Relation 6
or Manifestations of her Spiritual State
which St. Teresa Submitted
to Her Confessors
or
Spiritual Testimonies
or
Relations of the Spirit
|
The Vow of Obedience to Father Gratian
Which the Saint Made in 1575. |
Discussion Topics / Questions
1). St. Teresa stated that although
she "began to go to Confession"
to Fr. Gratian, she was not
"wholly directed by him,
since she attended Confession,
also with other Confessors.
How did this change?
[ Relations 6: #1,2 ]
2). What did St. Teresa say regarding
"doing the Holy Spirit
some most special service" ?
[ Relations 6: # 2 ] |
1). St. Teresa stated that although
she "began to go to Confession"
to Fr. Gratian, she was not
"wholly directed by him,
since she also attended Confession,
with other Confessors.
How did this change?
[ Relations 6: #1,2 ]
St. Teresa said:
~ that in a vision,
she saw our Lord with Fr. Gratian.
Our Lord asked her
to obey Fr. Gratian
as His representative
to obey Fr. Gratian
as His representative
on earth:
"Our Lord...said to me
- that He would have me
accept (Fr. Gratian) in His place
for my whole life, and
- that we were both to have
one mind in all things,
for so it was fitting".
[ Relations 6: # 1 ]
~ that she didn't think
that this vision was a delusion:
"I was profoundly convinced
that this was the work of God"
"...not being able
to persuade myself
that the vision was a delusion,
- because it had
a great power and influence
over me, and also
- because it was said to me
on two other occasions
that I was not to be afraid,
that He wished this…"
"...understanding it
to be our Lord's will..."
[ Relations 6: # 1 ]
"When I had resolved on this,
I found myself
in peace and comfort
so great
that I was
amazed, and
assured of our Lord's will;
for I do not think
that Satan could fill the soul
with peace and comfort
such as this:
[ Relations 6: # 2 ]
~ that initially, she had regrets
that she would not continue
to be directed by her current Confessors
to be directed by her current Confessors
who had helped her.
Also, initially, she felt a resistance
to the change of Confessors.
"I remembered with regret
two of my confessors
whom I frequented in turn
for a long time, and
to whom I owed much;
that one for whom
I have a great affection
especially caused
a terrible resistance.
[ Relations 6: # 1 ]
~ that when she resolved
to act upon God's words to her,
she was filled with peace.
"I made up my mind at last
to act upon them,
understanding it
to be our Lord's will, and
to follow that counsel
so long as I should live".
[ Relations 6: # 1 ]
("So I determined
not to swerve,
from His command
but to observe it
for as long as I lived,
following Fr Gracian's opinion
in everything,
...not markedly in opposition
to the will of God,
and I am quite sure
it never will be.
- Peer's translation
Relation VI: XXXIX )
"When I had resolved on this,
I found myself
in peace and comfort so great"
"whenever I think of it,
I praise our Lord,
and remember the words,
"posuit fines tuos pacem," [680]
and I wish I could
wear myself out
in the praises of God.
[ Relations 6: # 2 ]
[ Relations 6: # 2 ]
[680] Psalm cxlvii. 14:
"He hath made
thy borders peace."
|
Other translation versions say
that she also felt relief
because she could be directed
and obey Fr. Gratian
rather than continue indefinitely
to be guided
by different Directors
with different opinions:
"I felt certain
that this was the right thing
for me to do
and greatly relieved to think
that at last I had done
with hesitating
between the opinions
of different persons,
some of whom,
through not understanding me,
caused me grievous suffering,
- Peer's translation
Relation VI: XXXIX )
In that Peer's translation version,
she seems to say
that she didn't stop all consultation
with her previous Confessors
that she didn't stop all consultation
with her previous Confessors
all at once
but waited until
but waited until
circumstances brought their
meetings to end:
"though I never gave
any of them up,
thinking that it would
be wrong of me to do so
until they and I parted".
- Peer's translation
Relation VI: XXXIX )
pareciéndome estaba la falta en mÃ, hasta que se iba y yo me iba"
- Las Relacciones VI - XXXIX
Obras De Sta. Teresa De Jesús
Editadas Y Anotadas Por El
P. Silverio De Santa Teresa, C. D.
Tomo II
Relaciones Espirituales
Burgos:
TipografÃa De «Bl Monte Carmelo»
1915.
Blogger's poor translation:
" Though, never (stopped)
until they were going away
and I was going away.
(Since) Seeming that the lack
(mistake, fault ) was in me." |
___________________________
2). What did St. Teresa say regarding
"doing the Holy Spirit
some most special service" ?
[ Relations 6: # 2 ]
St. Teresa desired to honor the Holy Spirit
by rendering Him a special service.
by rendering Him a special service.
She said
- that in addition to her Carmelite vow of obedience,
she would also make a vow of obedience
to Fr. Jerome Gratian,
to Fr. Jerome Gratian,
as God's representative on earth.
Although she was already doing this,
She resolved to perform her obedience
"in greater perfection".
Although she was already doing this,
She resolved to perform her obedience
"in greater perfection".
- By this promise she would obey Fr. Gratian
in every serious matter,
provided it was not contradictory
to her Carmelite vow of obedience.
She would confess to him
in every serious matter,
provided it was not contradictory
to her Carmelite vow of obedience.
She would confess to him
all her faults, sins, and interior state.
St, Teresa stated:
"I began to think
of one great grace
which I received
of the Holy Ghost,
on one of the vigils
of His feast, [681]
[681] "Perhaps the Saint refers to
what she has written in her Life, ch. xxxviii. §§ 11, 12." |
Life: ch38: #11-12
"...eve of Pentecost...
it seemed to me... ...
that by the goodness of God,
so far as I could understand,
the Holy Ghost was with me.
...I saw most distinctly...
how deficient I was (in the past)
from what I saw
I was now --
I recognised herein
the great mercy of our Lord to me…"
|
and a great desire
arose within me
of doing Him (the Holy Spirit)
some most special service,
and I found nothing
that was not already done,
--at least, resolved upon,--
for all I do must be faulty;
and I remembered
that, though
I had already
made a vow of obedience,
it might be made
in greater perfection,
and I had an impression
it would be pleasing unto Him
(the Holy Spirit )
(the Holy Spirit )
if I promised that which
I was already resolved upon,
- to live under obedience
to the Father-Master,
Fr. Jerome. (Gratian)
[ Relations 6: # 3 ]
On the other hand,
I seemed to be doing nothing,
because I was already bent
on doing it;
St. Teresa spoke of her fears
and how she struggled with this decision:
St. Teresa spoke of her fears
and how she struggled with this decision:
...I believed I should have
none of my liberty
all my life long,
either outwardly or inwardly,
...this constrained me greatly
to abstain
from making the vow.
This repugnance of the will
made me ashamed,
and I saw
that, now I had something
I could do for God,
I was not doing it;
it was a sad thing
for my resolution
to serve Him.
...feeling nothing
but a great fear
whether the vow would be
for the service of God or not:
But it seemed to me
a far other matter
to give up that liberty
by a vow,
as in truth it is.
After a protracted struggle,
our Lord gave me
great confidence;
and I saw it was
the better course…
if I made this promise
in honour of the Holy Ghost,
He would be bound
to give (Fr. Gratian) light
for the direction of my soul;
and I remembered
at the same time
that our Lord had given him
to me as my guide.
Thereupon I fell
upon my knees, and
to render this tribute
of service to the Holy Ghost,
made a promise to do
- whatever he should bid me do
while I lived,
provided nothing
were required of me
contrary to
the law of God and
the law of God and
the commands of superiors
whom I am more bound to obey and
- I was not knowingly
to conceal from him
my faults and sins, or
my interior state;
In a word,
I promised to regard him
as in the place of God,
outwardly and inwardly.
I know not if it be so,
but I seemed to have done
a great thing
in honour of the Holy Ghost
--at least,
it was all I could do,
and very little it was
in comparison with
what I owe Him.
[ Relations 6: # 3 ]
I have the greatest confidence
that His Majesty will bestow
on him (Fr. Gratian)
great graces;
and I myself am
so happy and joyous,
that I seem to be
in every way
free from myself; and
though I thought
that my obedience
would be a burden,
I have attained
to the greatest freedom.
[ Relations 6: # 4 ]
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~ End of Discussion ~
of Relations VI
|
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