regarding Consolations

■ More likely to be granted in the

advanced mansions

■ Consolations are bestowed
according to God's Will and Mercy

■ Advantages of learning
about Consolations

▀ The Inhabitants of the Third Mansions

■ Fruits

▪ Prayer;
Striving for virtue;

Moderation of senses, appetites

"a regular and well-ordered life,

both of body and mind"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #1 ]

"they wish to serve our Lord

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #9 ]

▪ Detachment

"have gained...mastery over this world,

or...extremely detached from it"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #1 ]

( but often may still be attached

to their own will as shown by

the faults listed just below

( disturbance of peace and

overcautiousness, etc. ) )

■ Faults

▪ Failure to conform to the Will of God

Failure to embrace the Cross

Failure to accept trials

Unwarranted Disturbance of Peace

due to

"slight earthly trials" (Paragraph #3)

"very moderate trials" (Paragraph #1)

"if His Majesty sends very moderate trials,

they become

so disturbed and disheartened"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #1 ]

▪ Lack of Self-Knowledge

"they believe their conduct is saintly,

and wish others to agree with them."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #3 ]

► St. Teresa advises that:

◦ "Advice is useless;

- having practised virtue for so long

they think themselves

capable of teaching it,

and

- believe that they have abundant reason

to feel miserable."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #1 ]

◦ "The only way to help them

is to compassionate their troubles"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #2 ]

◦ "They must not be argued with

for they

- are convinced they suffer

only for God's sake,

and

- cannot be made to understand

they are acting imperfectly,

which is a further error in persons

so far advanced.

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #2 ]

◦ It may be expected that one would

initially be anxious about

"these trials for a time,

but I think they ought speedily

to overcome their concern

about such matters."

▪ Overcautiousness which often

rationalizes or disguises

their attachment to their own will

( and comforts)

Worry or Rationalizations impede their

commitment.

This is not prudence but attachment.

"they are very discreet

in their mortifications

lest they should injure their health.

Never fear they will kill themselves:

They are far too sensible!

Their love is not strong enough

to overcome their reason"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #9 ]

"for we should see

that we were deceiving the whole world,

and ourselves into the bargain.

Well, we make our vow of poverty,

and then one of us,

believing herself...to be keeping it,

says:

"I do not want anything,

but I am having this

because I cannot do without it:

after all,
if I am to serve God,

I must live,

and

He wants us

to keep these bodies of ours alive."

So the devil, in his angelic disguise,

suggests to her

that there are a thousand different things

which she needs

and that they are all good for her.

...he is persuading her to believe

- that she

is still being true to her vow
and

possesses the virtue of poverty
and

- that what she has done

is no more than her duty.

[ Way of Perf: Ch. 38: 10 ]

"This may not involve any sin,

but it is as well that we should learn

to recognize our imperfections,

so that we can see how far we are

from possessing the virtue of poverty,

which we must beg and obtain from God.

If we think we already possess it,

we shall grow careless,

and,
what is worse,

we shall be deceiving ourselves.

[ Way of Perf: ch. 38: 12 ]

"We resolve to become poor...

   but we very often take great care
   not to be in want,
not simply of what is necessary,
   but of what is superfluous:

[ Life: Ch 11: #3 ]

▀ The Benefits of These Trials

▪ Teaches Humility

"though their behaviour may be faulty,

yet they gain greatly in humility."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #3 ]

"God,

wishing His elect to realize

their own misery,

often temporarily withdraws His favours:

no more is needed

to prove to us in a very short time

what we really are."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #2 ]

▪ Teaches Self-Knowledge

"Souls soon learn in this way;

(through trials)

- they perceive their faults very clearly,

and

- sometimes the discovery of

how quickly they are overcome

by but slight earthly trials

is more painful

than the subtraction

of God's sensible favours."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #3 ]

"These will teach you

whether you are really detached...

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #7 ]

"Trifling occasions often occur...

by which you can prove to yourselves

whether you have obtained

the mastery over your passions.

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #7 ]

"It is encouraging

to see that trials

which seemed to us impossible to submit to

- are possible to others,

and

- that they bear them sweetly.

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #18 ]

■ St. Teresa offers examples of trials

and common reactions of those

who inhabit the Third Mansions

"I will give you some examples

which will help us

to understand

and

to try ourselves,

without waiting for God to try us,

since it would be far better to have

prepared and

examined ourselves beforehand.

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #3 ]

▪ Unwarranted Disturbance of Peace
due to

loss of unneeded superfluous property

[ "slight earthly trials" (Paragraph #3)

"very moderate trials" (Paragraph #1) ]

"A rich man, without son or heir,

loses part of his property,

but still has more than enough

to keep himself and his household.

(yet) this misfortune grieves

and disquiets him

as though he were left to beg his bread,

This man will tell you

he regrets losing his money

because he wished to bestow it on the poor"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #4 ]

► St. Teresa advises:

⌂ Conformity to the Will of God

not one's own will

(even if one had good intentions)

"I believe His Majesty would prefer me

- to conform to His will,

and

keep peace of soul

while attending to my interests,

(rather than)

- to such charity as this."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #5]

⌂ Pray for Self-Knowledge

so that one may

- recognize one's faults

and

- grow in virtue

While "convinced they suffer

only for God's sake,

and

cannot be made to understand

they are acting imperfectly"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3:

Ch. 2: #2 ]

"If this person cannot resign himself

because God has not raised him

so high in virtue...

let him know

that he is wanting

in liberty of spirit;

let him

beg our Lord to grant it him,

and

be rightly disposed to receive it.

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3:

Ch. 2: #5 ]

⌂ "Liberty of Spirit": Detachment

In this example, there seems to be

an attachment to the lost property.

There may be a passing regret

for the loss of

- the extra wealth and

- whatever charity and good

it could have been provided.

But acceptance of Providence

and Detachment are necessary

"If thou wilt be perfect..."

[ Matt. xix. 21]

"Perfection requires detachment."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3:

Ch. 2: #5 ]

Besides,
Jesus praised the charity that came

from one's need

not from one's overabundance

because this expresses in action

genuine Love and sacrifice

for the good of another.

"But a poor widow came

and put in two very small copper coins,

worth only a fraction of a penny.

They all gave

out of their wealth;

but she,

out of her poverty,

put in everything--

all she had to live on."

[ Mk. 12:42-44 ]

"For all these have

of their abundance

cast into the offerings of God:

but she

of her want,

hath cast in all the living that she had"

[ Lk 21:4 ]

"For if the willingness is there,

the gift is acceptable

according to

what one has,

not according to

what he does not have"

[ 2 Cor 8:12 ]

St. Teresa, then, seems to gives 2 examples

to clarify by contrast,
her discussion of

Liberty of spirit (Detachment) and
Attachment:

▪ Lack of Attachment (Liberty of spirit)

in a prosperous man
who, without desire or plan, gains more wealth:

"Another person has more

than sufficient means to live on,

when an opportunity occurs

for acquiring more property:

if it is offered him,

by all means let him accept it"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #5 ]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

▪ Attachment to property and wealth

"but if he must go out of his way

to obtain it

and

then continues working

to gain more and more

--however good his intention may be

(while leading) prayerful and good lives),

he cannot possibly enter

the mansions near the King.

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3:

Ch. 2: #5 ]

▪ Attachment to the esteem of others

"if...people meet with

contempt or want of due respect..."

God often gives them grace
to bear it well,

nevertheless, these persons

are disturbed,

and

cannot overcome or get rid

of the feeling for some time."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3:

Ch. 2: #6 ]

► St. Teresa advises:

⌂ To Pray and Meditate

- "on the pains our Lord endured

and

- (on) how well it is for us to suffer"

"Do not

- consider other people

to blame for their troubles

and

- attribute merit to themselves"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3:

Ch. 2: #6 ]

Rather than attachment to esteem

" ...we wish others to consider us

the worst of all..."

"If we act in this manner,

our soul will do well;

otherwise we

- shall make no progress

and

- shall always remain the prey

to a thousand troubles and miseries."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #12 ]

▀ Progression to the 4th Mansions:

■ Conformity to the Will of God

Acceptance of God's Will

- "practise the virtues

and

- submit our will in all things

to the will of God.

The object of our life must be

to do what He requires of us:

Let us

not ask that

our will may be done,

but His."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #8 ]

▪ Patience

"Whenever you have frequently to suffer,

praise God for beginning to teach you

this virtue ( of Patience ),

and

force yourself to suffer patiently,

for this is a sign

that He wants you to repay Him

for the virtue which He is giving you"

[ Way of Perf: Ch. 38: 7 ]

■ Humility

"Extreme humility is the principal point.

It is the want of this....

that stops people's progress. "

"The way will be difficult and wearisome

without self-renunciation,

weighed down as we are

by the burden and frailties

of human nature..."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #12 ]

"Virtue and humility are the essentials"

"Humility is

the ointment for our wounds;

if we have it...

God...will come and heal us."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #8 ]

► St. Teresa advises:

"Let us be humble"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #8 ]

"It may seem that we have made

but little way:

we should believe

- that is the case,

and

- that our sisters are advancing

much more rapidly than we are."

Rather than attachment to esteem

" ...we wish others to consider us

the worst of all..."

"If we act in this manner,

our soul will do well;

otherwise we

- shall make no progress

and

- shall always remain the prey

to a thousand troubles and miseries."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #12 ]

"Humility more necessary

than corporal penances."

"our bodies are not the chief factors

in the work we have before us;

They are accessory:

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #12 ]

■ Self-Knowledge

"Let us look

at our own faults,

and

not at other persons'. "

However,

we might often learn a great deal

that is essential

from the very persons whom we censure."
[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #19 ]

▪ Avoiding "Misguided zeal for others."

"They wish every one were as virtuous

as they are"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #6 ]

"We ought

- not to insist on every one

following in our footsteps,

- nor to take upon ourselves

to give instructions in spirituality

when, perhaps, we do not even know

what it is.

Zeal for the good of souls,

though given us by God,

may often lead us astray"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #19 ]

"Indiscreet zeal about others

must not be indulged in...

Let each one look to herself.

...

Our souls may lose their peace

and even disturb other people's

if we are always criticizing trivial actions

which often are not real defects at all,

but we construe them wrongly

through ignorance of their motives.

[ Interior Castle: Mansion I:

Ch. 2: #21 ]

■ Love

"Let us look

at our own faults,

and

not at other persons'. "

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #19 ]

"For otherwise, little by little,

the devil could easily

- cool our charity

toward our neighbours

and

- make us think

that what is really a failing on our part,

is perfection."

"Commend to God any sister

who is at fault and

strive for your own part

to practise the virtue

which is the opposite of her fault

with great perfection…

Others, in their turn,

will bear with your faults,

which,
if you include those

of which you are not aware,

must be much more numerous.

[ Way of Perf: Ch.7 ]

"Perfection consists in charity.

The devil's chief aim here

is to

- cool the charity

and

- lessen the mutual affection

...true perfection consists

in the love of God

and our neighbour,

and

the better we keep

both these commandments,

the more perfect

we shall be."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion I:

Ch. 2: #20 ]

■ Obedience and
Detachment from one's will
Seek Consultation, Spiritual Director

"Souls...

will be greatly benefited

by practising prompt obedience...

Even if they are not in the religious state,

it would be well

if they were to take a director,

so as never to follow their own will,

which is the cause of most of our ills.

They should not choose one

of their own turn of mind...

who is over prudent in his actions,

but should select one thoroughly detached

from worldly things;

It is very helpful to consult a person

who has learnt and can teach this.

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #18 ]

■ Avoidance of temptations and

the occasions of sin

"However determined such persons may be

not to offend our Lord,

they must not expose themselves

to temptation:

they are still near the first mansions

to which they might easily return.

Their strength is not yet established

on a solid foundation"

Some great persecution,

such as the devil knows

how to raise to injure us,

might make beginners turn back;

While zealously trying

to withdraw others from sin,

they might succumb to the attacks

made upon them."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #18 ]

■ Warns against an excess of caution

St. Teresa stresses the importance of

perseverance and commitment.

This overcautiousness,

like an overabundance of Prudence

can sometimes unwarily be used

to justify an attachment or

lack of striving for spiritual progress.

Overcautiousness can eventually lead to

indulging oneself and

avoiding one's resolutions and duties.

"All things obstruct us

while prudence rules our actions"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3:

Ch. 2: #11 ]

(Instead of Love guiding us)

"Their love is not strong enough

to overcome their reason"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #9 ]

"We are afraid of everything

and

therefore fear to make progress"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #11 ]

► St. Teresa advises:

⌂ "Leave our cares in God's hands"

"Let us

- exert ourselves,

and

- leave our reason and our fears

in His hands,

- paying no attention to the weaknesses

of nature

which might retard us."

"Let our only care be

to hasten to our Lord's presence"

"...regard for health might mislead us

and

it would be none the better for our care"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #11 ]

⌂ "We should try to make rapid progress"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3:

Ch. 2: #10 ]

"I wish it were--

that they might not be content

to creep on their way to God:

a pace that will never bring them

to their journey's end!"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #9 ]

"We seem to ourselves

to be making progress,

yet we become weary,

Would it not be better

to get it over at once,

for it is full of dangers and serpents?

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #10 ]

▀ Regarding Consolations

■ More likely to be granted
in the advanced mansions

▪ "Consolations rarely received

until the fourth mansions."

Although "In these third mansions

the Lord never fails to repay our services...

Who always bestows on us

far more than we deserve,

▪ "...He grants few consolations here,

except, perhaps, occasionally

to entice us

to prepare ourselves

to enter the last mansions

by showing us their contents.

▪ "Difference...between

sensible devotion

and

consolations

"I think there is a very great difference"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #13 ]

Perhaps St. Teresa will elaborate

on this distinction

in the future chapters

but she seems to be referring to

- those feelings of devoutness and peace

which with the help the help of God.

can occur with recollected prayer

active recollection, discursive meditation

(sensible devotions)

in contrast to

- those passive graces (consolation)

which God may bestow on those

who He brings into the later mansions.

Perhaps, she is describing

"sensible devotions" here:

"those things which
      - produce a devotion
      - acquired in part
           by means of the understanding,
      though it can
           neither be merited
           nor had (acquired),
    if God grants it not.
[ Life: Ch. 12: # 2 ]

"(the soul) can make

- many acts of good resolutions
to do much for God,

and
enkindle its love;
- other acts also, which
may help the growth of virtues,
because the understanding

is active now.
[ Life: Ch. 12: # 2 ]

▪ "Perfection does

not consist in consolation

but in greater love;

"Perfection consists

in love,

not in reward."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #15 ]

■ Consolations are bestowed
according to God's Will and Mercy

"Those who do not receive these consolations

may feel a despondency

that is uncalled for,

since

Our reward will be in proportion

to this (Love),

and

to the justice and sincerity

of our actions."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #15 ]

"if you are not to blame,

the Lord is just:
what He refuses in one way,

His Majesty will give you in another,

As He knows how;

His secret ways are very mysterious,

and

doubtless He will do what is best for you"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #17 ]

▪ Not be attached to Spiritual Rewards

"It is best for a soul
which God has not raised
       to a higher state than this
not to try to rise of itself.

Let this be well considered,
because all the soul will gain in that way
   will be a loss."
   [ Life: Ch. 12: # 2 ]

St. Teresa provided a good model
for Humility and Detachment:

"In this she spent

about two-and-twenty years

in great aridities, and

never did it enter

into her thoughts

to desire anything else;

for she regarded herself as one

who....did not deserve

even to think about God,

except that His Majesty

was very merciful to her

in allowing her

to remain in His presence,

saying her prayers,

reading also in good books.

[ Relations: 7: #3 ]

▪ Still, "These graces should be striven for"

"Do not imagine

that it is unimportant

whether you try to obtain these graces or no"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #17 ]

St. Teresa teaches us to strive

to dispose ourselves to graces

in order to grow in virtue with God's help

and advance toward Union with God.

However, God grants His gifts

according to His Will
and

according to how He sees
what will benefit each one.

■ Advantages of learning about Consolations

Knowledge that one can progress in

prayer and spiritual advancement toward God

▪ will encourage souls to strive to progress

and strengthen their resolutions

"by urging souls

who know what each mansion contains

to strive to enter the best."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #14 ]

▪ Bring graces and growth in virtue

"they come laden

with love and strength,

which

- aid the soul on its way

and

- increase its good works and virtues.

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #17 ]

▪ will reassure and guide those

on the Way of Perfection

and help them understand

what they are experiencing

and

what to expect

"It will solace those

whom God has advanced so far;

▪ will acquaint the reader with

self-knowledge and

insight into one's faults

so that one can redirect their efforts.

"show what consolations and delights

we lose through our own fault"

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #16 ]

"others, who thought

they had reached the summit,

will be abashed,

yet if they are humble,

they will be led to thank God."

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #14 ]

▪ will cause souls to praise and honor God

"when I read

of the mercies and consolations

that our Lord grants to His servants,

I was delighted and praised Him fervently.

"the humble and good glorify Him!"

"I think it is worth while

to explain these subjects

if only for the sake

of moving a single soul

to praise God once.

[ Interior Castle: Mansion 3: Ch. 2: #16 ]

End of the Discussion

of Mansion 3 Chapter 2

The Interior Castle

The Mansions

of S. Teresa of Jesus

of the Order of our Lady of Carmel

Carmelite Book Studies ~ The Interior Castle or The Mansions

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Discussion: Mansion 3 - Ch 2: "The Interior Castle" or "The Mansions" - St. Teresa of Avila - Teresa of Jesus