← [[session-01-f1a|Introduction — An Overview of the Life of St. Teresa of Ávila]] | [[formation-I-a-handbook|Table of Contents]] | [[session-03-f1a|Foundation of Prayer and the Atmosphere Favorable to Meditation and Contemplation]] → # Prayer for Apostolic Purpose “I’ll go and tell the world, spreading the Word of your beauty and sweetness and of your sovereignty.” — St John of the Cross Required Reading: The Way of Perfection (WP) chapters 1, 2, and 3. Additional Reading: The Way of Perfection – Introduction Explanatory note: In chapters 1-3 Teresa is concerned about the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century: “How much this miserable sect was growing... The news distressed me greatly, and, as though I could do something...” (1:2). She calls them “false witnesses” (1:5). Teresa could have written a book about the evils of different sects in her time or encouraged King Phillip II to send an army of men to defend the Church. Instead, she proposes a different approach. Teresa intuitively understands that “human forces are not sufficient to stop the spread of this fire caused by these heretics...” (3:1). “Recognizing the need for a completely different approach than the use of human force and man-made arms, she urged the study of Scripture, preaching the Word, virtuous living, and prayer and fasting” (WP Study Edition interpretive notes pg. 61). “...this is most necessary, for I have said, it is the ecclesiastical, not the secular arm that will save us” (3:2). Essential Points to Discuss: • The Carmelite apostolate is based on a fervent interior life – friendship with God. • “…we [are] occupied in prayer for those who are the defenders of the Church and for the preachers and for learned men… we shall be fighting for them even though we are very cloistered…” (3:5). “O my sisters in Christ, help me beg these things of the Lord. This is why He has gathered you together here. This is your vocation” (1:5). • Let us not pray for worldly things; people should pray that God would enable them to trample such things beneath their feet… Are we to waste time asking for worldly things? (see 1:5). • Poverty of spirit is a necessary part of apostolic life. “We must desire to observe poverty in every way: in houses, clothing, words, and most of all in thought” (2:8). While Teresa wrote this for her nuns and not with Seculars in mind, Seculars practice poverty according to their state of life, observing moderation in everything in the spirit of holy detachment. Assigned Meditative Reading (choose one per week): • Matthew 9:35-10:1 – prayer for the Church • Mark 10:25-29 – the needle’s eye • Matthew 6:24-25 – no one can serve two masters 9 • Luke 12:13-21 – this night your life will be demanded of you Meditation on the Song of Songs, by St Teresa of Avila, 7:3 (Appendix D) • … when the active works rise from this interior root, they become lovely and very fragrant flowers. • The fragrance of these flowers spreads to the benefit of many. --- **Source:** Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, *Formation I Year A: The Way of Perfection* (US National Formation Program, 2024).