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
5. The vision left me in great tenderness, joy, and humility.
It seemed to me, though I knew not how, that our Lord now gave me
great things; and I had no suspicion whatever of any illusion.
I saw nothing; but I understood how great a blessing it is to
make no account of anything which does not lead us nearer unto
God. I also understood what it is for a soul to be walking in
the truth, in the presence of the Truth itself. What I
understood is this: that our Lord gave me to understand that He
is Himself the very Truth.
6. All this I am speaking of I learnt at times by means of words
uttered; at other times I learnt some things without the help of
words, and that more clearly than those other things which were
told me in words. I understood exceedingly deep truths
concerning the Truth, more than I could have done through the
teaching of many learned men. It seems to me that learned men
never could have thus impressed upon me, nor so clearly explained
to me, the vanity of this world.
7. The Truth of which I am speaking, and which I was given to
see, is Truth Itself, in Itself. It has neither beginning nor
end. All other truths depend on this Truth, as all other loves
depend on this love, and all other grandeurs on this grandeur.
I understood it all, notwithstanding that my words are obscure in
comparison with that distinctness with which it pleased our Lord
to show it to me. What think you must be the power of His
Majesty, seeing that in so short a time it leaves so great a
blessing and such an impression on the soul? O Grandeur!
Majesty of mine! what is it Thou art doing, O my Lord Almighty!
Consider who it is to whom Thou givest blessings so great! Dost
Thou not remember that this my soul has been an abyss of lies and
a sea of vanities, and all my fault? Though Thou hadst given me
a natural hatred of lying yet I did involve myself in many lying
ways. How is this, O my God? how can it be that mercies and
graces so great should fall to the lot of one who has so ill
deserved them at Thy hands?
8. Once, when I was with the whole community reciting the Office,
my soul became suddenly recollected, and seemed to me all bright
as a mirror, clear behind, sideways, upwards, and downwards; and
in the centre of it I saw Christ our Lord, as I usually see Him.
It seemed to me that I saw Him distinctly in every part of my
soul, as in a mirror, and at the same time the mirror was all
sculptured--I cannot explain it--in our Lord Himself by a most
loving communication which I can never describe. I know that
this vision was a great blessing to me, and is still whenever I
remember it, particularly after Communion.
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