In episode 154, Saint Teresa of Avila describes the intense rapture experience of the spirit's flight. She tries to articulate this supernatural embrace from God, where He picks up the soul. The soul sees with the imaginary and intellectual visions when this happens. Welcome to the Interior Castle Six Mansions Chapter 5 - the Flight of the Spirit.
In episode 153, Saint Teresa of Avila provides us with in-depth details about her supernatural experiences, including intense raptures. We are in the Sixth Mansions, Chapter 4, wrapping up Part 2 of our exploration into raptures in prayer. Here, Teresa also tells us of her experience when they happened to her in public settings. Join in on this workshop of mystical prayer experiences as we go through the Interior Castle.
Timeline: 00:00:00 Opening Scripture Song of Solomon 3:1-4 00:03:11 Tales of Glory Episode 153 Intro 00:05:43 What will Saint Teresa be discussing in Sixth Mansions iv Part 2? 00:09:02 Sixth Mansions Chapter 4 Outline 00:09:42 Outline V Seek the Bridegroom 00:10:01 nos. 14. The soul’s preparation. 00:14:22 nos. 15. The soul blinded by its faults. 00:15:59 nos. 16. God ready to give these graces to all. 00:18:45 Outline VI The Souls Experience During Ecstasy 00:19:07 nos. 17. Faculties lost during ecstasy. 00:25:40 nos. 18. Spiritual inebriation. 00:28:17 nos. 19. Fervor and love of suffering left in the soul. 00:32:30 Outline VII Teresa Experiences Her Ecstasy in Public 00:32:44 nos. 20. Scandal caused to spectators by such favors. 00:35:47 nos. 21. Our Lord’s predilection for such a soul. 00:37:48 nos. 22. Illusionary raptures. 00:42:49 Conclusion
3:2. I will rise, and will go about the city: in the streets and the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, and I found him not.
B. nos. 15. The soul blinded by its faults. C. nos. 16. God ready to give these graces to all.
18. (14.) This sorrow is so intense that I do not seek the solitude I usually prefer, nor company, except for someone to whom I might unburden myself. It is like someone with a noose around their neck, desperately gasping for air. Perhaps this yearning for companionship arises from human frailty, as the body and soul are pushed to the brink of death by this sorrow, seeking some relief to continue living, even against the spirit's desire, which would rather remain in this pain.
23. (17.) It seems I have strayed from the topic, as I began speaking of raptures, and what I described earlier is something even higher than a rapture. However, the effects it produces are the same as those I previously mentioned. (18.) Let us now return to the subject of rapture itself, focusing on what is most commonly experienced in them. Many times, after returning from a rapture, I would feel my body so light as though all its heaviness had vanished. On some occasions, it was so pronounced that I barely noticed if my feet touched the ground. During the rapture, the body becomes like a lifeless thing, incapable of movement or reaction. It remains in whatever position it was in when the rapture began: if standing, it remains standing; if sitting, sitting; if the hands are open or closed, they remain so. Although it is rare to completely lose consciousness, I have experienced it on a few occasions and only for a brief time. Usually, there is a kind of daze. The body cannot act, but the soul, in some way, understands and listens, though it feels as if everything comes from a great distance.
B. nos. 18. Spiritual inebriation. C. nos. 19. Fervor and love of suffering left in the soul.
Life, ch XX. 29-30 29. So then, though I do all I can, my body has no strength to move for some time; the soul took it all away. Very often, too, he who was before sickly and full of pain remains healthy, and even stronger; for it is something great that is given to the soul in rapture; and sometimes, as I have said already, our Lord will have the body rejoice, because it is obedient in that which the soul requires of it. When we recover our consciousness, the faculties may remain, if the rapture has been deep, for a day or two, and even for three days, so absorbed, or as if stunned,—so much so, as to be in appearance no longer themselves.
30. Here comes the pain of returning to this life; here it is the wings of the soul grew, to enable it to fly so high: the weak feathers are fallen off. Now the standard of Christ is raised up aloft, which seems to be nothing else but the going up, or the carrying up, of the Captain of the fort to the highest tower of it, there to raise up the standard of God. The soul, as in a place of safety, looks down on those below; it fears no dangers now—yea, rather, it courts them, as one assured beforehand of victory. It sees most clearly how lightly are the things of this world to be esteemed, and the nothingness thereof. The soul now seeks not, and possesses not, any other will but that of doing our Lord's will, and so it prays Him to let it be so; it gives to Him the keys of its own will. Lo, the gardener is now become the commander of a fortress! The soul will do nothing but the will of our Lord; it will not act as the owner even of itself, nor of anything, not even of a single apple in the orchard; only, if there be any good thing in the garden, it is at His Majesty's disposal; for from henceforth the soul will have nothing of its own,—all it seeks is to do everything for His glory, and according to His will.
VII. Teresa Experiences Her Ecstasy in Public
A. nos. 20. Scandal caused to spectators by such favors.
5. This has not happened to me often: once, however, it took place when we were all together in choir, and I, on my knees, on the point of communicating. It was a very sore distress to me; for I thought it a most extraordinary thing, and was afraid it would occasion much talk; so I commanded the nuns—for it happened after I was made Prioress—never to speak of it. But at other times, the moment 156I felt that our Lord was about to repeat the act, and once, in particular, during a sermon,—it was the feast of our house, some great ladies being present,—I threw myself on the ground; then the nuns came around me to hold me; but still the rapture was observed.
6. I made many supplications to our Lord, that He would be pleased to give me no more of those graces which were outwardly visible; for I was weary of living under such great restraint, and because His Majesty could not bestow such graces on me without their becoming known. It seems that, of His goodness, He has been pleased to hear my prayer; for I have never been enraptured since. It is true that it was not long ago.
B. nos. 21. Our Lord’s predilection for such a soul.
15. Once, when I was much distressed at this, our Lord said to me, What was I afraid of? one of two things must happen—people would either speak ill of me, or give glory to Him. He made me understand by this, that those who believed in the truth of what was going on in me would glorify Him; and that those who did not would condemn me without cause: in both ways I should be the gainer, and I was therefore not to distress myself. This made me quite calm, and it comforts me whenever I think of it.
Thank you for attending the "Interior Castle: Sixth Mansions" workshop. We finished chapter 4 on Raptures. Next time we move into another interesting topic, the flight of the spirit in chapter 5. We will likely move to Chapter 5, but the Holy Spirit controls the Tales of Glory programming schedule, and something else could be added in for Episode 154.
In episode 152, Saint Teresa of Avila instructs us on the prayer experiences of raptures and ecstasies in the Sixth Mansions. What is the difference between absorption in prayer and ecstasy? What is an intellectual vision, and why does Jesus grant this grace? These are topics of discussion - class is in session!
Timeline: 00:00:00 Opening Scripture 2 Corinthians 12:1-6 00:03:05 Tales of Glory Episode 152 Intro 00:13:38 What will Saint Teresa be discussing in Sixth Mansions iv? 00:16:06 What is a rapture? 00:23:50 Sixth Mansions Chapter 4 Outline 00:26:00 Outline I Courage of the Soul and Raptures 00:26:42 nos. 1. Courage required by the soul for the divine espousals. 00:31:26 nos. 2. Raptures. 00:35:05 Outline II One Particular Kind of Rapture 00:35:16 nos. 3. Rapture caused by the spark of love. 00:37:03 nos. 4. The powers and senses absorbed. 00:33:30 nos. 5. Mysteries revealed during ecstasies. 00:46:55 nos. 6. These mysteries are unspeakable. 00:50:17 Outline III Understanding the Experience 00:50:43 nos. 7. Moses and the burning bush. 00:55:12 nos. 8. Simile of the museum. 00:57:30 nos. 9. St. Teresa’s visit to the Duchess of Alva. 01:00:13 nos. 10. Joy of the soul during raptures. 01:03:43 Outline IV Enraptured in an Intellectual Vision 01:04:11 nos. 11. No imaginary vision. 01:05:33 nos. 12. True and false raptures. 01:08:29 nos. 13. Revelations of future bliss. 01:10:47 Conclusion
##Commentary 1. Interior Castle: The Classic Text With a Spiritual Commentary (Classics With Commentary) by Teresa of Avila and Dennis Billy C.Ss.R. | Apr 1, 2007
30. These words of our Lord, and the consolation He gives me, fill me with the utmost shame, when I remember what I am. I have said it before, I think, and I still say now and then to my confessor, that it requires greater courage to receive these graces than to endure the heaviest trials. When they come, I forget, as it were, all I have done, and there is nothing before me but a picture of my wretchedness, and my understanding can make no reflections; this, also, seems to me at times to be supernatural.
11. You, my sisters, are free from such dangers, as far as we can tell: God keep you from pride and vainglory! The devil sometimes offers counterfeits of the graces I have mentioned: this can easily be detected—the effects being exactly contrary to those of the genuine ones. Although I have spoken of it elsewhere, I wish to warn you here of a special danger to which those who practice prayer are subject, particularly women, whose weakness of constitution makes them more liable to such mistakes. On account of their penances, prayers, and vigils, or even merely because of debility of health, some persons cannot receive spiritual consolation without being overcome by it. On feeling any interior joy, their bodies being languid and weak, they fall into a slumber—they call it spiritual sleep—which is a more advanced stage of what I have described; they think the soul shares in it as well as the body, and abandon themselves to a sort of intoxication. The more they lose self-control, the more do their feelings get possession of them, because the frame becomes more feeble. They fancy this is a trance and call it one, but I call it nonsense; it does nothing but waste their time and injure their health.
3. A rapture is absolutely irresistible; whilst union, inasmuch as we are then on our own ground, may be hindered, though that resistance be painful and violent; it is, however, almost always impossible. But rapture, for the most part, is irresistible. It comes, in general, as a shock, quick and sharp, before you can collect your thoughts, or help yourself in any way, and you see and feel it as a cloud, or a strong eagle rising upwards, and carrying you away on its wings.
4. I repeat it: you feel and see yourself carried away, you know not whither. For though we feel how delicious it is, yet the weakness of our nature makes us afraid at first, and we require a much more resolute and courageous spirit than in the previous states, in order to risk everything, come what may, and to abandon ourselves into the hands of God, and go willingly whither we are carried, seeing that we must be carried away, however painful it may be; and so trying is it, that I would very often resist, and exert all my strength, particularly at those times when the rapture was coming on me in public. I did so, too, very often when I was alone, because I was afraid of delusions. Occasionally I was able, by great efforts, to make a slight resistance; but afterwards I was worn out, like a person who had been contending with a strong giant; at other times it was impossible to resist at all: my soul was carried away, and almost always my head with it,—I had no power over it,—and now and then the whole body as well, so that it was lifted up from the ground.
5. This has not happened to me often: once, however, it took place when we were all together in choir, and I, on my knees, on the point of communicating. It was a very sore distress to me; for I thought it a most extraordinary thing, and was afraid it would occasion much talk; so I commanded the nuns—for it happened after I was made Prioress—never to speak of it. But at other times, the moment 156I felt that our Lord was about to repeat the act, and once, in particular, during a sermon,—it was the feast of our house, some great ladies being present,—I threw myself on the ground; then the nuns came around me to hold me; but still the rapture was observed.
I hope you were blessed with our series on going deeper in prayer with Jesus. The Sixth Mansions is an incredible stop on our journey in prayer stage development. It's where most of the supernatural happens in our prayer life. We are halfway through the Sixth Mansions chapter 4, and we will complete this chapter next time in part 2.
We're exploring the Interior Castle, the Sixth Mansions, Chapter 2, where Saint Teresa edifies us with her experience of Jesus deeply touching our hearts during prayer. She describes these interactions as delicate and powerful. These mystical experiences are vital for enduring trials in the Sixth Mansions.
Timeline: 00:00:00 Opening Scripture Luke 7:44-50 00:03:13 Tales of Glory Episode 151 Intro 00:03:44 Sixth Mansions Chapter 2 Topical Outline 00:04:50 Outline I. Introduction to Wounds of Love 00:06:09 nos. 1. Our Lord excites the love of His spouse. 00:09:00 nos. 2. The wound of love. 00:12:54 nos. 3. The pain it causes. 00:19:31 nos. 4. The Call of the Bridegroom. 00:21:57 nos. 5. Effect on the Soul. 00:35:51 Outline II. Divine Spark 00:36:18 nos. 6. A spark of the fire of love. 00:43:02 nos. 7. Spark Dies Out. 00:45:37 Outline III. Security, Peace, and Joy. 00:45:55 nos. 8. This grace evidently divine. 00:46:55 nos. 9. One such wound repays many trials. 00:48:41 Outline IV. Security felt about these experiences. 00:49:05 nos. 10. First reason of immunity from deception. 00:50:22 nos. 11. Second and third reasons. 00:52:52 nos. 12. The imagination not concerned in it. 00:57:24 Outline V. No Fear of Deception 00:57:49 nos. 13. St. Teresa never alarmed at this prayer. 01:02:07 nos. 14. ‘The odor (Fragrance) of Thine ointment.’ 01:05:49 nos. 15. No reason to fear deception here. 01:08:11 Conclusion
Thank you for stopping by and sitting in on the Interior Castle Sixth Mansions workshop. Next time, we will be in the Sixth Mansions, Chapter 4, "Raptures and Flight of the Spirit".
We're exploring the Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions Chapter 1, in part 2 of this two-part podcast on stages of mystical prayer life. Saint Teresa explains the importance of the prayer stage of the Sixth Mansions. She uses the analogy of a spiritual engagement to describe the depths of the relationship of our heart and soul to Jesus. And of course, this deep interior prayer relationship is accompanied by trials. She outlines the state of the soul in the Sixth Mansions when dealing with spiritual directors, and the intolerable torment the soul can experience in trials as Jesus refines the soul.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Timeline: 00:00:00 Opening Scripture James 1:2-4 00:01:25 Tales of Glory Episode 150 Intro 00:03:05 Sixth Mansions Chapter I Topical Outline 00:04:10 Section IV. Trials from Confessors 00:04:24 15. A timorous confessor. 00:09:46 16. Anxiety on account of past sins. 00:14:38 17. Fears and aridity. 00:16:23 18. Scruples and fears raised by the devil. 00:21:36 19. Bewilderment of the soul. 00:26:20 20. God alone relieves these troubles. 00:32:29 Section V. The Soul Feels Forsaken 00:32:56 21. Human weakness. 00:37:49 22. Earthly consolations are of no avail. 00:42:37 23. Prayer gives no comfort at such a time. 00:48:26 24. Remedies for these interior trials. 00:50:37 Section VI. Trials from Devils and Other Afflictions 00:50:49 25. Trials caused by the devil. 00:53:28 26. Other afflictions. 00:54:34 Section VII. Preparing to Enter the Seventh Mansions 00:54:36 27. Preparatory to entering the seventh mansions. 00:55:49 Conclusion
So what did you think? Did you gain a deep understanding of what the dark night of the soul truly means? Thank you for being a part of the Tales of Glory family and tuning in. May God bless you immensely.
We're exploring the Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions Chapter 1, in part 2 of this two-part podcast on stages of mystical prayer life. Saint Teresa explains the importance of the prayer stage of the Sixth Mansions. She uses the analogy of a spiritual engagement to describe the depths of the relationship of our heart and soul to Jesus. And of course, this deep interior prayer relationship is accompanied by trials.
That's a wrap on The Interior Castle Sixth Mansions Chapter 1 Part 1. Hope you enjoyed this workshop series on Deeper Prayer. In the next episode, we examine the trials of confessors (spiritual directors). If you have questions or comments, leave them here or on our Facebook page.
We're exploring the Interior Castle, Sixth Mansions Chapter 3, in part 2 of this two-part podcast on locutions. Locutions means "to speak". God speaks to us in many ways. Intellectual locutions/visions come from the Superior part of the soul. Saint Teresa shares with us her wisdom on the validity of these supernatural experiences and how to confide in a spiritual director.
A big thank you to the Tales of Glory family for dropping by! Next time,
we will jump back to Chapter 1 of the Sixth Mansions - And start from the beginning!
