Theresa of Avila (1515–1582)
Sometimes it occurs to you that one who enjoys great graces should no longer linger on meditating about the mysteries of the most holy humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, but rather practice only (divine) love. I have written extensively about this topic elsewhere (1). Some have argued to me that I do not understand this, that there are different ways of God, and when souls have already made some progress, it is better for them to detach from bodily things and focus only on those that pertain to divinity. However, they will never make me confess that this is a good path.
It is quite possible that I am mistaken, or that we are all talking about the same thing, but I know that the devil has tried to deceive me in exactly this way; and I have burned myself so much that I think I am just repeating what I have said in other places (2), so that you may proceed with great foresight, and do not believe – look at what I dare to say! Do not believe anyone who tells you otherwise...
To detach from the bodily and to constantly burn with love is possible for angelic spirits, not for us who live in mortal bodies. If we must interact with those who are like us and who perform great works for God, we must think of them and allow ourselves to be accompanied by them; all the more we must not separate from the most holy humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one good and remedy. I cannot believe that some act this way. Perhaps they do not know themselves, yet they harm both themselves and others. If nothing else, it is certain that they will never enter the last two chambers, for after losing the leader, who is the good Jesus, they will not find the way there. It will already be much if they can safely reside in the others. Doesn’t the Lord say that He is the way? (3)...
I believe I have sufficiently emphasized how beneficial it is for the most spiritual persons not to be so afraid of bodily things that we think even the most holy humanity of Jesus Christ might be harmful to us. They argue that Jesus said to his disciples: “It is good for you that I go away” (4). I detest this. Surely He did not say it to His most holy Mother because she had strong faith; she knew that He was the God-Man, and although He loved her more than the others, His love was so perfect that His presence helped her rather. In contrast, the apostles did not have such firm faith – they had it only later, and this is the kind of faith we should have as well. I tell you, daughters, that this is a dangerous path, and that the devil could lead us on it to lose our respect for the Most Holy Sacrament.
(1) Life, chapter 22; (2) Life, chapters 22 to 24; (3) John 13:6; (4) John 16:7.
(The Castle within, 6. dwellings)
