Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582)
When I see souls, with such remarkable diligence, striving for prayer and being so absorbed that they seem not to dare to move or think of anything else...
out of fear that they might lose that little bit of delight and piety that they experience, then I am convinced that they do not yet know how to reach union with God (1). They think that it all depends on that. Not at all, daughters, not at all! The Lord wants actions!
He wants, for example, you to ignore the loss of that piety if you are to comfort any sick person to whom you can bring relief; if she suffers, you will bear her pain with her, if necessary, you are to fast so that she has something to eat. And not so much for her, but because you know it is God's will. This is true union with God's will! Similarly, when you hear praises of someone: you should rejoice more than if they praised you. If you have humility, it will be easy, for those praises will be rather a trial. And also, to rejoice that the virtues of the sisters are acknowledged, and to be distressed by their faults as if they were your own, and to try to hide them...
If we, sisters, were to err in this, we would be lost! May it please God that this does not happen! If you do what I have said, then I assure you that His Majesty will help you achieve this union; while in the opposite case, be assured that you will never attain it, even if you have a high degree of piety and spiritual delights, so that you might think you have reached it. Also, despite the fact that during prayer of quiet, it sometimes happens to you that even the senses are suspended (2), so that some will think they have already achieved it.
Ask the Lord to give you love for your neighbor in all its perfection, and leave the rest to Him. If you strive in every way to achieve this, force your will to submit to the will of your sisters in everything, even at the cost of your rights, if despite all natural dislike you forget your own interests and are attentive to theirs, and if an opportunity arises, take upon yourself all the effort to spare them, then He will give you more than you can desire.
Do not think that this should not cost you anything and that you have already done everything. Reflect on how much our Bridegroom's love for us cost: to free us from death, He underwent the most cruel death, that of the cross.
(1) For union with God.
(2) Detached from activity.
(The Castle in the Inner, 5th Abodes)
Related
Other texts by Teresa of Ávila
I die as a daughter of the church
Novena to Saint Teresa of Jesus
In the Carmelite Publishing House: Teresa of Ávila
