Tales of Glory wraps up the Fourth Mansions of the Interior Castle as we explore Chapter 03. Supernatural Recollection, the mystical experience in prayer of the presence of God. In this chapter, Saint Teresa explains the infused prayer experience that nearly always occurs before the prayer of Quiet and divine consolations. The saint gives us some advice on what to do since in the Fourth Mansions we're new to the mystical experiences that God graces the soul that deeply seeks Him.
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Interior Castle Fourth Mansions Chapter 03 HTML
Discerning Hearts Fourth Mansions Chapter 3 Part 1 Anthony Lilles Podcast
Discerning Hearts Fourth Mansions Chapter 3 Part 2 Anthony Lilles Podcast
Fourth Mansions Chapter 03 Supernatural Recollection
Life XIV - The Second State of Prayer - It's Supernatural Character
1. Having spoken of the toilsome efforts and of the strength required for watering the garden when we have to draw the water out of the well, let us now speak of the second manner of drawing the water, which the Lord of the vineyard has ordained; of the machine of wheel and buckets whereby the gardener may draw more water with less labour, and be able to take some rest without being continually at work. This, then, is what I am now going to describe; and I apply it to the prayer called the prayer of quiet.
2. Herein the soul begins to be recollected; it is now touching on the supernatural—for it never could by any efforts of its own attain to this. True, it seems at times to have been wearied at the wheel, labouring with the understanding, and filling the buckets; but in this second degree the water is higher, and accordingly the labour is much less than it was when the water had to be drawn up out of the well; I mean, that the water is nearer to it, for grace reveals itself more distinctly to the soul.
3. This is a gathering together of the faculties of the soul within itself, in order that it may have the fruition of that contentment in greater sweetness; but the faculties are not lost, neither are they asleep: the will alone is occupied in such a way that, without knowing how it has become a captive, it gives a simple consent to become the prisoner of God; for it knows well what is to be the captive of Him it loves. O my Jesus and my Lord, how pressing now is Thy love! (2 Corinthians 5 v. 14: "Charitas enim Christi urget nos." - For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died.) It binds our love in bonds so straitly, that it is not in its power at this moment to love anything else but Thee.
On the experience of Supernatural Recollection
8. It seems absurd to say this, seeing that we know that God understands us always, and is present with us. It is so, and there can be no doubt of it; but our Emperor and Lord will have us now understand that He understands us; and also have us understand what His presence bringeth about, and that He means in a special way to begin a work in the soul, which is manifested in the great joy, inward and outward, which He communicates, and in the difference there is, as I said just now, between this joy and delight and all the joys 107of earth; for He seems to be filling up the void in our souls occasioned by our sins.
9. This satisfaction lies in the innermost part of the soul, and the soul knows not whence, nor how, it came, very often it knows not what to do, or wish, or pray for. It seems to find all this at once, and knoweth not what it hath found; nor do I know how to explain it, because learning is necessary for many things. Here, indeed, learning would be very much to the purpose, in order to explain the general and particular helps of grace; for there are many who know nothing about them. Learning would serve to show how our Lord now will have the soul to see, as it were, with the naked eye, as men speak, this particular help of grace, and be also useful in many other ways wherein I am likely to go astray. But as what I write is to be seen by those who have the learning to discover whether I make mistakes or not, I go on without anxiety; for I know I need have none whatever about either the letter or the spirit, because it is in their power to whom it is to be sent to do with it as they will: they will understand it, and blot out whatever may be amiss.
10. I should like them to explain this, because it is a principal point, and because a soul, when our Lord begins to bestow these graces upon it, does not understand them, and does not know what to do with itself; for if God leads it by the way of fear, as He led me, its trial will be heavy, if there be no one who understands the state it is in; and to see itself as in a picture is a great comfort; and then it sees clearly that it is travelling on that road. The knowledge of what it has to do is a great blessing for it, so that it may advance forwards in every one of these degrees of prayer; for I have suffered greatly, and lost much time, because I did not know what to do; and I am very sorry for those souls who find themselves alone when they come to this state; for though I read many spiritual books, wherein this very matter is discussed, they threw very little 108light upon it. And if it be not a soul much exercised in prayer, it will find it enough to understand its state, be the books ever so clear.
11. I wish much that our Lord would help me to describe the effects on the soul of these things, now that they begin to be supernatural, so that men might know by these effects whether they come from the Spirit of God. I mean, known as things are known here below—though it is always well to live in fear, and on our guard; for even if they do come from God, now and then the devil will be able to transform himself into an angel of light;204 and the soul, if not experienced herein, will not understand the matter; and it must have so much experience for the understanding thereof, that it is necessary it should have attained to the highest perfection of prayer.
A Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer by St. Peter of Alcantara, translated by Rev. G. F. Bullock M.A. and edited by Rev. George Seymour Hollings S.S.J.E. London, Mowbray, 1905, p. 117.
My Reference to the Vanguard University Night Strike Short Missions Trip and Recollection
My caution and beware of the New Mystics mentioned in the podcast with paragraph 11.
'Til Next Time!
Thank you for tuning in! We're moving through the mansions, and next time we enter into the Fifth Mansions - Chapter 1!
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God Bless!!!!
Rev. Mike
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