Conceptions of The Love of God - Chapter 1 Discussion - St. Teresa of Avila - Teresa of Jesus - On the Canticle of Canticles - On the Song of Songs

Discussion  of   Chapter 1                               of the       Conceptions of The Love of God                 S. Teresa of Jesus    of the Order of our Lady of Carmel                                   St. Teresa of Avila                         From the Book,      "Minor Works Of St. Teresa       Conceptions Of The Love Of God       Exclamations, Maxims And Poems"

  

Conceptions of The Love of God          Discussion of  Chapter 1   █ Summary  or Highlights  █  The Message of the Canticle of Canticles  █ St. Teresa's Writing              of the Conceptions of the Love of God       ▀  Referencing the Canticles              regarding the Love           between God and the Soul        ▀  Not designed as an explanation              of the Canticle of Canticles                 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░  █ The Benefits from the Canticle of Canticles:       ▀ Attests to the Love              that God has for the Soul       ▀  Comfort and Peace       ▀  Reassurance, especially for those             in the advanced states of prayer                 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ █  "Let Him kiss me              with the kiss of His mouth."         ▀  The Holy Eucharist       ▀  The Soul's Prayer for Union with God       ▀  The Sign of Peace and Friendship                 ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░  █ Misinterpretation and Misunderstanding             of the Canticle of Canticles.       ▀  Obscure Phrasing:             Difficult  to Understand        ▀  Lack of Knowledge of God's Abiding Love       ▀  Our Lukewarmness can impede            receptivity and understanding                   ▀  Our own proclivity makes us             see profligacy

█ The Message of the Canticle of Canticles:       "The joys of the bride with her God"                                         [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 4]        "The adventures of the small work entitled...              Conceptions of the Love of  God,           might almost find a place                 among the romances of literature."                        [Conceptions: Introduction]       The Canticles "adopt this way of speaking"                to testify God's love for the soul                           and              to inflame us with love of God".                                [Conceptions: Ch. 1: #4]        "the great favour our Lord does us in               - showing us the bliss enjoyed by the soul                     that loves Him                               and                - how He encourages it                       to converse with and delight in Him                                             [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 3]

█ St. Teresa's Writing             of the Conceptions of the Love of God    ▀  Referencing the Canticles          regarding the Love          between God and the Soul          "the expressions...                 contained in the Canticle of Canticles            are uttered by love which speaks thus"                                     [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 13]          ■ In accordance with Holy Scripture and                "the doctrine of the Church and the Saints"          ■ Discursive Meditation on the Canticles               "from what our Lord                     makes me understand"               "I think our Lord authorises this,                  as He permits us,                         when meditating on His sacred Passion,                  to ponder over the many                          labours and torments                  He must have suffered                          which the Evangelists never mention.                                            [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 8]               "Blessed be Thou for having taught us                           in so many different ways !"                                            [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 11]           ■ Written as a Help and Comfort to Others                         "My idea is...                  that if I told you about...                  what our Lord makes me understand                         when I hear any part of the Canticles,                   it might perhaps comfort you                           as it does me.                               [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 8]               "I only intend writing                     of what appears profitable to us                who practise prayer                yet everything                    - serves to encourage                            and                    - rouse to admiration                      the soul that fervently desires                           to love our Lord.                 Thus I can only say                      what He teaches me                               or                      what suits my purpose"                                    [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 10]                "Of this I will tell you                  as much as His Majesty shall be pleased                      to make me understand.                                      [ Conceptions: Ch 2: # 10 ]               "May God grant...                        that I may help you now...                  since He has vouchsafed to let me succeed                          in aiding you...in other ways,                 (or has Himself aided you through me                               on your account)"                                                   [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 9]        ▀ Not designed as an explanation                   of the Canticle of Canticles        "There must needs be                a deep meaning and profound mystery         contained in the words                of the Canticle of Canticles,               and         they are so precious          that theologians whom I have asked              what the Holy Ghost signifies by them                             and               what was their true purport,          have told me that the Doctors of the Church               have written many commentaries          without succeeding in fully explaining them."                                  [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 7]        St. Teresa,of  herself, wrote in humility:        "it seems excessively presumptuous for me                 to attempt to elucidate the subject;             but this is not my design,             nor...do I suppose                   that I can penetrate the exact sense."                                          [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 8]            She affirms that this reference to the Canticles                 is not an attempt           "to discussing them and teaching others                   on the subject              as if  (She)  thought  (She)  understood it                   without having consulted learned men"                                               [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 8]            "it matters little if it is not the exact meaning,                  so long as it profits us."                                              [ Conceptions: Ch 2: # 21 ]

█ The Benefits from the Canticle of Canticles:     ▀ Attests to the Love             that God has for the Soul       "For, not content with                cherishing the soul                     and               giving Thyself for its food and nourishment,        Thou dost delight in its               - treating Thee                     as its tender and beloved Bridegroom                            and               - asking Thee to kiss it                     with Thy sweet and divine mouth.                                            [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 13]        "Seeing          that His love was potent and resistless enough               to make Him suffer thus,          how can He amaze us by any words                through which He utters it ?         You have a Master and Bridegroom               Whose notice nothing escapes,               Who knows and sees everything,         so do all you can,                however little,            for love of Him.         He will reward you,         for He will only look at the love             which inspired your deeds.                                              [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 6]         "Our Lord does not care so much for            ▪ the importance of our works                       as for             ▪  the love with which they are done.                                              [ Interior Castle: mansion 7:                                                Ch. 4: #23  ]        "I am more daunted and overcome                at His love for us,          seeing what we are,          yet since He feels such affection,          no endearing words can testify it so plainly                as do His actions.                                             [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 6]    ▀ Comfort and Peace        "as I derive great pleasure           from what our Lord makes me understand              when I hear any part of the Canticles,          that if I told you about it,                it might perhaps comfort you                   as it does me.                                        [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 8]         "others          - have drawn               great profit and comfort and reassurance                      of their  misgivings from this source,                              and          - have often thanked God               for having left such gracious                   refuge and help to souls                     who love Him fervently,               in words which testify                       how far He can abase Himself.          Were it not for this,               their fears could not be quieted."                                                    [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 5]         "If it is given you to read,                accept this poor little gift from her            who desires for you,                  as for herself,             all the gifts of the Holy Ghost,                  in Whose name I begin this book."                       [Conceptions: Prologue]     ▀ Reassurance, especially for those              in the advanced states of prayer         "nothing could reassure her...            who felt very anxious for many years            until our Lord was pleased               that she should hear                  certain passages from the Canticles            which showed her                       that she was in the right path."                                           [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 5]          "For...she knew that it is possible             for a soul enamoured of the Bridegroom               to experience these                        caresses, ecstasies,                        overmastering desires of death,                                   and                        desolations, delights and joys with Him,                once it                 - has forsaken all worldly pleasures                       for His love                             and                 - has placed itself entirely in His hands;                         resigning itself to His will                   — not in word alone as many do,                        but in very truth, confirmed by deeds.                                               [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 5]

█  "Let Him kiss me              with the kiss of His mouth."                                    [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 11]     ▀  The Holy Eucharist        "that the Bride is speaking of a third person             Who yet is the very same             (Whom) she is addressing,          for in Christ there are two natures,               one divine and the other human."                                   [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 10]         "Do we not approach              the most Blessed Sacrament ?          I have sometimes wondered          whether the Spouse was asking here               for this favour          which Christ afterwards bestowed on us ?"                                  [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 12]     ▀ The Soul's Prayer for Union with God        "At other times I have thought               she might have meant           the consummate union of God               being made Man,           that close friendship He contracted               with the human race.                                         [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 12]     ▀ The Sign of Peace and Friendship         Undoubtedly,           a kiss is the sign of peace and friendship              between two persons. "                                         [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 12]         "If these words were taken literally               they might well awe the soul,           yet to one beside herself with love of Thee,           Lord, Thou mayest pardon this and even more,              presumptuous as it may be !           For if, my Lord, a kiss signifies peace,               why should not souls ask it of Thee ?           This, daughters, is a most sublime petition,                as I will explain to you."                                           [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 14]

█ Misinterpretation and Misunderstanding         of the Canticle of Canticles.   ▀ Obscure Phrasing:           Difficult  to Understand           "I cannot understand this"                                  [ Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 1]            "The words have many meanings"                                  [ Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 11]          ● St. Teresa Advises              ▪ Not to "rack your brain"                      over these mysteries                 "When you read a book,                         or hear a sermon, or meditate                    on any of the mysteries of our holy faith,                     if you find you cannot clearly                         comprehend the matter,                    I strongly recommend you                         not to tire yourselves,                         nor to strain your minds                              by puzzling over it,                                                [ Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 1]                   "Therefore                     never rack your brain or tire yourselves                         about  these matters"                                              [ Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 2]                                     "I advise you,                    whenever you meet with anything                          that you do not understand,                              either in the Holy Scriptures                              or the Mysteries of the Faith,                    not to stop to puzzle over it,                                             [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 6]               ▪ The Lord will enlighten us                       according to His Will                         "When our Lord wishes us                         to comprehend these matters,                     He will enlighten us                         with no labour of our own.                             He will teach us                      without any trouble or labour                             of our own."                                          [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 2]                    "If  we do not act from curiosity...                      but only accept the light God gives us"                                        [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 8]            ▪ In Humility,  await His light                   "Let us                      accept what He gives us in all simplicity,                           and                      not tire ourselves by trying                           to discover the rest"                                              [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 2]                      "Let us                            humble ourselves                                and...                           glory in having a God                            Whose words...                               are beyond our understanding."                                              [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 3]    ▀ Lack of Knowledge of God's Abiding Love         "The love of God is so strange a thing to us             that we cannot believe            that a soul could thus            be intimate with God.                                               [Conceptions: Ch. 1: #5]       ● St. Teresa Advises                       "I advise you...              nor to be shocked at the tender speeches                  which pass between God and the soul.                                     [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 6]            "I own that the words have many meanings,            yet the soul inflamed and intoxicated with love                   cares for no other meaning,                                and                   only desires to utter them"                                              [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 12]                    "I beg you to...think over                   the love of God for us,                               and                   what He has done for us.                                              [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 6]   ▀ Our own proclivity         makes us see profligacy          "You may think             that some things in the Canticles                  might have been expressed differently.            Our minds are so evil                  that this would not surprise me. "           "Like venomous reptiles                  that turn all they eat into poison ! "                                [Conceptions: Ch. 1: #3]             "If such persons heard one                  who was dying for love of God               utter the words I quote,               they                   would be scandalised                          and                   would take it for extreme presumption.               for...expressions...contained                   in the Canticle of Canticles               are uttered by love which speaks thus,              and...such persons lack love"                              [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 13]                          ● St. Teresa Advises:           "When I consider, O my God and  my Lord,                  the dignity of Thy divine Majesty                                and                the greatness of Thy Sovereign bounty            which lead Thee to communicate                  so intimately with base creatures,              I ask myself                  how it is that they                      - are not beside themselves with wonder                                   and                      - do not seek Thy grace and friendship                                   with all their heart.                                         [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 13]            "In order                  to bestow Thy gifts and favours                            and                  to draw it to Thy love,             Thou dost speak to it and teach it               with such care              that the words addressed by Thee to souls                  to show them their faults, their miseries,                             and                  to lead them to renounce earthly things              are usually of a kind of which the very sound                  penetrates the mind with fear.                                              [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 13]    ▀ Our Lukewarmness can impede           our receptivity and understanding                      "we draw misgivings and mistaken ideas           in accordance                with our lukewarm love for Him."                                           [Conceptions: Ch. 1: #3]         "we, unused...to love Thee,                so disparage them           that our thoughts                follow their usual track,                           and                never penetrate the sublime mysteries                     hidden in mere words,                dictated as they are by the Holy Spirit.                                           [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 4]         "I remember once hearing a religious           preach an excellent sermon, principally upon                the joys of the bride with her God,                      and           the congregation scandalised me                 by the way that they laughed at                 and misinterpreted his words"                                        [Conceptions: Ch. 1: # 4]       ● St. Teresa Advises:            The Canticles                "adopt this way of speaking"                     to testify God's love for the soul                          and                 "to inflame us with love of god".           "Thou dost seek ways and means                      and allurements                 to testify Thy love for us,                Could more be needed to inflame us                     with love for God                than the thought                     that He did not                adopt this way of speaking                      without a deep motive ?"                                     [Conceptions: Ch. 1: #4]               “So do all you can,                     however little,                for love of Him.”                                    [Conceptions: Ch. 1: #6]

End of the Discussion                      of  Chapter 1         Conceptions of The Love of God               S. Teresa of Jesus       of the Order of our Lady of Carmel                                St. Teresa of Avila                   From the Book,        "Minor Works Of St. Teresa         Conceptions Of The Love Of God         Exclamations, Maxims And Poems"