An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 1248 words)
SPEAKS OF VARIOUS OTHER GRACES GOD BESTOWS ON THE SOUL IN DIFFERENT
WAYS, AND OF THE GREAT BENEFITS CONFERRED BY THEM.
1. Reasons for speaking of these supernatural favours. 2. An
intellectual vision. 3. God compared to a palace in which His creatures
dwell. 4. Forgive as we are forgiven. 5. The vision shows God to be
Truth itself. 6. We should imitate God by truthfulness. 7. Why God
reveals these truths.
1. OUR Lord communicates with the soul by means of these apparitions on
many occasions--sometimes when it is afflicted, at other times when it
is about to receive some heavy cross, and again for the sake of the
mutual delight of Himself and His beloved. There is no need for me to
specify each different case nor do I intend to do so. I only wish to
teach you (as far as I am acquainted with them myself) what are the
different favours God shows a soul in this state so that you may
understand their characteristics and the effects they produce. Thus you
will not mistake every idle fancy for a vision and if you really see
one, knowing that such a thing is possible, you will not be disturbed
nor unhappy. The devil, who gains greatly by it, is delighted to see a
soul troubled and distressed, knowing how this hinders it from
employing itself wholly in loving and serving God.
2. His Majesty has far higher ways of communicating Himself to the
soul; they are less dangerous for I do not think the evil spirit can
imitate them. They are more difficult to explain, being more abstruse;
therefore imaginary visions are easier to describe. God is sometimes
pleased, while a person is engaged in prayer and in perfect possession
of her senses, to suspend them and to discover sublime mysteries to her
which she appears to see within God Himself. This is no vision of the
most sacred Humanity nor can I rightly say the soul sees,' for it sees
nothing; this is no imaginary vision but a highly intellectual one,
wherein is manifested how all things are beheld in God and how He
contains them within Himself. [375] It is of great value, for
although passing in an instant, it remains deeply engraved in the
memory, producing a feeling of great shame in the mind which perceives
more clearly the malice of offences against God, since these most
heinous sins are committed within His very being since we dwell within
Him. I will try to explain this truth to you by a comparison, for
although it is obvious and has been often told us, we either never
reflect upon it or do not wish to understand it. If we realized it, we
could not possibly behave with such audacity.
3. Let us compare God to a very spacious and magnificent mansion or
palace and remember that this edifice is God Himself. Can the sinner
withdraw from it in order to carry out his crimes? No, certainly not,
for within this very palace, that is, within God Himself, are
perpetrated all the abominations, impurities and evil deeds that
sinners commit. Oh awful thought, well worthy to be pondered over! What
profit it would bring to us, who know so little and understand these
truths but partially or how could we possibly be so reckless in our
daring? Let us, sisters, meditate on the infinite mercy and patience of
God in not casting us down to hell at once and let us render Him hearty
thanks. Surely we should be ashamed of resenting anything done or said
against us--we who are the scum of the earth--when we see what outrages
are offered to God our Creator within His very being, by us His
creatures; yet we are wounded whenever we hear of an unkind word having
been spoken of us in our absence, although perhaps with no evil
intention.
4. Oh misery of mankind! When, daughters, shall we imitate Almighty God
in any way? Oh, let us not think we are doing great things if we suffer
injuries patiently: rather let us bear them with alacrity; let us love
our enemies, since this great God has not ceased to love us in spite of
our many sins! This is indeed the chief reason that all should forgive
any harm done them. I assure you, daughters, that though this vision
passes very quickly, our Lord has bestowed signal grace on her to whom
He grants it, if she seeks to profit by keeping it constantly in mind.
5. Short as the time lasts, yet, in a manner impossible to describe,
God also manifests that in Him there is a verity which makes all truth
in creatures seem obscure. He convinces the soul that He alone is that
Truth which cannot lie, thus demonstrating the meaning of David's words
in the psalm: Every man is a liar,' [376] which could never be thus
realized by any other means, however often we might hear that God is
truth infallible. As I recall Pilate and how he besought our Lord in
His Passion to answer his question: What is truth?' [377] I realize
how little mortals know of that sublime veracity.
6. I wish I could explain this better but am unable to do so. Let us
learn from it, sisters, that if we would bear any resemblance to our
God and our Spouse, we must strive to walk ever in the truth. I do not
merely mean that we should not tell falsehoods thank God, I see that in
these convents you are most careful never to do so on any account--but
I desire that as far as possible we should at with perfect truth before
God and man and above all that we should not wish to be thought better
than we are; that in all our deeds we should ascribe to God what is His
and attribute what is ours to ourselves, and that we should seek for
verity in all things. Thus we shall care little for this world, which
is but deception and falsehood, and therefore cannot last. Once, while
I was wondering why our Lord so dearly loves the virtue of humility,
the thought suddenly struck me, without previous reflection, that it is
because God is the supreme Truth and humility is the truth, for it is
most true that we have nothing good of ourselves but only misery and
nothingness: whoever ignores this, lives a life of falsehood. They that
realize this fact most deeply are the most pleasing to God, the supreme
Truth, for they walk in the truth. God grant, sisters, that we may have
the grace never to lose this self-knowledge! Amen.
7. Our Lord shows the soul these favours because she is now indeed His
bride, resolute to do His will in all things; therefore He wishes to
give her some idea how to accomplish it and to manifest to her some of
His divine attributes. I need say no more about it, but I believe the
two points above mentioned will prove very useful. These favours should
cause no fear but lead us to praise God for bestowing these graces. I
think neither the devil nor our own imaginations can have much to do
with them, therefore the soul may rest in perfect peace.
__________________________________________________________________
[375] Life, ch. xl. 13-16.
[376] Ps. cxv. 11. Omnis homo mendax.'
[377] St. John xviii. 38: Quid est veritas?
__________________________________________________________________
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
The Reality Check Revolution
The moment we see our actions within their true context, our petty grievances and inflated reactions instantly lose their power.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to zoom out from immediate reactions to see the larger context of our behavior.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you feel wronged or justified in anger—pause and ask what someone you respect would think if they saw this moment, then adjust your response accordingly.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I only wish to teach you what are the different favours God shows a soul in this state so that you may understand their characteristics and the effects they produce."
Context: She's explaining why she's sharing these intimate spiritual experiences
Teresa positions herself as a practical teacher, not someone showing off her spiritual experiences. She wants to help others recognize and navigate similar experiences without confusion or fear.
In Today's Words:
I'm telling you about these experiences so you'll know what to expect and won't freak out if something similar happens to you.
"The devil gains greatly by seeing a soul troubled and distressed, knowing how this hinders it from employing itself wholly in loving and serving God."
Context: Warning about getting upset or confused by spiritual experiences
Teresa shows practical wisdom about how anxiety and confusion sabotage spiritual growth. She's not being dramatic about evil - she's pointing out how worry literally prevents us from focusing on what matters.
In Today's Words:
When you're all stressed out and confused, you can't focus on the important stuff - and that's exactly what keeps you stuck.
"His Majesty has far higher ways of communicating Himself to the soul."
Context: Introducing the concept that God has many different ways of reaching people
This quote shows Teresa's confidence that divine communication isn't limited to one method. It suggests God adapts to what each person needs, making spiritual experience more accessible, not more exclusive.
In Today's Words:
God has plenty of different ways to get through to people - whatever works for you.
Thematic Threads
Perspective
In This Chapter
Teresa's vision reveals how differently things look when seen from God's viewpoint versus our limited human perspective
Development
Building from earlier themes of inner transformation, now showing how spiritual growth changes our entire worldview
In Your Life:
You might notice how your work complaints seem smaller when you remember you're part of a larger mission of caring for people.
Humility
In This Chapter
True humility emerges as simply being honest about reality—we don't own much except our flaws and limitations
Development
Evolving from previous discussions of surrender, now showing humility as liberation rather than limitation
In Your Life:
You might find relief in admitting you don't have all the answers instead of pretending to be perfect.
Truth
In This Chapter
God appears as absolute Truth that makes all human 'truths' and justifications look dim by comparison
Development
Introduced here as the standard that reveals the relative nature of our daily concerns
In Your Life:
You might recognize how your version of events isn't the only valid perspective in family conflicts.
Authentic Living
In This Chapter
Teresa urges readers to stop pretending to be better than they are and give credit where it's due
Development
Connected to earlier themes of inner honesty, now applied to external relationships and behavior
In Your Life:
You might find yourself acknowledging your coworkers' contributions instead of taking all the credit.
Sacred Responsibility
In This Chapter
Understanding that all our actions happen within sacred space transforms how we approach daily life
Development
New theme that reframes ordinary moments as spiritually significant
In Your Life:
You might treat your workplace differently knowing that your attitude affects the healing environment for patients.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Teresa describes seeing everything existing within God like rooms in a palace. What shocked her most about this vision?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Teresa compare bad behavior to committing crimes in someone's home while they're hosting you? What makes this comparison so powerful?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about your workplace, family, or community. Where do you see people acting badly while benefiting from the very system they're disrespecting?
application • medium - 4
Teresa suggests that when we see the bigger picture, our grievances and hurt feelings seem absurd. How would you apply this 'zoom out' strategy to a current frustration in your life?
application • deep - 5
Teresa connects humility to simply being honest about reality. What does this teach us about the difference between healthy self-awareness and destructive self-criticism?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Reality Check Practice
Think of a recent situation where you felt wronged, angry, or justified in your frustration. Write it down in 2-3 sentences. Now rewrite the same situation as if the most important person in your life was watching the entire interaction. How does your perspective change when you zoom out from your immediate reaction?
Consider:
- •Focus on your own actions and reactions, not on proving the other person was wrong
- •Consider what someone who loves you would want you to learn from this situation
- •Ask yourself: 'Am I defending something that actually matters, or just my ego?'
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when stepping back and seeing the bigger picture completely changed how you handled a conflict. What did you learn about yourself in that moment?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 22: The Fiery Dart of Divine Longing
Teresa continues exploring the extraordinary graces available to souls in this advanced state, revealing how God communicates through different types of supernatural experiences and what each one teaches about divine love.
