# Transformation in Christ (continued from Session Six) **Required Reading**: The Interior Castle: Study Edition _the Fifth Dwelling Places,_ ch. 3 and 4 **Additional** **Reading:** Interpretive notes **Explanatory note:** After writing most intimately about the prayer of union, Teresa goes on to describe the importance of fraternal charity. The prayer of union is of little help unless one makes an effort to go “forward in the service of the Lord and self-knowledge” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 3:1]]). The prayer of union is not something that one should be preoccupied about receiving. One must strive with all one’s being to keep the will fixed only on what God wills. _“St. Teresa appreciates the assistance of another in the spiritual life: love grows_ _where_ _there_ _is_ _respectful_ _dialogue;_ _the_ _purpose_ _of_ _which_ _is_ _to_ _know_ _oneself_ _better_ _to be pleasing to_ _God. Community meetings take place in a congenial_ _atmosphere_ _of_ _dialogue_ _and_ _sharing._ _Prayer,_ _formation,_ _and_ _a_ _joyful_ _atmosphere are essential for deepening friendly relationships and ensuring for_ _everyone_ _mutual_ _support_ _in_ _the_ _daily_ _living-out_ _of_ _the_ _Teresian_ _Carmelite_ _lay_ _vocation_ _in_ _the_ _family,_ _at_ _work,_ _and_ _in_ _other_ _social_ _situations”_ ([[pursuits-texts/04-formation-and-liturgy/legislation/05-03-constitutions|OCDS Constitutions]] Art. 24, c). ## Essential Points to Discuss •       “…I hold that it is God’s desire that a favor so great not be given in vain; if a person doesn’t herself benefit, the favor will benefit others…it always brings profit to other souls during the time that it continues to live virtuously; and they catch fire from its fire” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 3:1]]). • Always keep the will fixed only on what is God’s will. “Oh, how desirable is this union with God’s will! Happy the soul that has reached it. Such a soul will live tranquilly in this life, and in the next as well” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 3:3]]). • Teresa laments that self-love, self-esteem, lack of charity, and other things keep the soul from advancing to what is required for complete union with the will of God (see V, 3:6). The Lord asks only two things: love of His Majesty and love of neighbor. “These are what we must work for. By observing them with perfection, we do his will and so will be united with him” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 3:7]]). • “The most certain sign, in my opinion, as to whether or not we are observing these two laws is whether we observe well the love of neighbor… And be certain that the more advanced you see you are in love for your neighbor, the more advanced you will be in the love of God” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 3:8]]). “I believe that, since our nature is bad, we will not reach perfection in the love of neighbor if that love doesn’t rise from love of God as its root” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 3:9]]). •       Teresa observes that union does not lie in spiritual delight and devotions, but rather “works are what the Lord wants!” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 3:11]]). She goes on to give concrete examples of true union with His will. “He desires that if you see a Sister who is sick to whom you can bring some relief, you have compassion for her and not worry about losing this devotion; and if she is suffering pain, you also feel it, and that, if necessary, you fast so that she might eat — not so much for her sake as because you know it is your Lord’s desire. This is true union with His will…” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 3:11]]). •       Teresa further observes, “when you see yourselves lacking in this love [love of neighbor], even though you have devotion and gratifying experiences that make you think you have reached this stage, and you experience some little suspension in the prayer of quiet (for to some it then appears that everything has been accomplished), believe me you have not reached union” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 3:12]]). Teresa reminds again that one must be empathetic to the hurts and afflictions of the people in one’s life. The needs and burdens of others should be part of one’s daily prayer, and the heart must open out in compassion to sinners, strangers, and the miserable. *“Our love for our fellow humans is the measure of our love for God. But it is different from a natural love of our neighbor. Natural love goes out to this one or that one, who may be close to us through the bond of blood or through a kinship of character or common interests. The rest are ‘strangers’ who do not concern us, who, it may be, eventually come to be repulsive, so that one keeps them as far away as possible from contact with us. For the Christian, there are no such ‘strangers.’ Rather, he is the ‘neighbor,’ this one who stand before us and who is in greatest need of our help; it doesn’t matter whether he is related to us or not; whether we ‘like’ him or not; whether he is ‘morally worthy’ of help or not. The love of Christ knows no bounds, it never stops, it does not shrink back from ugliness and dirt. He came for the sake of sinners and not for the sake of the just. If the love of Christ lives in us then we will, like Him, go out after the lost sheep”* (St. Edith Stein, The Mystery of Christmas. The entire quote is in the Interpretive Notes, pg. 201; second edition, pg. 174.) •       Teresa is setting a stage for the next dwelling places by recalling the life of the butterfly that she introduced previously. “It seems to me you have a desire to see what the little moth is doing and where it rests since, as was explained, it rests neither in spiritual delights nor in earthly consolations. Its flight is higher…” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 4:1]]). “Although it is always bearing fruit by doing good for itself and for other souls, it never stops to rest, because it fails to find its true repose” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 4:2]]). Teresa’s understanding is that the prayer of union does not yet reach the stage of spiritual betrothal (see V, 4:4). •       Before proceeding to the next dwelling places, Teresa shares a few cautionary notes with the reader. She warns that even those who greatly desire to serve God are not immune to temptations (see V, 4:4-6). Hence, one must walk with special attention as to how one is progressing, especially in love of one another, in the desire to be humble, and in the performance of ordinary tasks (see V, 4:9). •       Teresa concludes “that we strive always to advance. And if we don’t advance, let us walk with great fear. Without doubt the devil wants to cause some lapse… Love is never idle, and a failure to grow would be a very bad sign. A soul that has tried to be the betrothed of God himself, that is now intimate with His Majesty, and has reached the boundaries that were mentioned, must not go to sleep” ([[tj-ic-ccel-06|V, 4:10]]). *Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world.* ([[1-peter-05|1 Peter, Chapter 5]] 8-9. RSV translation) --- # Links [[tj-ic-guide-8|Awakening to God (continued in Session Nine)]] [[tj-ic-guide-6|Interior Castle Session Six Transformation in Christ (continued in Session Seven)]] --- **Source:** Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, *Formation II Year B: The Interior Castle (The Seven Dwelling Places)* (US National Formation Program, 2024).