We are renouncing our status when...we begin to live a spiritual life and follow the path of perfection. No sooner is some little point of etiquette concerning our status brought up than we forget we have already offered it to God; and we desire to take it right back out of his hands, so to speak, after having made him, as it seemed, the Lord of our wills. So it is with everything else.
What a charming way to seek the love of God! And then we desire it with our hands full, as they say. We have our attachments since we do not strive to direct our desires to a good effect and raise them up from the earth completely; but to have many spiritual consolations along with attachments is incongruous, nor does it seem to me that the two can get along together. Since we do not succeed in giving up everything at once, this treasure as a result is not given to us all at once. May it please the Lord that drop by drop he may give it to us, even though it cost us all the trials in the world.
Indeed a great mercy does he bestow on anyone to whom he gives the grace and courage to resolve to strive for this good with every ounce of energy. For God does not deny himself to anyone who perseveres. Little by little he will measure out the courage sufficient to attain this victory. I say "courage" because there are so many things the devil puts in the minds of beginners to prevent them in fact from starting out on this path. For he knows the damage that will be done to him in losing not only that one soul but many others. If beginners with the assistance of God struggle to reach the summit of perfections, I believe they will never go to heaven alone; they will always lead many people along after them. Like good captains they will give whoever marches in their company to God.
-St. Teresa de Avila
What a charming way to seek the love of God! And then we desire it with our hands full, as they say. We have our attachments since we do not strive to direct our desires to a good effect and raise them up from the earth completely; but to have many spiritual consolations along with attachments is incongruous, nor does it seem to me that the two can get along together. Since we do not succeed in giving up everything at once, this treasure as a result is not given to us all at once. May it please the Lord that drop by drop he may give it to us, even though it cost us all the trials in the world.
Indeed a great mercy does he bestow on anyone to whom he gives the grace and courage to resolve to strive for this good with every ounce of energy. For God does not deny himself to anyone who perseveres. Little by little he will measure out the courage sufficient to attain this victory. I say "courage" because there are so many things the devil puts in the minds of beginners to prevent them in fact from starting out on this path. For he knows the damage that will be done to him in losing not only that one soul but many others. If beginners with the assistance of God struggle to reach the summit of perfections, I believe they will never go to heaven alone; they will always lead many people along after them. Like good captains they will give whoever marches in their company to God.
-St. Teresa de Avila
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