Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582)
It is very helpful to start with generosity and inner freedom. I am speaking to those – and there are indeed many – who started quite a while ago and can never finish. In my opinion, it is mostly caused by the fact that from the beginning, they did not embrace the cross generously. They suffer when they cannot continue to work with their minds; it seems to them that they are doing nothing and they cannot bear it. And perhaps it is precisely the time in which their will is being perfected and strengthened, without them realizing it.
Let them be convinced that God does not look at these things: it seems to us that they are shortcomings, while in reality, they are not. God knows our wretchedness and the weakness of our nature much better than we do, and He knows that they desire nothing more than to think of Him and love Him. And that is exactly what pleases Him. The suffering we inflict upon ourselves only serves to confuse the soul; and if before it was unable to pray properly for one hour, it will not be any more capable during four hours.
Many times it depends on a physical indisposition. At this point, I have tried a lot and know how much truth there is in it, because I have thoroughly examined it myself and talked about it with spiritual persons.
We are so wretched that sometimes our poor soul must endure the whims of the body, of which it is a prisoner. Changes in the seasons and mood swings weigh so heavily that often the soul cannot do what it wants, and through no fault of its own, suffers all kinds of things. Worse still, when there is an insistence on forcing it, the destructive state then lasts longer. Caution is necessary: if it is seen that this depends on such causes, then we must not burden the poor soul, but allow for the fact that we are sick. It may be good to change the hour of meditation and perhaps for several days. Simply let everything be done to better endure this exile. (...)
I said that caution is necessary, for sometimes this state can be caused by the devil. Therefore, it is not good to completely abandon prayer nor to torment the soul too much by forcing it into something it cannot manage when subjected to great distraction and unrest. Rather, one should turn to external works, such as acts of mercy or reading. Sometimes one will not have the desire even for that. And then let the soul serve the body out of love for God, so that in turn the body may serve the soul even more. (...) There are so many ways to serve God. His yoke is easy, and it is exceptionally beneficial not to drag the soul with all one's strength, as they say, but to lead it step by step and gently.
(Life 11,15n)
