The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus, of the Order of Our Lady of CarmelTeresa, of Avila, Saint
Religion
The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus, of the Order of Our Lady of Carmel
Teresa, of Avila, Saint
Avila (Spain) -- Biography; Christian saints -- Spain -- Avila -- Biography; Teresa, of Avila, Saint, 1515-1582
7. There came to me a person who, for two years and a half, had
been living in mortal sin of the most abominable nature I ever
heard. During the whole of that time, he neither confessed it
nor ceased from it; and yet he said Mass. He confessed his other
sins but of this one he used to say, How can I confess so foul a
sin? He wished to give it up, but he could not prevail on
himself to do so. I was very sorry for him, and it was a great
grief to me to see God offended in such a way. I promised him
that I would pray to God for his amendment, and get others who
were better than I to do the same. I wrote to one person, and
the priest undertook to get the letter delivered. It came to
pass that he made a full confession at the first opportunity; for
our Lord God was pleased, on account of the prayers of those most
holy persons to whom I had recommended him, to have pity on this
soul. I, too, wretched as I am, did all I could for the
same end.
8. He wrote to me, and said that he was so far improved, that he
had not for some days repeated his sin; but he was so tormented
by the temptation, that it seemed to him as if he were in hell
already, so great were his sufferings. He asked me to pray to
God for him. I recommended him to my sisters, through whose
prayers I must have obtained this mercy from our Lord; for they
took the matter greatly to heart; and he was a person whom no one
could find out. I implored His Majesty to put an end to these
torments and temptations, and to let the evil spirits torment me
instead, provided I did not offend our Lord. Thus it was that
for one month I was most grievously tormented; and then it was
that these two assaults of Satan, of which I have just spoken,
took place.
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