The Interior Castle or The Mansions of S. Teresa of Jesus of the Order of our Lady of Carmel St. Teresa of Avila Discussion of Mansion 4 - Chapter 3 |
Discussion of Mansion 4 - Chapter 3 █ Summary Before continuing on the subject of the Fourth Mansion, "The Prayer of Quiet" and its divine consolations, St. Teresa seems to backtrack in order to more clearly demarcate the Prayer of Recollection. "The latter should have come first, as it is far inferior to consolations, of which it is the commencement. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] Whereas, in Mansion 4 Chapter 1: #4 she described The Prayer of Recollection as "beginning in ourselves" and sometimes proceeding with God's grace to "ending in God", she now wants to make a distinction between the active prayer of recollection and this possible progression to passive recollection when God bestows this supernatural prayer. "Here she mentions...a second form of the prayer of recollection." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #1 Foot note #132 ] "In the corresponding part of her 'Life', she practically confounded 'the prayer of recollection' with 'the prayer of quiet' (the second state of the soul)." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #1 Foot note #132 ] ( See the second water in " The Life" [ See "The Life" Ch. 14 ] "Likewise, in the 'Way of Perfection', ch. xxviii., she speaks of but one kind of prayer of recollection and then passes on to the 'prayer of quiet'. Here, however, she mentions a second form of the prayer of recollection." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #1 Foot note #132 ] . . . . . . . . . . . . Why does St. Teresa here deal with the Prayer of Recollection as two discreet states rather than as a progression of the active state into the passive if and when God grants this passive state ? It seems St. Teresa makes this distiction between active and passive recollection states because one must proceed differently according to which of these two state one has been led. ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ▀ Prayer of Active Recollection ▪ The soul labors in Meditation. ■ Prayer Methodology ▪ Controversy regarding meditation technique ▪ Why the mind must actively meditate until called to recollection by God ■ How they should proceed ░░ ▀ Supernatural Prayer of Recollection ▪ God becomes active in prayer while the soul receives graces passively ▪ Growth in Detachment, Virtue, and Prayer ▪ A Gift of God; It can't be merited or aquired by our labor ■ Who is led by God to the supernatural Prayer of Recollection ▪ How they should proceed ░░ ▀ The Prayer of Quiet ▪ Divine Consolations ▪ Growth of Virtue and Graces ▪ How they should proceed ░░ ▀ Glossary |
▀ Prayer of Active Recollection ( See also "The Way of Perfection": Ch 28 ) "Recollection does - not require us to give up meditation, - nor to cease using our intellect." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] ▪ The soul labors in Meditation. "by thinking of God dwelling within you" "by imagining Him as present in your soul... an excellent kind of meditation, for it is founded on the fact that God resides within us... by the divine assistance every one can practise it" Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: # 3] "In many other things, such as penances, good works, and prayers, with His aid, we can help ourselves as far as human weakness will allow. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #6 ] ▪ The soul struggles with faults and errs. "After long days and years of absence, perceiving how great has been their loss, they return to the neighbourhood of the castle, but cannot manage to re-enter it, for their evil habits are hard to break off; still, they are no longer traitors, and they wander about outside." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #1 ] ■ Prayer Methodology ▪ Controversy regarding meditation technique ◦ Try to still the mind and wait "Some books advise that as a preparation for hearing what our Lord may say to us, we should keep our minds at rest, waiting to see what He will work in our souls. This point has been much debated by those learned in spiritual matters" But St. Teresa did not agree with this: "I confess my want of humility in having been unable to yield to their opinion." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #4 ] "unless His Majesty has begun to suspend our faculties, I cannot understand how we are to stop thinking, [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #4 ] ◦ St. Teresa teaches: "that the mind must act until called to recollection by love" This she found was also taught "by the saintly Friar Peter of Alcantara" in the book, 'A Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer' by St. Peter of Alcantara [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #5 ] Foot note #139 ] "If...the King makes no sign of listening or of seeing us, there is no need to stand inert, like a dolt, which the soul would resemble if it continued inactive. In this case its dryness would greatly increase, and the imagination would be made more restless than before by its very effort to think of nothing." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #5 ] ▪ Why the mind must (actively meditate) until called to recollection by God Firstly, he who reasons less and tries to do least, does most in spiritual matters. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #5 ] We should make our petitions then, with downcast eyes, humbly wait. ...to offer Him our petitions and ...to place ourselves in His presence; [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #5 ] The soul should here abandon itself into God's hands. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #6 ] The second reason is, that these interior operations being sweet and peaceful, any painful effort does us more harm than good. By 'painful effort', I mean any forcible restraint we place on ourselves, such as holding our breath. We should rather abandon our souls into the hands of God, leaving Him to do as He chooses with us, as far as possible forgetting all self-interest and resigning ourselves entirely to His will. The third reason is, that the very effort to think of nothing excites our imagination the more. The fourth is, because we render God the most true and acceptable service by - caring only for His honour and glory and - forgetting ourselves, our advantages, comfort and happiness. How can we be self-oblivious, while keeping ourselves under such strict control that we are afraid to move, or even to think, or to leave our minds enough liberty to desire God's greater glory and to rejoice in the glory which He possesses? [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #6 ] ■ How they should proceed Our Lord wishes us at such a time ▪ To offer Him our petitions..." "We should make our petitions like beggars before a powerful and rich Emperor" ...humbly wait... He knows what is best for us... ▪ To place ourselves in His presence" [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #5 ] ▪ Discursively meditate on the Lord "God gave us faculties for our use... Then do not let us try to charm them to sleep, but permit them to do their work until divinely called to something higher. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] ▪ 3 Signs that one is being led toward passive prayer St. John of the Cross taught: "to explain at what time ... to lay aside the task of discursive meditation as carried on through the imagination ...in order that he may lay them aside neither sooner nor later than when the Spirit bids him; for, although it is meet for him to lay them aside at the proper time in order that he - may journey to God and - not be hindered by them, it is no less needful for him not to lay aside the said imaginative meditation before the proper time lest he should turn backward. 2. The first sign is his realization that he - can no longer meditate or reason with his imagination, - neither can take pleasure therein as he was wont to do aforetime; He rather finds aridity in that which aforetime was wont to captivate his senses and to bring him sweetness. But, for as long as he - finds sweetness in meditation, and - is able to reason, he should not abandon this, save when his soul is led into the peace and quietness 3. The second sign is a realization that he has no desire to fix his mediation or his sense upon other particular objects, exterior or interior. I do not mean that the imagination neither comes nor goes (for even at times of deep recollection it is apt to move freely), but that the soul has no pleasure in fixing it of set purpose upon other objects. 4. The third and surest sign is that the soul takes pleasure in being alone, and waits with loving attentiveness upon God, without making any particular meditation, in inward peace and quietness and rest, and without acts and exercises of the faculties — memory, understanding and will — at least, without discursive acts, that is, without passing from one thing to another; the soul is alone, with an attentiveness and a knowledge, general and loving, as we said, but without any particular understanding, and adverting not to that which it is contemplating. 5. These three signs, at least, the spiritual person must observe in himself, all together, before he can venture safely - to abandon the state of meditation and sense, and - to enter that of contemplation and spirit. 6. And it suffices not for a man to have the first alone without the second, for it might be that the reason for his being unable to imagine and meditate upon the things of God, as he did aforetime, was distraction on his part and lack of diligence; for the which cause he must observe in himself the second likewise, which is the absence of inclination or desire to think upon other things; for, when the inability to fix the imagination and sense upon the things of God proceeds from distraction or lukewarmness, the soul then has the desire and inclination to fix it upon other and different things, which lead it thence altogether. Neither does it suffice that he should observe in himself the first and second signs, if he observe not...the third; for, although he observe - his inability to reason and think upon the things of God, and likewise - his distaste for thinking upon other and different things, this might proceed from melancholy or from some other kind of humour in the brain or the heart, which habitually produces a certain absorption and suspension of the senses, causing the soul to think not at all, nor to desire or be inclined to think, but rather to remain in that pleasant state of reverie. Against this must be set the third sign, which is loving attentiveness and knowledge, in peace... [ Ascent of Mt Carmel: Bk 2: Ch. 13: #1- 6 St. John of the Cross Editor: E. A Peers ] http://www.ccel.org/ccel/john_cross/ascent.v.xiii.html http://www.ccel.org/ccel/john_cross/ascent.html |
▀ Supernatural Prayer of Recollection "Another kind of prayer which usually precedes..divine consolations" "This is a kind of recollection which....is supernatural..." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #1 ] This Supernatural Prayer of Recollection precedes the 'Prayer of Quiet' [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #1 ] ▪ God becomes active in prayer while the soul receives graces passively "The Shepherd recalls His flock into the castle. The King... sees their good will, and out of His great mercy, desires them to return to Him. Like a good Shepherd, He plays so sweetly on His pipe, that although scarcely hearing it, they recognize His call and no longer wander, but return, like lost sheep, to the mansions" [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #2 ] ◦ "...God bestows it upon us." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #3 ] "for it never could by any efforts of its own attain to this. [ Life: Ch. 14 # 2] ▪ Growth in Detachment, Virtue, and Prayer "they abandon the worldly cares which misled them and re-enter the castle." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #2 ] "Without any labour of one's own, ◦ the temple... is reared for the soul in which to pray: ◦ The senses and exterior surroundings appear to lose their hold, ◦ while the spirit gradually regains its lost sovereignty." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #1 ] To seek God within ourselves avails us far more than to look for Him amongst creatures; This recollection helps us greatly when God bestows it upon us. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #3 ] ▪ Gift of God; It can't be merited or aquired by our labor "But do not fancy you can gain it by thinking of God dwelling within you, or by imagining Him as present in your soul: [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #3 ] "the soul is then like a tortoise or sea-urchin, which retreats into itself.. "it is not in our power to retire into ourselves, unless God gives us the grace." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #4 ] "human efforts avail nothing in these matters, which His Majesty appears to reserve to Himself, setting this limit to our powers [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #6 ] ▪ The soul's experience knowing "not by what means they entered, nor how they heard the Shepherd's pipe; The ears perceived no sound but the soul is keenly conscious of a delicious sense of recollection experienced by those who enjoy this favour" [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #3 ] ■ Who is led by God to the supernatural Prayer of Recollection "In my opinion, His Majesty only bestows this favour on those who have renounced the world, in desire at least, if their state of life does not permit their doing so in fact. He thus specially calls them to devote themselves to spiritual things; If they allow Him power to act freely, He will bestow still greater graces on those whom He thus begins calling to a higher life. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #4 ] ■ How they should proceed "Those who enjoy this recollection should..". ▪ Acknowledgement ◦ "...realize the value of this favour" ▪ Thanksgiving ◦ "thank God fervently" ◦ "gratitude for which would prepare them to receive still more signal graces." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #4 ] ▪ Silence ◦ "When (God) secretly shows us (that) He hears our prayers, it is well to be silent, as He has drawn us into His presence; There would then be no harm in trying to keep our minds at rest (that is to say, if we can). [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #5 ] ▪ Avoid Voluntary Distractions "when God chooses to place the soul in this mansion, it is best for it - to do as I advised (above) and then - endeavour, without force or disturbance, to keep free from wandering thoughts. No effort...should be made to suspend the imagination entirely from (wandering ) ▪ When distracted, " it is well to remember God's presence and to consider Who He is. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] ▪ Involvement of the Faculties ◦ The Understanding "let it not try to understand what is passing within it, or this favour is bestowed on the will" "Although, in this kind of prayer, the soul makes no effort towards it, yet often, for a very short time, the mind ceases to think at all. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] ◦ The Will "should be left to enjoy it in peace" ...only making loving aspirations occasionally." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] ▪ Resume active meditation when all the faculties again become active Since this passive prayer is not a continuous state one often needs to return to active meditation at least at the next prayer time in order to focus one's love and thoughts on God. "there is no need to stand inert, like a dolt, which the soul would resemble if it continued inactive... the imagination would be made more restless than before by its very effort to think of nothing." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #5 ] |
▀ The Prayer of Quiet ( See also "The Life" Chapter 14 http://carmelite-book- studies.blogspot.com/2010/07/chapter-14- life-of-teresa-of-jesus.html ) ( See also "The Way of Perfection" Ch. 31 http://carmelite-book-studies--way-of- perfct.blogspot.com/2011/05/way-of- perfection-chapter-31-st-teresa.html ) "... this mansion...I believe...to be the one most souls enter." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #13 ] ▪ Divine Consolations "the water flows from the spring itself and not through conduits, [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] "interior sweetness" [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #8 ] ▪ Growth of Virtue and Graces "Its virtues are increased" "Divine consolations evidently cause ◦ A Dilation or enlargement of the soul" St. Teresa compares the soul to a basin which, itself, enlarges in size as more water is poured into it. "God seems to work the same effect by this prayer, besides giving many other marvellous graces, so preparing and disposing the soul to contain all He intends to give it. ◦ Liberty of Spirit. - "It is no longer distressed by the terror of hell, "though more anxious than ever not to offend God, it has lost servile fear and feels sure that one day it will possess its Lord. - It does not dread the loss of health by austerities; believing that there is nothing it could not do by His grace, - it is more desirous than before of doing penance. Greater indifference is felt for sufferings because faith being stronger, ...at times even longs for trials, having a most ardent desire to do something for His sake." ◦ Humility "As the soul better understands the Divine Majesty, it realizes more vividly its own baseness." ◦ Detachment "Divine consolation shows it how vile are earthly pleasures; By gradually withdrawing from them, it gains greater self-mastery." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #8 ] ▪ The Faculties ◦ The Understanding / Intellect "the mind ceases to act; "It is forced to do so, although it does not understand what is happening, and so wanders hither and thither in bewilderment, finding no place for rest. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] ◦ The Will "Meanwhile the will, entirely united to God, is much disturbed by the tumult of the thoughts" [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] ■ How to proceed ▪ The Faculties ◦ "No notice, however, should be taken of them, (the thoughts) or (else) they would cause the loss of a great part of the favour (that) the soul is enjoying." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] ◦ "Let the spirit - ignore these distractions and - abandon itself in the arms of divine love" [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] ▪ Trust in God, Humility, Detachment ◦ "His Majesty will teach it how best to act, which chiefly consists in its ◦ recognizing its unworthiness of so great a good and ◦ occupying itself in thanking Him for it" [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #7 ] ▪ Persevere in Prayer "It is not to be supposed that all these effects are produced merely by God's having shown these favours once or twice. They must be received continually, for it is on their frequent reception that the whole welfare of the soul depends." "I greatly fear that when a soul to whom God has granted this favour discontinues prayer... it will, unless it returns to the practice at once, go from bad to worse." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #9 ] ▪ Avoid near occasions of sin; Be watchful of one's faults "they suffer grievous temptations, and if they fall, they fall lower than others. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #10 ] "I strongly urge those who have reached this state to avoid most carefully all occasions of offending God. The soul is not yet fully established in virtue, but is like a new-born babe first feeding at its mother's breast: If it leaves her, what can it do but die?" [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #9 ] "I urgently warn such persons not to run the risk of sinning, for the devil would rather gain one of these souls (since they) may cause him severe loss by leading others to follow their example, and may even render great service to the Church of God. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #10 ] ▪ Consultation and Spiritual Direction ◦ St. Teresa warned of the risk of deception by oneself and by the devil in regard to these experiences. "There are people... whose minds and imaginations are so active as to fancy they see whatever they think about, which is very dangerous. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #13 ] ◦ She often consulted learned Confessors, who had experience in these matters, regarding the state of her soul and her prayer. She recommends that others also seek consultation and direction. ◦ The fruits of Divine Consolations will be the growth of Humility, Love, and all the Virtues in the soul (Not false trance or prolonged exhaustion) "The after effects on the soul, and the subsequent behaviour...show whether this prayer was genuine or no: this is the best crucible by which to test it. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 2: #6 ] "The devil sometimes offers counterfeits of the graces... This can easily be detected --the effects being exactly contrary to those of the genuine ones. " [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #11 ] "As the natural is combined with the supernatural (in the 4th Mansion) the devil can do more harm here than later on, (in the later mansions) when God does not leave him so many opportunities. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #13 ] ◦ Warning regarding mistaking divine consolations with prolonged physical exhaustion Divine consolations are short in duration and do not exhaust or injure one's health. In paragraphs # 11, 12, and 13, St. Teresa discusses "false trances and raptures" and also an exhaustion due to poor health or to penances that are excessive for those with a weak constitution She advises that if divine consolations are bestowed by God, "nor does this state ever continue for more than a very short time." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #12 ] "It should be known that when God bestows such favours on the soul, although there may be languor both of mind and body, it is not shared by the soul, which feels great delight at seeing itself so near God... unless already feeble, the body suffers neither exhaustion nor pain." [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #12 ] "On account of their penances, prayers, and vigils, or even merely because of debility of health, some persons cannot receive spiritual consolation without being overcome by it. On feeling any interior joy, their bodies being...weak, they fall into a slumber... it does nothing but waste their time and injure their health. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #11 ] St. Teresa advises that one who experiences such after effects should: "eat and sleep well.... leave off some of her penances... divert your thoughts as much as possible from such matters... ...(avoid) spending more than a very few hours in prayer," [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #12 ] In the 'Interior Castle' Mansion 4: Chapter 2: St. Teresa taught the importance of - preparing oneself for graces - but not to attempt to acquire them "You ask me: How shall we receive them, if we do not try to gain them?' "I answer" ...Humility "therefore make no efforts to acquire them... the chief means of obtaining them is to love God without self-interest. ... the real preparation for them is to desire to suffer and imitate our Lord, rather than to receive consolations [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch.2: #8 ] "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 ] "The whole foundation of prayer must be laid in humility, and... the more a soul humbles itself in prayer, the more God lifts it up." [ Life: Ch. 22: # 16 ] Our Lord tests her love for Him by the way in which she bears His absence. "she will make as much progress, and earn as great a reward by vocal prayer and obedience as she would have done by contemplation, and perhaps more. [ Interior Castle: Mansion 4: Ch. 3: #12 ] |
▀ Glossary Generally, it seems that - The Understanding /Intellect is the faculty which -- observes, examines, reflects, and makes conclusions regarding a topic. In the practice of prayer, the Understanding /Intellect would (for example) reflect on a event in Christ's life, draw inferences and make resolutions - The Will is associated with -- the heart and its desire: -- who/what one loves and -- its attachments In the practice of prayer, the Will (for example) seeks to cultivate a loving and grateful devotion for God and a compassionate sorrow for His sufferings, as well as sorrow for one's faults and sins. - The Memory/Imagination is associated with the picturing or representation in the mind. In the practice of prayer, the Memory/Imagination (for example) could summon a pictoral scene of Christ's life. In Mansion 4: Chapter 1: # 8, St. Teresa seems to associate the Imagination with runaway thoughts: "I, myself, have sometimes been troubled by this turmoil of thoughts. I learnt by experience... that our thoughts, or it is clearer to call it our imagination, are not the same thing as the understanding. As the understanding is one of the powers of the soul, it puzzled me to see it so sluggish at times, while, as a rule, the imagination takes flight at once..." Perhaps, here she is making the distinction that the Intellect/Understanding actively analyzes and leads thoughts discursively while the rambling thoughts are associated with the imagination. |
End of the Discussion of Mansion 4 Chapter 3 of The Interior Castle or The Mansions of S. Teresa of Jesus of the Order of our Lady of Carmel St. Teresa of Avila |
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