Teresa makes clear what lies half-concealed upon the pages of the Bible and in the lives of the “great ones” for Christ-that I am an unceasing spiritual being, with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe. Teresa urges us to start on the path to transformation by “considering our soul to be like a castle made entirely out of a diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms.” We are meant to occupy every room or “dwelling place” with God, and thereby to become the radiant beings which he intends. That emphasis in turn inclines us toward thinking of ourselves as nothing, and to mistake our lostness and vileness for nothingness, a mere vacuum, rather than seeing it as the desolation of a splendid ruin. Emphasis upon the wickedness and neediness of the human being tends to submerge our awareness of our greatness and our worth to God. The first thing that Teresa helped me with was appreciation of the dignity and value-indeed, the vast reality-of the human soul. I think it very likely that you will experience the same refreshing shock as I did when you read this book. The book provided instruction on a living relationship with God that I had found nowhere else. I had found many helpful companions on The Way, spread across time and space and “denominational distinctives.” But this book and this author immediately announced themselves as a unique presence of God in my life. Misguided zeal for others.I first studied Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle twenty or so years ago, after many years of efforts to understand, live, and communicate what the spiritual life portrayed in the Bible was meant to be. Teresa’s joy at seeing other souls favoured. Perfection consists in love, not in reward. Consolations rarely received until the fourth mansions. 12.Humility more necessary than corporal penances.
Imperfections of dwellers in the first three mansions. Presumption of expecting spiritual consolations at first. They cannot get rid of their imperfections. Nihil Obstat:✠ Edward Apostolic Administrator Birmingham, Oscott.ġ. Teresa of Jesus byĭom Michael Barrett, O.S.B.Censor Deputatuus Gained by meditating on the divine perfections. For the pdf containing the complete text and footnotes click hereġ.
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