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
31. Sometimes I have such a vehement longing for Communion; I do
not think it can be expressed. One morning it happened to rain
so much as to make it seem impossible to leave the house. When I
had gone out, I was so beside myself with that longing, that if
spears had been pointed at my heart, I should have rushed upon
them; the rain was nothing. When I entered the church I fell
into a deep trance, and saw heaven open--not a door only, as I
used to see at other times. I beheld the throne which, as I have
told you, my father, I saw at other times, with another throne
above it, whereon, though I saw not, I understood by a certain
inexplicable knowledge that the Godhead dwelt.
32. The throne seemed to me to be supported by certain animals; I
believe I saw the form of them: I thought they might be the
Evangelists. But how the throne was arrayed, and Him who sat on
it I did not see, but only an exceedingly great multitude of
angels, who seemed to me more beautiful, beyond all comparison,
than those I had seen in heaven. I thought they were, perhaps,
the seraphim or cherubim, for they were very different in their
glory, and seemingly all on fire. The difference is great, as I
said before; [12] and the joy I then felt cannot be described,
either in writing or by word of mouth; it is inconceivable to any
one what has not had experience of it. I felt that everything man
can desire was all there together, and I saw nothing; they told
me, but I know not who, that all I could do there was to
understand that I could understand nothing, and see how
everything was nothing in comparison with that. So it was; my
soul afterwards was vexed to see that it could rest on any
created thing: how much more, then, if it had any affection
thereto; for everything seemed to me but an ant-hill.
I communicated, and remained during Mass. I know not how it was:
I thought I had been but a few minutes, and was amazed when the
clock struck; I had been two hours in that trance and joy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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