# . Effects of Prayer. (continued from Session Ten) **Required** **Reading**: The Interior Castle: Study Edition, _the_ _Seventh_ _Dwelling_ _Places,_ ch. 3 and 4 **Additional** **Reading:** Interpretive notes **Explanatory note:** The seventh dwelling places, as Teresa notes, are really God’s dwelling place of sanctity. “Sanctity is a Trinitarian fact which takes place within the soul of the Christian and transforms it  Sanctity is something that overflows the strict limits of the subject; it is grace for others, for the human community, for the sake of assuming the condition of ‘servant of Yahweh.’ This means that Christian sanctity has an ecclesiastical dimension and by that fact entails the charism of service of one’s brothers and sisters” (Interpretive notes, pg. 394; second edition, 266). _“The vocation to the Secular Order is truly ecclesial. Prayer and apostolate, when they are true, are inseparable. The observation of St. Teresa that the purpose of prayer is ‘the birth of good works’ reminds the Secular Order that graces received ought to have an effect on those who receive them. Individually or as a community and above all as members of the_ _Church,_ _apostolic_ _activity_ _is_ _the_ _fruit_ _of_ _prayer”_ (OCDS Constitutions, Art. 26). ## Essential Points to Discuss •       “Now, then, we are saying that this little butterfly has already died, with supreme happiness for having found repose and because Christ lives in it. Let us see what life it lives, or how this life differs from the life it was living” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:1]]). •       “The first effect is a forgetfulness of self …it employs all it has in procuring the honor of God…and to be for the service of our Lord” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:2]]-[[tj-ic-ccel-08|3]]). Perhaps by finding true rest in Christ, the soul is now able to prioritize not its own interest but its love and service for others without thought of any reward. •       “The second effect is the soul has a great desire to suffer, but not the kind of desire that disturbs it as previously. For the desire left in these souls that the will of God be done in them. … If he desires the soul suffer, well and good; if not, it doesn’t kill itself as it used to” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:4]]). •       “These souls also have a deep interior joy when they are persecuted, with much more peace … and without any hostile feelings towards those who do, or desire to do, them evil. On the contrary, such a soul gains a particular love for its persecutors … and eagerly recommends them to God” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:5]]). •       They have a great desire to serve Him, that God be praised through them, and that they may benefit some soul if they can (see VII, 3:6). •       “It has no more fear of death” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:7]]). •       They no longer desire spiritual consolation or spiritual delights, “since the Lord himself is present with these souls and it is His Majesty who now lives” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:8]]). •       “There is a great detachment from everything and a desire to be always either alone or occupied in something that benefits some soul” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:8]]). •       “There are no interior trials or feelings of dryness, but the soul lives with a remembrance and tender love of our Lord” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:8]]). •       “Here, in this dwelling place, these impulses [of love] are experienced most gently, but they do not proceed from the mind or the memory, nor do they come from anything that would make one think the soul did something on its own. [Rather] … this interior movement proceeds from the center of the soul and awakens the faculties” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:8]]). •       There is no fear of the devil’s deceits (see VII, 3:10). •       The Lord teaches the soul gently “with such quiet and so noiselessly… that the work resembles the building of Solomon’s temple where no sound was heard (1K.6:7) …So in this temple of God, in this, his dwelling place, he alone and the soul rejoice together in the deepest silence” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:11]]). •       There are no more raptures, visions, transports, or flights of the spirit. “I am amazed as well to see that when the soul arrives here all raptures are taken away” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:12]]). •       “…in this dwelling place, either the soul has found its repose, or has seen so much that nothing frightens it…” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:12]]). •       Teresa uses words and examples from scripture to try to sum up and convey the great blessings and delights of these dwelling places. “These effects…are given by God when he brings the soul to himself with this kiss sought by the bride...” (allusion to Sg.1:2). “Here an abundance of water is given to this deer that was wounded… The dove Noah sent out to see if the storm was over finds the olive branch as a sign of firm ground discovered amid the floods and tempest of this world” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 3:13]]). This firm ground is the center of God that the soul has found within. •       Teresa cautiously reminds the reader that even this deep peace cannot be considered permanent in this life. We must take care not to lose it through our own fault by withdrawing from God. Souls in this dwelling place have an increased awareness of their sins and failings and fear their own weakness; but in everything they trust in God’s mercy (see VII, 3:13-14). •       Teresa observes that even in this dwelling place, the cross is not lacking, but it doesn’t make souls lose peace (see VII, 3:15). •       Teresa goes on to give important counsels pertaining to the spiritual life in general: o   She believes that God’s greatest favor is to give us a life that would be an imitation of Christ’s life. “All its concern is taken up with how to please him more and how or where it will show God the love it bears him. This is the reason for prayer… the purpose of this spiritual marriage; the birth always of good works, good works” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 4:6]]). o   “It benefits me little to be alone making acts of devotion to our Lord, proposing and promising to do wonders in his services, if I then go away and when the occasion offers itself do everything the opposite… Let the soul bend its will if it wishes that prayer be beneficial to it...” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 4:7]]). o   “Keep in mind that I could not exaggerate the importance of this: Fix your eyes on the Crucified and everything will become small for you” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 4:8]]). o   Teresa goes on to remind the readers again of the importance of humility: “this whole building, as I have said, has humility as its foundation; …lay stones firmly that the castle will not fall” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 4:8]]). The foundation of the spiritual life must consist of more than prayer and contemplation. One must strive for and practice virtues; otherwise, one will not see any growth in prayer (see VII, 4:9). o   “This is what I want us to strive for … let us desire and be occupied in prayer not for the sake of our enjoyment but so as to have this strength to serve… Believe me, Martha and Mary must join together in order to show hospitality to the Lord…” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 4:12]]). o   “Apart from the fact that by prayer you will be helping greatly, you need not be desiring to benefit the whole world but must concentrate on those who are in your company, and thus your deed will be greater since you are more obliged toward them… This fire of love in you enkindles their souls, and with every other virtue you will be always awakening them” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 4:14]]). o   “In sum … we shouldn’t build castles in the air. The Lord doesn’t look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which they are done … let us offer the Lord interiorly and exteriorly the sacrifice we can… Thus, even though our works are small, they will have the value our love for him would have merited had they been great” ([[tj-ic-ccel-08|VII, 4:15]]). **Prayer** **of** **St.** **Teresa:** May it please His Majesty, my Sisters and daughters, that we all reach that place where we may ever praise Him. Through the merit of His Son who lives and reigns forever and ever; may he give me the grace to carry out something of what I tell you, Amen. For I tell you that my confusion is great, and thus I ask you through the same Lord that in your prayers you do not forget this poor wretch (Interior Castle VII, 4:15). **Prayer****:** _Father, by your Spirit you raised up Our Holy Mother, St. Teresa of Jesus_ _to_ _show_ _your_ _Church_ _the_ _way_ _to_ _perfection._ _May_ _her_ _inspired_ _teachings_ _awaken in us a longing for true holiness._ _Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,_ _who_ _lives_ _and_ _reigns with_ _you_ _and_ _the Holy Spirit,_ _one_ _God,_ _forever_ _and_ _ever._ _Amen._ --- # Links [[pursuits-texts/04-formation-and-liturgy/handbooks/formation-II-b-handbook/tj-ic-guide-12a|Overall Understanding of one’s Spiritual Journey within the Context of Church, Order, Community, Family and Work]] --- **Source:** Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, *Formation II Year B: The Interior Castle (The Seven Dwelling Places)* (US National Formation Program, 2024).