Teresa of Avila

Excerpts from 'Devotional Classics' edited by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) Introduction to the Author Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada was born in Avila, Spain in 1515. At the age of 20 she entered the Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation. While there she battled many serious illnesses, especially between the ages of 28-30. She lives a very devout life at the convent. She later worked with John of the Cross on establishing new Carmelite homes for contemplative prayer. Teresa has a gift for writing about the spiritual life. Her most famous work on prayer is Interior Castle' which she wrote following a deep intimate encounter with God. In it she describes the souls journey from the outside of a castle and through many rooms as it strives toward the center room where the soul can unite with God completely. In the spirit of Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress', Teresa uses allegory to describe the spiritual journey we all face, with it's attendant obstacles and joys. Excerpts from 'Interior Castle' 1. God looks into our souls God appeals to us through other good people, sermons or through the reading of a good book. Sometimes he calls through our sickness and our trials as He bids us to pray. However feeble such prayers may be, God values them highly. God looks into our souls and perceives our desires. If our desires are good, we can not fail. Nevertheless, the assaults of the devil that are made upon the soul are terrible. It is at this stage that the devil will attack the soul with the earthly pleasures of this world, like snakes who bite with deadly poison. They trick the soul into thinking that such pleasures will last an eternity; they remind the soul of the high esteem in which it is held in the world; they place before it the many friends and relatives who will disagree with the manner of life you have now begun in Christ. 2. Wonderful capacities Oh, Jesus! What confusion the devil brings about in the soul and how distressed it becomes, not knowing if it ought to proceed or return to the first room, the beginning stages of prayer. But on the other hand, You have blessed us with wonderful capacities to help us along in the battle with the devil. REASON tells the soul how mistaken it is in thinking that these earthly pleasures are of the slightest value in comparison with what it is seeking. FAITH instructs the soul in what it must do to find true satisfaction. MEMORY reminds it how all of those pleasures come to an end, and how all those once engaged in those pleasures - are now dead and buried. The WILL inclines the soul to love God, the One in whom it has seen so many acts and signs of love. In particular, the will shows the soul how the True Lover never leaves it, but goes with it everywhere and gives it life and being. UNDERSTANDING comes forward and makes the soul realize that, for however many years it may live, it can never hope to have a better friend. For the world is full of falsehood and these pleasures which the devil pictures to it are accompanied by trials and cares and annoyances. 3. The vain habits we fall into But, oh my God and Lord, how everything is ruined by the vain habits we fall into and the way everyone else follows them. Our faith is so dead that we desire what we see more than what faith tells us about - even though what we see is that people pursue these things end up with nothing but misfortune! The soul will certainly suffer great trials at this time, especially if the devil sees that its character and habits are such that it is ready to make further progress; all the powers of hell will combine to drive you further away from God. 4. We must be resolute That is why it is very important for us to associate with others who are walking in the right way. Let us, therefore, firmly resolve not to lose the battle we fight. For if the devil sees that we are willing to lose our life and our peace and that nothing can entice us back to our former way of life, he will soon cease from troubling us. But we must be resolute, for we fight with devils and thus there is no better weapon than the cross. 5. Do not lose heart If we go astray and want the Lord to do our will and lead us as our desires dictate, how can we be building on a firm foundation? I must remind you that it is the Lord's will that we should be tested and that even allows evil vipers to bite us. When we are afflicted with evil thoughts or when we enter a spiritual desert that we can not find our way out of, God is teaching us how to be on our guard in the future and to see if we really are grieved at having offended Him. If then, you sometimes fall, do not lose heart. God will bring good out of your fall if you strive to follow Him. Sometimes God allows us to fall in order to reveal to us our sinfulness and to show us what harm comes as a result of sin. 6. Gently begin a time of prayer Let us therefore, place our trust in God and not in ourselves, relying heavily on His mercy and not fighting the battle alone. When you feel the fight with sin coming, gently begin a time of prayer and recollection. At first it will be difficult, but after a while you will be able to do it easily, and for long periods of time. Read: Titus 3:1-8 Reflection 1. 'God appeals to us through other good people, sermons, or through reading good books'. writes Teresa. Which people, which sermons, which good books has God used to appeal to you? 2. Teresa speaks of the different stages of prayer. How would you describe your prayer life? Are you at the beginning, intermediate or advance stage? 3. Teresa speaks of how reason, faith, memory, the will and understanding all work together to help us overcome our desire for sin. In your own words, explain what each of these capacities does in its efforts to help us turn from sin. 4. People who are 'walking in the right way' writes Teresa, draw us closer to God; in a sense, they actually 'take us along with them' as they draw close to God. This week resolve to take someone with you as you draw near to God. Do this by sharing some of your experiences with a person who would benefit by hearing of your spiritual travels. 5. This week focus your prayers on how precious you are to God, meditating on the nature of all that Jesus has done for you in order that you might know God's love. 6. Teresa cautions us not to fight temptations but rather 'gently begin a time of prayer and recollection.' As you face temptation this week, use them as opportunities to turn to God in prayer. Little by little this will become a habit. 7. Titus 3:2 exhorts us to 'speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle and to show every courtesy to everyone.' Make this you aim this week, knowing that all you do is an example to others of what Jesus has done in your life.