# Prayer of Union ## The Interior Castle The last three dwelling places are the dwelling places of mystical union. In the prayer of union, unlike the prayer of quiet, there are no distractions while the union lasts. During this time the soul neither sees, nor hears, nor understands, because “God so places Himself in the interior of that soul that when it returns to itself it can in no way doubt that it was in God and God was in it” (5.1.9). The silkworm dies; the soul, like the butterfly, is reborn in Christ (“our life is Christ” IC [5.2.4]). It is also a state of conformity with the will of God, manifested especially in the love of neighbor. In the bridal imagery, this prayer of union is like the meetings in which the two get to know each other and find out if they are suited for marriage with each other. Their love can grow in intensity so that it has its repercussion on the body, and hence there are the experiences of ecstasy. Now the bridal image of betrothal comes into play. These experiences of ecstasy are accompanied by locutions and visions in which further loving knowledge of God’s presence and mysteries are given. The butterfly restlessly flies about in love. A new manner of feeling and measuring past sins occurs. And Christ is present, “in whom the divine and the human are joined and who is always that person’s companion” (IC 6.7.9). ## Source The Interior Castle by Saint Teresa of Ávila Study Edition, ICS Publications ## The Way of Perfection UNION (PRAYER OF). A “very supernatural” prayer in which the entire soul is engulfed in God; all the faculties are suspended (held bound) by God ([[tj-way-ccel-31|31.10]]; [[tj-way-ccel-42|42.5]]). As one who never tires of giving, God begins to take delight in such a soul, reveal his secrets, and rejoice that it knows something of what he will give it; God even makes it lose the exterior senses in rapture so that nothing will occupy it ([[tj-way-ccel-32|32.12]]). God takes joy in putting the soul in command and does what the soul asks since it does his will ([[tj-way-ccel-32|32.12]]). The king of glory will not come to our soul if we do not make the effort to gain the great virtues ([[tj-way-ccel-16|16.6]]). A refusal to forgive is a sure sign of the absence of this prayer of union; an effect of the prayer is a readiness to forgive offenders immediately and to remain on very good terms with them ([[tj-way-ccel-36|36.12]]).