第四章

對同一主題的進一步解釋；解釋這個祈禱。保持警覺的重要性，因為魔鬼迫切希望使靈魂偏離正確的道路。

1. 屬靈的婚姻。 2. 結合的祈禱就像訂婚一樣。 3. 在屬靈的婚禮之前，誘惑是危險的。 4. 忠於這些恩典的靈魂所行的偉大善事。 5. 宗教受魔鬼欺騙。 6. 撒但的地層寶石。 7. 為什麼他們被允許。 8. 祈禱和警醒是我們的保障。 9. 天主看顧這些靈魂。 10.德行進步。 11. 與他們的回報相比，我們的行為微不足道。 12. 聖女小德蘭寫作祈禱的動機。

1. 1. 你似乎很想知道小鴿子怎麼樣了，她在哪裡得到休息，因為顯然她既不能在精神上得到安慰，也不能在塵世的快樂中找到休息，而是飛向更高的地方。在我們到達最後一座居所之前，我無法告訴你：天主保佑我可能記得或有時間寫它。距離我開始寫這本書已經快五個月了，由於我的頭腦太弱了，無法再讀一遍，毫無疑問，它會非常不連貫，充滿重複：不過，因為它只是寫給我的姐妹們，所以這沒什麼關係。然而，我想更充分地表達自己對聯合祈禱的看法，並將盡我有限的智慧進行比較。稍後我們將談到小蝴蝶，它永遠不會靜止，因為它找不到真正的休息，但總是繁殖，對自己和他人都有好處。 ¹⁹⁹你常聽到天主在精神上擁護靈魂：願他如此徹底地謙卑自己，因他的憐憫而受到讚美。雖然只是一個平常的比較，但我找不到比婚姻聖禮更好的表達我的意思，儘管兩者有很大不同。 在神聖的結合中，一切都是精神上的，遠離任何肉體的東西，我們的主所賜予的所有歡樂和相互的喜悅都是屬天的，與人類的婚姻非常不同，它比人類的婚姻要好上千倍。這裡一切都是愛與愛的結合；儘管我們的主知道如何使靈魂感受到它們，但它的運作比可以描述的更加純粹、精緻和甜蜜。

2. 2. 我認為這種結合並沒有達到精神婚姻的程度，而是類似於兩個人考慮訂婚時發生的預備階段。首先討論他們對聯盟的適合性和意願；然後他們可能會被允許有時會面以做出決定。在精神上的結婚中也是如此：當初步的協議已經達成，靈魂徹底了解她將獲得多大的優勢，並決心在所有事情上實現配偶的意願，並盡其所能取悅他時，深知事實是否如此的國王陛下，希望回報使他的新娘滿意。因此，他賜予她這種恩惠，拜訪她並將她吸引到他的面前，因為他希望她更好地了解他。我們可以將結合的祈禱比喻為一次拜訪，因為它只持續很短一段時間。 ²⁰⁰不再有任何深思熟慮的問題，但靈魂以秘密的方式看到它是一位怎樣的新郎訂婚；感官和官能在一千年之內不可能在很短的時間內獲得如此傳授的知識。 配偶，作為祂是誰，讓靈魂更值得完成婚姻，正如我們所說的。受迷戀的靈魂對他的愛會盡一切努力防止自己受挫。如果它變得疏忽並把它的感情放在除了我們的主以外的任何事物上，它將失去一切：這種損失與靈魂不斷收到的恩惠一樣大，這是難以形容的珍貴。 ²⁰¹

3. 3. 基督徒的靈魂啊！天主所帶來的你！為了天主的緣故，我懇求你不要變得粗心大意，而是要避免一切犯罪的情況；你還沒有強大到足以承受誘惑，就像在下一座居所舉行婚禮之後你將面臨的那樣。正如他們所說，在這裡，訂婚者只是透過眼神認識的，²⁰²魔鬼會不遺餘力地反對和阻止他們的婚禮。後來，當他看到新娘完全交給了她的新郎時，他不敢干涉，因為他根據經驗知道，如果他騷擾她，雖然他會損失很多，但她會得到很大的功德。

4. 4. 我可以向你們保證，我的女兒們，²⁰³我認識一些在靈性生活上非常先進的人，他們已經達到了這種祈禱的狀態，但魔鬼卻用他的狡猾和詭計將他們重新奪回：正如我經常說的，所有地獄聯合起來反對這樣的靈魂，因為失去一個這樣的靈魂，因為撒死，就這樣的靈魂，意味著更多的那樣失去。如果我們想到神透過一個人吸引了多少人來歸向他，我們就應該熱切地讚美他。想想有多少人被烈士或像聖厄休拉這樣的年輕少女所皈依！再說一次，聖道明、聖方濟各和其他宗教團體的創始人剝奪了多少邪惡者的受害者。甚至現在，他還因創立[耶穌]公司的神父伊格內修斯[羅約拉]而失去了多少人！當我們閱讀他們的生活時，我們了解到他們從天主那裡得到瞭如此多的恩典。如果他們不努力不因自己的任何過失而放棄這些神聖的婚姻，那麼如何能完成這項偉大的善行呢？哦，我的女兒們，我們的主多麼願意賜給我們同樣的恩典！事實上，現在人們更迫切需要為這種恩惠做好準備，因為關心祂榮耀的人越來越少了。我們太愛自己，太謹慎，不願放棄任何權利。多麼欺騙啊！願天主憐憫我們，賜給我們光明，免得我們陷入黑暗。

5. 5. 您可能對兩點提出疑問或有疑問。首先：如果靈魂完全與天主的意志結合在一起，正如我所說的，既然它總是尋求追隨天主的喜悅，它怎麼可能被欺騙呢？其次，當你完全脫離世界並經常參與聖禮時，魔鬼怎麼可能進入並造成如此嚴重的破壞以摧毀你的靈魂？ ²⁰⁴同時你享受與天使（我們可以這樣稱呼他們）的交往，靠著天主的憐憫，你除了在一切事情上事奉他並取悅他之外別無所求？ ²⁰⁵世界上的人們冒這樣的風險並不奇怪。我承認你有權利這樣說，因為天主已經向我們顯明了憐憫；但是，正如我上面所說，我知道猶大是使徒之一，並且他與天主本人保持著不斷的交往，他聽從了天主的話語，我了解到宗教狀態並不能使我們安全。

6. 6. 對於你的第一個問題，我的回答是，毫無疑問，如果這樣的靈魂始終忠於天主的旨意，那麼它就不會迷失；惡人則以他敏銳的狡猾來，以善為幌子，在一些瑣碎的事情上引誘它誤入歧途，使其犯下一些他認為無害的小缺點。因此，漸漸地，理性被模糊了，意志被削弱了，而魔鬼則培養了受害者的自愛，直到他逐漸成功地使受害者脫離與天主意志的結合，並使其遵循自己的意志。

7. 7. 您第一次詢問的答案將用於第二次詢問。沒有任何圍欄是太嚴密的，撒旦無法進入的，也沒有任何沙漠是太偏遠的，他無法到達的。此外，天主可能允許他試探靈魂以證明其美德；因為當他想要啟發他人時，一開始就失敗比可能給他們帶來巨大傷害要好。

8. 8. 我們必須不斷地在祈禱中求天主用手扶持我們；我們應該永遠牢記這樣一個事實：如果他離開我們，我們肯定會立刻掉進深淵，因為我們絕不能愚蠢到相信自己。此後我想最大的保障就是要非常小心，看自己的德行如何進步；我們必須注意我們是在進步還是在倒退，特別是在對鄰居的愛、被視為最不重要的願望以及我們如何履行日常職責方面。如果我們注意這一點並祈求主開示我們，我們就會立即知道我們的得失。

9. 9. 不要以為當靈魂提升到這樣的境界後，天主就輕易地拋棄它，以致魔鬼要重新獲得它是輕而易舉的事。當國王陛下看到它離開他時，他感到如此強烈的損失，以至於他以多種方式向它發出了一千個秘密警告，向它揭示了隱藏的危險。 ²⁰⁶

10. 10.總而言之，讓我們努力不斷進步：如果我們發現自己沒有進步，我們應該感到極大的警惕，因為毫無疑問，邪惡者一定在計劃以某種方式傷害我們；一個已經達到這種境界的靈魂不可能不走得更遠，因為愛永遠不會閒著。因此，當一個人在道德上停滯不前時，這是一個非常糟糕的徵兆。渴望成為天主本人的配偶，並與天主陛下相待並與天主達成如此諒解的她，一定不能離開並睡覺。 ²⁰⁷

11. 11. 我的女兒們，為了向你們展示基督如何對待他為他的新娘而娶來的靈魂，我現在要談論第六重居所。然後你就會看到，相較之下，我們在為祂服務時所能做的或受的苦難是多麼微不足道，以準備好自己接受如此巨大的恩惠。也許我們的主命令我寫下這篇文章，以便讓我們了解即將到來的偉大獎賞，以及他在尋求向我們這樣的蠕蟲給予和顯現時所表現出的無限憐憫，可以使我們忘記我們可憐的、瑣碎的、塵世的快樂，並在我們的道路上奔跑，眼睛注視著他的偉大，燃燒著對他的愛。

12. 12. 願祂使我能夠解釋其中一些困難的問題；如果我們的主和聖靈不引導我的筆，我知道這項任務將被證明是不可能的。 1 求他阻止我說任何話，除非這對你有利。陛下知道，據我判斷，我沒有其他願望，只是希望他的聖名得到榮耀，並且我們可以努力侍奉一位主，即使在這個世界上，他也能補償我們的努力。那麼，我們在天堂裡的喜樂會是什麼呢？那裡的喜樂是持續不斷的，沒有這洶湧的生命之海的干擾、勞苦和危險？如果不是因為害怕失去或冒犯他，我們應該希望活到世界末日²⁰⁸，以便為如此偉大的神——我們的主和我們的配偶——工作。願陛下使我們能夠為祂提供一些服務，避免我們總是犯下的許多錯誤，即使是在善行中！阿門。

FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT; EXPLAINS THIS PRAYER. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ON ONE’S GUARD, AS THE DEVIL EAGERLY DESIRES TO TURN SOULS BACK FROM THE RIGHT PATH.

1. The spiritual espousals. 2. The prayer of union resembles a betrothal. 3. Before the spiritual nuptials temptations are dangerous. 4. The great good done by souls faithful to these graces. 5. Religious subject to the devil’s deceptions. 6. Satan’s strata-gems. 7. Why they are permitted. 8. Prayer and watchfulness our safeguards. 9. God’s watchfulness over such souls. 10. Progress in virtue. 11. Insignificance of our actions compared with their reward. 12. St. Teresa’s motives for writing on prayer.

1.

1. You appear anxious to know what has become of the little dove and where she obtains rest, since obviously she can find it neither in spiritual consolations nor in earthly pleasures but takes a higher flight. I cannot tell you until we come to the last mansion: God grant I may remember or have leisure to write it. It is nearly five months since I began this work, and as my head is too weak to read it again, no doubt it will be very disconnected and full of repetitions: however, as it is only for my sisters, that will matter little. Yet I should like to express myself more fully about the prayer of union and will make use, to the best of my scanty wits, of a comparison. Later on we will speak of the little butterfly, which is never still, for it can find no true repose, yet always fertile, doing good both to itself and others.¹⁹⁹ You have often heard that God spiritually espouses souls: may He be praised for His mercy in thus humbling Himself so utterly. Though but a homely comparison, yet I can find nothing better to express my meaning than the Sacrament of Matrimony although the two things are very different. In divine union everything is spiritual and far removed from anything corporal, all the joys our Lord gives and the mutual delight felt in it being celestial and very unlike human marriage, which it excels a thousand times. Here all is love united to love; its operations are more pure, refined, and sweet than can be described, though our Lord knows how to make the soul sensible of them.

2.

2. I think this union does not attain as far as the spiritual espousals but resembles the preliminaries that take place when two people are contemplating a betrothal. Their suitability and willingness for the alliance are first discussed; then they may be allowed to see one another sometimes so as to come to a decision. Thus it is in the spiritual espousals: when the preliminary agreement has been made and the soul thoroughly understands what great advantages she will gain, having resolved to fulfil the will of her Spouse in all things and to do all she can to please Him, His Majesty Who knows well whether this is so in reality, wishes in return to gratify His bride. He therefore bestows this favour upon her, visits her and draws her into His presence, as He wishes her to know Him better. We might compare the prayer of union to a visit, for it lasts but a very little while.²⁰⁰ There is no longer any question of deliberation, but the soul in a secret manner sees to what a Bridegroom it is betrothed; the senses and faculties could not, in a thousand years, gain the knowledge thus imparted in a very short time. The Spouse, being Who He is, leaves the soul far more deserving of completing the espousals, as we may call them; the enamoured soul in its love for Him makes every effort to prevent their being frustrated. Should it grow neglectful and set its affections on anything except our Lord, it will forfeit everything: this loss is as great as are the favours the soul has continually received, which are precious beyond description.²⁰¹

3.

3. O Christian souls! you whom God has brought thus far! I implore you for His dear sake not to grow careless, but to avoid all occasions of sin; you are not strong enough yet to undergo temptation, as you will be after the espousals which take place in the next mansion. Here the betrothed are, as they say, only acquainted by sight,²⁰² and the devil will spare no pains to oppose and prevent their nuptials. Afterwards, when he sees the Bride is wholly given to her Bridegroom, he is afraid to interfere, having learnt by experience that if he molests her, while he loses much, she will gain greatly in merit.

4.

4. I can assure you, my daughters,²⁰³ that I have known people far advanced in the spiritual life who had reached this state of prayer yet whom the devil reclaimed by his subtlety and wiles: as I have often said, all hell leagues together against such souls because the loss of one of them entails the perdition of many more, as Satan is well aware. If we considered how many men God draws to Himself by means of one, we should praise Him fervently. Think of the multitudes converted by the martyrs or by one young maiden like St. Ursula! Again, of how many victims the evil one was deprived by St. Dominic, St. Francis, and other founders of religious orders. How many more he loses, even now, through Father Ignatius [Loyola], who founded the Company [of Jesus]! As we read their lives, we learn that they received such graces from God. How was this great good done except by their efforts not to forfeit, through any fault of theirs, these divine espousals? Oh, my daughters, how willing our Lord is to grant us the same graces! In fact, there is even more urgent need now for persons to prepare for such favours, since there are fewer who care for His honour. We love ourselves too much and are too prudent to give up any of our rights. What a deception! May God in His mercy give us light, lest we sink into such darkness.

5.

5. You may question or be in doubt on two points. Firstly: if the soul is entirely united with the will of God, as I have stated, how can it be deceived, since it ever seeks to follow His pleasure? Secondly, how can the devil enter and work such havoc as to destroy your soul while you are so utterly withdrawn from the world and constantly frequent the Sacraments?²⁰⁴ At the same time you enjoy the society of angels (as we might call them) and by the mercy of God you desire nothing but to serve and please Him in all things?²⁰⁵ It is not surprising that people in the world should run such risks. I admit you have the right to say this, for God has shown us signal mercy; but, as I said above, knowing as I do that Judas was amongst the Apostles and that he held constant intercourse with God Himself, to Whose words he listened, I learn that the state of religion does not make us safe.

6.

6. To your first question I reply that doubtless if such a soul is always faithful to the will of God, it cannot be lost; the evil one, however, comes with his keen subtlety and, under the pretext of good, leads it astray in some trivial matter and causes it to commit small defects which he makes it believe are harmless. Thus, little by little, the reason is obscured and the will is weakened while the devil fosters his victim’s self-love, until, by degrees, he succeeds in withdrawing it from union with the will of God and makes it follow its own will.

7.

7. The answer to your first inquiry will serve for the second. No enclosure can be too strict for Satan to enter nor any desert too remote for him to visit. Besides, God may permit him to tempt the soul to prove its virtue; for as He intends it to enlighten others, it is better for it to fail in the beginning than when it might do them great harm.

8.

8. We must beg God constantly in our prayers to uphold us by His hand; we should keep ever in our minds the truth that if He leaves us, most certainly we shall fall at once into the abyss, for we must never be so foolish as to trust in ourselves. After this I think the greatest safeguard is to be very careful and to watch how we advance in virtue; we must notice whether we are making progress or falling back in it, especially as regards the love of our neighbour, the desire to be thought the least of all and how we perform our ordinary, everyday duties. If we attend to this and beg Our Lord to enlighten us, we shall at once perceive our gain or loss.

9.

9. Do not suppose that after advancing the soul to such a state God abandons it so easily that it is light work for the devil to regain it. When His Majesty sees it leaving Him, He feels the loss so keenly that He gives it in many a way a thousand secret warnings which reveal to it the hidden danger.²⁰⁶

10.

10. In conclusion, let us strive to make constant progress: we ought to feel great alarm if we do not find ourselves advancing, for without doubt the evil one must be planning to injure us in some way; it is impossible for a soul that has come to this state not to go still farther, for love is never idle. Therefore it is a very bad sign when one comes to a stand-still in virtue. She who aspires to become the spouse of God Himself, and has treated with His Majesty and come to such an understanding with Him, must not leave off and go to sleep.²⁰⁷

11.

11. To show you, my daughters, how Christ treats the souls He takes for His brides, I will now speak of the sixth mansions. You will then see how little in comparison is all that we can do or suffer in His service to prepare ourselves for the reception of such immense favours. Perhaps our Lord decreed that I should write this in order that the knowledge of the great reward to come, and of His infinite mercy in seeking to give and to manifest Himself to such worms as we are, might make us forget our wretched, petty, earthly pleasures and run on our way with eyes fixed on His grandeur, inflamed with love for Him.

12.

12. May He enable me to explain some of these difficult matters; if our Lord and the Holy Ghost do not guide my pen, I know the task will prove impossible. 1 beg Him to prevent my saying anything unless it will profit you. His Majesty knows that, as far as I can judge, I have no other wish but that His Name may be glorified and that we may strive to serve a Lord Who thus recompenses our efforts even in this world. What, then, will be our joy in heaven where it will be continuous, without the interruptions, labours, and dangers of this tempestuous sea of life? Were it not for the fear of losing or offending Him, we should wish to live until the end of the world²⁰⁸ in order to work for so great a God—our Lord and our Spouse. May His Majesty enable us to render Him some service free from the many faults we always commit, even in good works! Amen.