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object:CHAPTER 35 - Describes the recollection which should be practised after
Communion. Concludes this subject with an exclamatory prayer
to the Eternal Father.
book class:The Way of Perfection
author class:Saint Teresa of Avila
class:chapter
I have written at length about this, although, when writing of the Prayer of Recollection, I spoke
of the great importance of our entering into solitude with God. When you hear Mass without
communicating, daughters, you may communicate spiritually, which is extremely profitable, and
afterwards you may practise inward recollection in exactly the same way, for this impresses upon
us a deep love of the Lord. If we prepare to receive Him, He never fails to give, and He gives in
many ways that we cannot understand. It is as if we were to approach a fire: it might be a very large
one, but, if we remained a long way from it and covered our hands, we should get little warmth
from it, although we should be warmer than if we were in a place where there was no fire at all.
But when we try to approach the Lord there is this difference: if the soul is properly disposed, and
comes with the intention of driving out the cold, and stays for some time where it is, it will retain
its warmth for several hours, and if any little spark flies out, it will set it on fire.
It is of such importance, daughters, for us to prepare ourselves in thy way that you must not be
surprised if I often repeat this counsel. If at first you do not get on with this practice (which may
happen, for the devil will try to oppress and distress your heart, knowing what great harm he can
do in this way), the devil will make you think that you can find more devotion in other things and
less in this. But [trust me and] do not give up this method, for the Lord will use it to prove your
love for Him. Remember that there are few souls who stay with Him and follow Him in His trials;
let us endure something for Him and His Majesty will repay us. Remember, too, that there are
actually people who not only have no wish to be with Him but who insult Him and with great
irreverence drive Him away from their homes. We must endure something, therefore, to show Him
that we have the desire to see Him. In many places He is neglected and ill-treated, but He suffers
everything, and will continue to do so, if He finds but one single soul which will receive Him and
love to have Him as its Guest. 123Let this soul be yours, then, for, if there were none, the Eternal
Father would rightly refuse to allow Him to remain with us. Yet the Lord is so good a Friend to
those who are His friends, and so good a Master to those who are His servants, that, when He knows
it to be the will of His Beloved Son, He will not hinder Him in so excellent a work, in which His
Son so fully reveals the love which He has for His Father, as this wonderful way which He seeks
of showing how much He loves us and of helping us to bear our trials.
Since, then, Holy Father, Who art in the Heavens, Thou dost will and accept this (and it is clear
that Thou couldst not deny us a thing which is so good for us) there must be someone, as I said at

123

Lit.: "and have him within itself with love."

114


The Way of Perfection

St. Teresa of Avila

the beginning, who will speak for Thy Son, for He has never defended Himself. Let this be the task
for us, daughters, though, having regard to what we are, it is presumptuous of us to undertake it.
Let us rely, however, on Our Lord's command to us to pray to Him, and, in fulfilment of our
obedience to Him, let us beseech His Majesty, in the name of the good Jesus, that, as He has left
nothing undone that He could do for us in granting sinners so great a favour, He may be pleased
of His mercy to prevent Him from being so ill-treated. Since His Holy Son has given us this excellent
way in which we can offer Him up frequently as a sacrifice, let us make use of this precious gift
so that it may stay the advance of such terrible evil and irreverence as in many places is paid to this
Most Holy Sacrament. For these Lutherans seem to want to drive Him out of the world again: they
destroy churches, cause the loss of many priests and abolish the sacraments.124 And there is something
of this even among Christians, who sometimes go to church meaning to offend Him rather than to
worship Him.
Why is this, my Lord and my God? Do Thou bring the world to an end or give us a remedy for
such grievous wrongs, which even our wicked hearts cannot endure. I beseech Thee, Eternal Father,
endure it no longer: quench this fire, Lord, for Thou canst do so if Thou wilt. Remember that Thy
Son is still in the world; may these dreadful things be stopped out of respect for Him, horrible and
abominable and foul as they are. With His beauty and purity He does not deserve to be in a house
where such things happen. Do this, Lord, not for our sake, for we do not deserve it, but for the sake
of Thy Son. We dare not entreat Thee that He should no longer stay with us, for Thou hast granted
His prayer to Thee to leave Him with us for to-day-that is, until the end of the world. If He were
to go, what would become of us? It would be the end of everything. If anything can placate Thee
it is to have on earth such a pledge as this. Since some remedy must be found for this, then, my
Lord, I beg Thy Majesty to apply it. For if Thou wilt, Thou art able.
O my God, if only I could indeed importune Thee! If only I had served Thee well so that I might
be able to beg of Thee this great favour as a reward for my services, for Thou leavest no service
unrewarded! But I have not served Thee, Lord; indeed, it may perhaps be for my sins, and because
I have so greatly offended Thee, that so many evils come. What, then, can I do, my Creator, but
present to Thee this most holy Bread, which, though Thou gavest it to us, I return to Thee, beseeching
Thee, by the merits of Thy Son, to grant me this favour, which on so many counts He has merited?
Do Thou, Lord, calm this sea, and no longer allow this ship, which is Thy Church, to endure so
great a tempest. Save us, my Lord, for we perish.125

124

The sense of the verb here rendered "cause the loss of" is vague. Literally the phrase reads: "so many priests are lost."

125

St. Matthew viii, 25.

115


The Way of Perfection

St. Teresa of Avila



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CHAPTER_35_-_Describes_the_recollection_which_should_be_practised_after, #The Way of Perfection, #Saint Teresa of Avila, #Christianity
  object:CHAPTER 35 - Describes the recollection which should be practised after
  Communion. Concludes this subject with an exclamatory prayer

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